GIBSONIA, Pa.—Walking back from an early-voting site at North Park Ice Rink, Charles Schrankel of Ross Township, Pennsylvania, said he dropped off a ballot on which he voted straight Republican. 

“I voted [the] straight Republican ticket, and I don’t always vote straight party,” Shrankel told The Daily Signal outside the polling station in Wexford, Pennsylvania. 

But Schrankel, a former Army Ranger, said he was motivated to vote for GOP Senate candidate David McCormick, also a former Army Ranger, as well as to vote for former President Donald Trump. 

“I think Trump and McCormick are a great team, and I think Trump makes a good garbage driver,” he said, joking about Trump’s recent campaign photo op riding in a garbage truck. 

McCormick is the Republican challenger to incumbent Democrat Bob Casey Jr. in the Senate race.

North Park Ice Rink was among several early-voting sites where residents of Allegheny County—the second-most-populous county in this key battleground state—could drop off absentee ballots this day. 

Dropping off her own ballot at the Beaver County Courthouse, Ashton Jersey said she reached a different conclusion and voted for Vice President Kamala Harris in the race for president. 

“I’m a dance teacher of small children, mostly girls. I want them to have options in the future,” Jersey told The Daily Signal. 

She suggested that economic issues aren’t as paramount. 

“I think fracking is a big issue for a lot of people,” Jersey said. “There is too much emphasis on the cost of groceries. People should look at this in moral terms. I don’t want a convicted felon leading the country.”

Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, hasn’t gone to a Republican presidential candidate since Richard Nixon in 1972. Nearby Beaver County hasn’t gone to a Democratic presidential candidate since John Kerry in 2004.  

Most Trump voters who agreed to speak Thursday to The Daily Signal talked about the economy and the border as the key reasons behind their vote. 

Most Harris voters, by contrast, cited their dislike for Trump but also stressed abortion or climate change as important. 

Pennsylvania—a state that Trump carried in 2016 and Joe Biden carried in 2020—is among the most fiercely contested states in the country this year. 

Trump and Harris are virtually tied in the RealClearPolitics average of polls, with the former president holding a nominal 0.4% lead. At least four polls conducted during October showed the race tied in Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvanians generally enjoy their prominent role in picking the next president, said Lucas Guthrie of Brighton Township in Beaver County. 

“People are passionate about it,” Guthrie told The Daily Signal. “All of us keep hearing about it on the news. We get a little tired of all the commercials. But people take a lot of pride in it.”

He dropped off a ballot for Harris at the Beaver County Courthouse.

“I’ve always been more Democrat than Republican. But Beaver County is mostly Republican,” Guthrie said. “The abortion issue is divisive. I am Catholic. So that is complicated. But we aren’t talking about pro-life for ending the death penalty or helping immigrants.”

Stan Navola, also a Brighton Township resident, said he dropped off his ballot early at the Beaver County Courthouse because he’ll be working Tuesday and wanted to beat the Election Day crowd. 

“Trump I trust more on the issues,” Navola told The Daily Signal. “The economy is the number one issue. I don’t think Harris is qualified for the job.” 

At North Park Ice Rink, Athena—a 29-year-old from Pittsburgh who didn’t want to provide her last name—dropped off her ballot for Trump. 

It has become more socially acceptable for younger people to vote for Trump, she said. 

“I voted for Trump-Vance because I believe this country was better with the economy [four years ago], and to keep us as safe and healthy as possible, his policies on the economy, border control, and foreign policy,” Athena said. 

Yannis, 28, of Pittsburgh, was with Athena at North Park Ice Rink, but already had dropped off his ballot.  

“This is a unique election cycle where we’ve had the chance to experience both the former and current administrations,” said Yannis, who also didn’t want The Daily Signal to use his last name. “Historically, it’s accurate to say younger people voted for the Democratic ticket. [But] Trump also has broad appeal.”

Jarrett Dowling, 26, of Ross Township, backed Harris. 

“I work in conservation and she is better on climate change,” Dowling told The Daily Signal. “Also, I have a mom, a sister, and cousins who are women. So, I try to look beyond myself as a man and look at women’s issues.”  

Several other voters also were interested in commenting but asked to give only their first name, citing polarized politics, job security, and personal safety concerns if others knew how they voted.  

Stephanie, of McCandless, said she dropped off her ballot early to make sure it would be counted. 

“I voted for Harris because I care about my daughter and I want her to have reproductive rights,” Stephanie said. “I don’t think someone who has divided this country with hatred and extremism and fascism, and who is a convicted felon, should be president. There has never been such a horrific time in America.”

Wexford resident Mike Quigley also dropped off his ballot at the ice rink in Allegheny County, although he said he usually votes on Election Day. He said he vetoed for “Trump and all the Republicans.”

“The border, the economy, I liked the way it was four years ago,” Quigley said. 

One former Trump voter, Kersten Rovee, a resident of Ohio Township, said she became a Harris voter this year. 

“I was previously a Republican, but Trump is a danger to this country,” Rovee told The Daily Signal outside the ice rink. “I voted for Trump the first time, in 2016. I’d like to take that back.”

“From my perspective, the most important issues are women’s rights,” she added.

Another Harris voter, Max Barber of Hampton Township, said he didn’t mind Trump that much as president—only his antics. 

“With Trump, it’s just his mouth. Politically, he did a good job as president,” Barber told The Daily Signal. “It’s just [that] his conduct on Twitter and social media, I don’t think that was appropriate for a president.”

Joe, another resident of McCandless, said he voted for Republicans.  His issues are “the economy, national security, and the border,” he said. “And just unrest in the world—Ukraine and the Middle East.” 

Some voters interviewed were less than enthused about their choices. 

Mike, of Franklin Park, said he voted for Trump as his best choice. 

“I care about the economy and the border,” Mike, who didn’t want his last name published, told The Daily Signal. “Also, I used to coach high school girls sports. I don’t believe that boys should compete with girls. This puts women in a position to get hurt. Imagine what would happen if Labron James played in the WNBA?”

He wasn’t enthusiastic about voting for Trump, though. 

“I’m not a great Trump lover, but I’m far more concerned about Harris,” Mike said. “She’s an empty suit and can barely put two sentences together.”

Paula, of Glenshaw, expressed a similar sentiment in reverse. 

“The election integrity process is wonderful. It’s the integrity of the candidates and the campaign that is terrible,” she said. “I had to vote against someone, and I do not want Trump to be president again.”

Brandon and Judy McAuley of Allegheny County said they are Harris voters. 

“First, for reproductive freedom. Secondly, for climate change, because I think we are missing a window of opportunity to do something about it before it’s too late,” Judy McAuley said. “After that, I think the Supreme Court is the most important issue.”

Brandon McAuley added: “I just want to recapture general human decency.”