Washington and the world hold their breath
Here in the American capital today, there is unease as the country awaits the conclusion to one of its most dramatic and polarising election cycles in modern history, writes Josh Schlicht.
In the quiet DC suburb of Chevy Chase, Autumn leaves drift to the ground as determined voters pace the streets, hurrying in and out of local election centres. Despite warm greetings provided by electoral staffers and neighbourhood candidates, the day is defined by anxious glances, hushed murmurs and stern expressions.
Washington DC and its suburbs are among the bluest locales in America with over 92% of voters favouring Joe Biden in the last presidential contest. Consensus-deviating opinions are thus few and far between. Nevertheless, local voters differ on their opinions of the election’s stakes and the potential fallout.
As the site of the deadly January 6 capitol raid, and numerous other episodes of antifa-induced street clashes, political violence is all too familiar to the city's residents.
Roberta, a former lobbyist turned community activist, tells me she is “afraid” and considered leaving town before ultimately deciding to stay put. Karrenthya, also a DC resident, is hopeful a Harris victory could unite the country in a way Biden was unable to, but she admits that January 6 continues to weigh on her mind. According to recent polling, her fears are shared by the bulk of the American public who anticipate post-election violence.
Libbey, a long time DC resident tells me that January 6 deeply left lasting marks on the city she calls home, with many months of an occupation-esque police presence following the deadly incident. But she remains “cautiously optimistic” that such unrest will not transpire again.
Carl and John, retirees volunteering in favour of a local proposition, are less concerned. Doubting another “commotion”, the pair believe the deep-blue city is unlikely to face unrest as it did in 2021. Carl tells me that the result’s long-term consequences are his primary concern, as “we’ll either go backwards or forwards” on critical matters such as climate change.
Others, such as local candidate Mark Rooney are reassured by the city’s readiness. “Last time the city wasn’t prepared. This time it is”. The fortifications Rooney alludes to are prominent and ubiquitous across the national mall. Large metal barriers have been raised in front of the Capitol building and the White House, secret service agents are omnipresent, and several businesses have preemptively erected plywood barriers to defend their storefronts.
Despite being a solid blue state, not all of those in DC are enthusiastic about Harris. Looking over the White House at the ellipse of Presidential park, a young black man from Georgia named Taylor tells me he is “more of a Trump supporter than anything else” but is fairly ambivalent about the contest. He elaborates that alongside having more traditional values, he’s noticed a “stark difference” between democratic cities such as San Francisco and more conservative-leaning places. Invoking the homelessness crisis plaguing American streets, he wonders, “how are people going for this”. Nodding along in agreement, his partner Cat shares that she identifies as an independent and hopes “something good will come out of it all”.
Outside the White House barriers, a man in a bright red Hawaiian shirt and bold fu manchu stands apart from the other onlookers. Unwilling to voice his political predilections, he chuckles: “no matter what happens, gotta wake up and head to work”. For many, acceptance has come to fill a void once occupied by outrage.
For others, no serenity can be found as the stakes couldn’t be higher. The nation’s domestic laws, courts, and norms as well as foreign alliances could be forever altered depending on who wins. Everything hangs in the balance.
However, many today are simply enthused by the prospect of relief from a chaotic cycle. One marred by assassination attempts, the ouster of an ailing incumbent, and bitter accusations of fascism and communism.
Catharsis could prove elusive as several swing states are due to take days to fully complete their count. For those in DC and across the country, the ride may not be over just yet.
Josh Schlicht
Reaction Reporter
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