Cipher News Cipher News

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Virginia — This election was a whirlwind for me, a political junkie who covers energy and environmental politics.

Rising at the crack of dawn, I set out to vote and chat with people about the issues driving their choices at the ballot box, as I have many times before as a reporter.

But as the day unfolded, nothing went quite as planned. It was a day of firsts.

Under clear blue skies and an unseasonably warm autumn sun, I approached the Harper Park Middle School in Leesburg with a spring in my step, as I do on every election day, expecting to see long lines of voters. Instead, I was alone in the room.

Nearly a third of Loudoun County’s 308,577 voters had cast their ballots early, hoping to avoid election day lines.

Disappointed to find no voters, I drove west to Purcellville in search of voters and the hearty breakfast a long day would require.

Purcellville’s Family Restaurant that sustained me through Election Day. Photo taken Nov. 5, 2024, by Amena H. Saiyid.

Over a scrumptious omelet and freshly brewed coffee, I ended up chatting with Marty Burdock, 80, and her 82-year-old husband, Tom, also from Leesburg. They told me climate and environmental impacts didn’t factor into their decision to vote for either President-elect Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris. In the Murdocks’ case, it was clear they didn’t believe Trump would be good for the country.

Conversely, Nadim Malik, who works at the Sunoco gas station in Leesburg where I stopped after breakfast, thought Trump would be good at managing global crises, like avoiding World War III and, yes, when asked, climate impacts.

Along Purcellville’s Main Street, I noticed an interesting mix of signs, including a banner declaring “Virginia Republicans for Harris.” Since I began voting as a naturalized citizen in 2001, I’ve never seen a sign from one party promoting a candidate from the other.

A definite first: A “Virginians for Harris” banner outside the Purcellville precinct. Photo taken Nov. 5, 2024, by Amena H. Saiyid.

I was also surprised at the reluctance of Republican volunteers or voters in particular to engage with me. In past years, I’ve found voters of all political leanings were happy to share their views.

A few did talk, including a conservative voter from Leesburg who didn’t want to call herself a Republican or be identified, and Zach R., 41, of Hamilton, who talked about how he was influenced by Tesla founder Elon Musk, an avid Trump supporter. In contrast, 53-year-old Democratic volunteer Jennifer openly shared her views about voter choices. She said many Democratic voters were concerned about Project 2025, social issues and reproductive rights, but not necessarily climate impacts or the need for clean energy.

Over the course of the day, one voter did say climate issues were top of mind. Lauren Pennell, 41, of Paeonian Springs, Virginia, who works in property management said she voted for Democrats because “I don’t think Republicans are taking climate science or impacts seriously.”

In the evening, I eagerly went to the Westfields Marriott in Loudoun County, where Republicans were holding a watch party for retired Naval Officer Hung Cao, who was unsuccessful at unseating Democratic incumbent Senator Tim Kaine. Alas, I was turned away at the registration desk, a definite first for me, because I failed to register on time. When I asked if I just could take pictures to capture the vibe and the energy of the supporters, I was flatly told no.

Off limits to this reporter: Westfields Marriott auditorium where the GOP held its election watch party for Hung Cao, a retired naval officer who lost to U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA). Photo taken Nov. 5, 2024, by Amena H. Saiyid.

At the Washington Dulles Airport Marriott, a short hop down the road, Democratic supporters were cheering for Congressman-elect Suhas Subramanyam, the first Indian American to be elected from Virginia to the U.S. Congress. There Loudoun’s Democratic Supervisor Juli Briskman told me the “economy is uppermost on people’s minds.”

Over and over on election day I was reminded that American voters, despite climate-fueled floods and hurricanes, are primarily concerned about pocketbook issues like high grocery and electricity bills.

As the night wore on, I returned to my neighborhood to watch the returns with friends and indulge in cake. When I left their house shortly before midnight, Trump was clearly in the lead. And in the wee hours of the next morning, he was declared the winner.