Ahead of the 2024 election, the Daily sought to understand sentiments among local voters on all levels. Several locals were interviewed, and 68 people shared responses to a survey about the election. Respondents ranged in age from 18 to 83 and were students, teachers, union organizers and attorneys, to name a few professions.
Local Elections
Out of 68 survey respondents, only seven said they were most concerned with the outcomes of local elections as compared to state and national elections. However, many Medford and Somerville residents are still greatly concerned about their local ballot questions.
In Medford specifically, Questions 6, 7 and 8 have been of particular interest. Those are known as the “override” questions which, if passed, would each beget an override of state spending caps.
Maureen Curley, a retiree and longtime Medford resident, acknowledged a desire to improve funding for the city.
“There is a concerted effort to both take a look at how we can expand education and public works, which I think people are very interested in, making sure the streets are well traveled and repaired, as well as the fire [department],” she said.
Lynne Weiss, a writer and editor who has lived in Medford for 20 years, also noted the need for improved funding in Medford.
“Medford has been severely underfunded as a city for decades now,” she said. “I think it’s just crucial that we begin funding things at a level that will allow the community to thrive.”
Not all survey respondents felt the same way, with conservatives feeling uneasy about the overrides. One respondent felt polarization has resulted from the efforts of council members who have been pushing to pass the overrides. These members are endorsed by Our Revolution, a national organization founded in the wake of Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign.
“For a city that has no political parties, the advent of the Our Revolution group has created a very large divide in Medford,” Medford local Dina Smith wrote.
While many Medford and Somerville residents are civically engaged, some struggle to feel well informed about their local elections.
Evan Becker, general manager of a local food and drink establishment, noted the difficulty of understanding local elections in both Medford and Somerville.
“I can doomscroll on the New York Times about what the f---’s going on in the national election every day, but finding out who the hell I should vote for city councilor or mayor, or what exactly the overrides or the ballot initiatives are going to do is really difficult to do, which feels like a consequence of changing journalism landscape and no more local papers,” he said.
Weiss echoed this sentiment, noting the recent closure of several local news outlets.
“Lack of local news media is a problem; a lot of people have no idea what’s going on in the city,” she wrote.
State Elections
Only three survey respondents said they were most concerned with Massachusetts state elections.
However, the state ballot questions required deliberation for many residents.
“I love the state elections, the questions lead to so much more discussion and debate among residents. The changes feel tangible and like we are actually changing our state for the better,” Tufts student and Medford native Emma Maganzini wrote.
One such question has to do with the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, statewide standardized testing that Massachusetts students currently have to pass in order to graduate from high school. The decision to keep or remove that graduation requirement was challenging for Andrea, a longtime local of greater Boston.
“The MCAS, the state testing [requirement] for high school graduation, was of real interest, because, while I’m very concerned about quality public education, I’m not sure the best way to achieve that,” she said.
Residents were also asked about the state ballot question about tipping and raising the minimum wage in tipping industries. Most of those surveyed did not express strong opinions about that particular question.
National Elections
Over 63% of survey respondents noted that they were most concerned with the national election. Being from the largely Democratic state of Massachusetts, many people interviewed expressed fear of another Trump presidency as well as anxiety about violence surrounding election results.
“We’ve never had somebody as blatant and as open talking about obliterating the Constitution or not being concerned about the rights of others. I think this is a real turning point for us,” Andrea said.
Survey respondent Bri Brothers expressed disdain for former President Donald Trump.
“I’m disgusted the race is this close when one of the candidates claims he’ll be a dictator on day one. I’m worried for the future of my daughters,” she wrote.
82.4% of survey respondents said they will vote for Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ticket in the upcoming election while 5.9% of respondents will vote for Trump and Ohio Sen. JD Vance. This data skews in favor of the Democratic ticket more than Massachusetts polling data as a whole.
Many interviewees acknowledged that the impacts of the election might not hit home here in Massachusetts the same way they might in different parts of the country.
Andrea acknowledged the ease of voting in Massachusetts.
“I think we live in a real bubble here. I love the bubble that we’re living in. But, I don’t know what’s happening in North Carolina because of the floods. I don’t know what’s happening on Native American reservations where there [are] limited locations to mail a ballot or even to vote,” she said. “You would think the goal in this country is to encourage people to vote. Why put roadblocks in people’s way?”
Becker acknowledged that conservative states will likely continue to lose access to abortion and other reproductive rights.
“I worry for the people in red states who will be punished for this,” Becker said. He also acknowledged recent deaths that occurred following a lack of abortion care. “It’s already killing people.”
48.5% of voters surveyed feel either largely or somewhat pessimistic about the upcoming election. That said, local voters remain motivated to protect democracy.
Andrea expressed a desire for younger generations to vote.
“Generation [Z] needs to carry us over the finish line. I am hoping that young people … really understand the imperative of this, of what this country is facing. This is not just another election.”
Josué Pérez contributed reporting.
