Trump is on Marylanders’ minds, if not their ballots, as early voting begins

Maryland’s in-person, early voting began across the state Thursday — and a politician who isn’t on the ballot motivated many to head to the polls.

Marylanders are voting whether to reelect Gov. Wes Moore and are picking all eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives, the entire Maryland General Assembly and weighing in on scores of local races.

But that didn’t stop voters from talking about Republican President Donald Trump and national issues.

Cheryl Davidow, 74, said she was voting at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center in Annapolis for anyone with a “D” next to their name — an expression of opposition to the way Republicans are handling the federal government, she said.

Davidow wore a knit hat with a blue wave on it that a friend made for her. Among the stitches were dots in Morse code with a flippant message for Trump.

“I’m just so fed up. I’m just so fed up,” she said.

Maryland’s polling stations opened on time, and as of 1 p.m., more than 40,000 voters had cast their ballots at early voting places, according to Election Administrator Jared DeMarinis.

Early voting continues daily through Oct. 29, and voters can cast ballots at any voting center in their county. Election Day is Nov. 3.

Mail balloting continues. By Wednesday night, 242,744 Marylanders had returned their ballots. Those can be mailed in or handed over at in-person voting sites or in drop boxes.

Voters across the state told The Banner they were concerned about affordability, immigration and funding for important programs.

Some blamed Trump and Republicans for their problems. Others emphasized the importance of voting in general, given that generations of Americans fought hard to gain and maintain the right to vote.

Briana Smith, 31, voted at the Randallstown Community Center in Baltimore County because, she said, “there are so many things happening with the Trump administration.”

“I feel like that is really affecting me here in Baltimore,” she added.

Smith said she is concerned about women’s rights, policing and immigration. Seeing footage of immigration agents roaming in Maryland is upsetting and unacceptable, she said.

She also talked about affordability, from funding cuts to disability services at her employer to the general cost of living.

“It feels really hard to live and to start a life in a family, and to also be a part of my community,” Smith said. “It feels hard having to work an excessive amount of hours just to live or an excessive amount of jobs.”

Not all voters were upset with Trump. In Severna Park, Republican Joanne Heath, 72, said she voted with her party to continue Trump’s agenda, even though he’s not on the ballot.

“I want America to be safe and free for our granddaughter,” Heath said after voting at the Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Station.

Maurice Wood, 74, who also voted in Randallstown, said he’s concerned about the economy and “things in Washington,” where he said he feels elected officials only care about “the rich folk and the dollar.”

In Baltimore, Bolton Hill resident Robert Currie cast his ballot at the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Community Engagement Center.

“I believe the country has gone in the wrong direction over the last two years, and there’s a need for us to stand up and represent the humanity, the moral character, the high standards that America stands for,” said Currie, 67.

“It’s the government at the federal level that makes us look bad worldwide,” he added. “It’s not the citizens, and we can do better.”

Charisse Lue, 40, who lives in Baltimore’s Franklin Square neighborhood, said removing the Republican Party from power was her main motivation for voting this election.

“I think we’re at a critical time,” she said, “economically, socially, what direction of the country we go into.”

“I’m just hoping that these Democrats that we’re voting for will actually fight for our basic human rights, our civil rights to vote,” she said.

In Montgomery County, a group of about 30 voters walked together to a polling site in downtown Rockville, part of a rally to boost turnout.

One member of the group, Thea Miles, 84, of Rockville, said income inequality was a high priority when she cast her ballot. She said she hopes “wealth gets a little bit shared by everybody, not just the top.”

Voting is “sacred,” she added, because “a lot of people can’t in this world.”

As Maureen Kelly voted at the Bain 50+ Community Center in Columbia, she acknowledged: “I have a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. I would love to see that man gone.”

“But,” she added with a shrug, “he’s not on the ballot.”

Banner reporters Olivia Bensimon, Antonio Planas, Lillian Reed, John-John Williams IV and Brenda Wintrode contributed to this article.