PORTAGE COUNTY, Ohio — For Trump Voter Mark Smith, Joe Biden’s support for legislation like the 1994 crime bill, which resulted in mass incarcerations of African Americans, can’t be overlooked.
“I would never vote for Joe Biden, not for the fact I don’t like him or any other reasons but his record,” Smith said. “Even after the crime bill, even after all the bad education and prison records, we stayed Democratic."
But in 2016, the lifelong Democrat crossed party lines and voted for Donald Trump, believing Trump’s policies would benefit the county's 4.8% black population.
“I was in line to go vote with my church, all Democrats,” Smith said. “I got out of line to vote for Trump.”
He wasn’t alone; President Trump won the county by nearly 10 points after decisive victories from President Obama in 2008 and 2012.
It's a county with nearly 4,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans.
Portage County GOP Chair Amanda Suffecool said she wouldn’t be surprised if Trump carries the county by an even larger margin in 2020.
“Just looking at the energy and involvement,” Suffecool said. “We have people say I’m taking a sign and I want to get one for my cousin, for my brother for my neighbor."
But just around the corner at Portage County Democratic headquarters, they say they’re seeing real enthusiasm for former Vice President Joe Biden, frequently running out of Biden yard signs.
“There is a real sense of momentum in the community that people are ready for change,” Portage County Treasurer Brad Comes said. “We’ve had a strong volunteer presence in the office. We’ve been unable to keep Biden signs here which is really exciting for us.”
Biden supporter Elizabeth Curtis says she feels that momentum in the county but also admits Trump has a loyal base and think the elections in the county will be tight.
“Biden will bring a sense of forward direction instead of backwards,” Curtis said. “There are people who feel Trump is doing the right thing for the country so I think it’s going to be 50/50."
