In North Carolina, the voice of the people was also heard at the ballot box. Marches from local churches, participants in the "No Kings" events, mariachis, and student protesters headed to polling places during the first three days of early voting.
Between Thursday, October 15 and Saturday, October 17, 485,531 votes were cast, according to data from the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE).
The figure exceeds by 102,502 votes the 383,029 registered during the first three days of this modality in 2022, an increase of 26.8%.
“This is a trend we are seeing nationwide, where voter turnout records are being broken in the midterm elections,” explained Linda López Stone, Senior Director at MomsRising a Enlace Latino NC.
Economy, war with Iraq, immigration
Stone highlighted the economy, gasoline, access to health insurance, and the war with Iran as issues driving voting in these midterm elections.
“The main issues are the economy, high gasoline prices, inaccessibility to health insurance, and an unnecessary war with Iran, which is consuming economic resources that could have been invested in their own communities,” he said.
Stone noted that some voters who supported Trump because of his promises to improve the economy and streamline the immigration system are unhappy with the results.
He explained that the raids and the treatment of immigrants, under policies he described as "cruel and chaotic," have generated backlash even among those who previously did not consider immigration a priority.
He also linked these measures to the loss of workers and the reduction in operations of local businesses, especially in construction and agriculture.
Wake leads in early voting
Registered Democrats led the turnout with 240,206 votes, followed by unaffiliated voters with 181,809, and Republicans with 102,845, according to NCSBE data.
By county, Wake led the turnout with 65,985 votes, followed by Mecklenburg with 54,061; Guilford with 20,895; and Buncombe with 18,317.
Statewide, 14,660 voters identified as Hispanic or Latino went to the polls.
For Elena Ceberio, discontent over the cost of living is one of the factors that explain the electoral mobilization.
“The nightmare that this administration and the Republican Party represent has finally arrived at their own doorstep; whether through the price of gasoline, the cost of food, or, in general, because life has become increasingly difficult,” he told Enlace Latino NC.
Ceberio also considered that the "No Kings" protests might have sparked the interest of people who were not previously involved in politics.
“I believe a movement has emerged of people deeply committed to ensuring that elections remain free and fair,” he added.
“Those who were previously not involved in politics have taken on the responsibility of looking out not only for their own constituents, but also for all voters. They have found their voice and discovered their own power. This has given them new energy and keeps them fully committed,” he concluded.
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