BETHLEHEM, Pa. - If you live in the Lehigh Valley, evidence of a pitched battle to win voters is hard to miss, and negative ads on television, social media and billboards seem to be everywhere. The final days of the campaign season have seen stops by candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, and surrogates from the national parties vying to win votes in the region.
In multiple polls, voters in Pennsylvania and across the country have said the political divide has affected their personal relationships, that they worry about the fairness and accuracy of elections, and that they are concerned about possible bias in news media coverage of elections.
LehighValleyNews.com reporters spoke to residents across the region to find out how people are feeling about all of that for this special election feature.
Roberto Monroig III, 31, of Allentown, says he's a registered Democrat, but does not have a preferred political party. He said he tries not to argue politics with friends and family anymore. He’s had some disagreements in the past.
"You know, it can get very heated at times. Especially when it was Trump versus Biden. It was rocky — it was rocky."Roberto Monroig, III
Walking down Hamilton Street in Allentown, he said he mostly likes to watch celebrity news, but will tune into major outlets like CNN and local ones like 69News.
“I believe I trust them. They've been good on reporting, as far as I know,” Monroig said.
And while the past two years have borne witness to false claims that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent, Monroig said he still has faith in the electoral process — and will accept the result of the the Nov. 8 midterm election.
“I believe in the system enough to know that, you know, the votes are fair,” he said.
Taking the temperature
For some, the political climate feels increasingly divided in recent years, and questions about the future of democracy are top of mind for a majority of voters, as well as candidates of both major parties.
A recent Marist poll showed Pennsylvania voters ranked “preserving democracy” second after inflation as a top issue in the election.
LehighValleyNews.com reporters fanned out across the region to speak with voters in the days before the 2022 midterms with four questions:
- Will you accept the results of this election when they’re certified?
- Have you had disagreements with family or friends over political issues?
- Are there media sources you trust for your news?
- Do you think the media is treating your preferred political party fairly?
Below are some of the answers from voters across the Valley.
Election results
Leaving a Republican fundraiser in North Whitehall Township that featured former Trump administration official Nikki Haley, Gail and Paul Saunders were carrying signs for 7th Congressional District candidate Lisa Scheller. The couple said they were growing weary of the election season and onslaught of political ads.
“Rather than sticking to the issues, people take it personally,” Gail said, struggling to find the right word.
“Ad hominem,” Paul said.
“Ad hominem!” Gail exclaimed. “We need to discuss the issues and stop the ad hominem attacks.”
Speaking about the 2022 election results, Gail said, “I guess I’ll accept them. I may not be privately happy about them.”
“I’ll accept them after an audit,” Paul said.
Katie Desir of Bethlehem said she is a Democrat who is extending her maternity leave to be off for Election Day. And that she will accept the results.
“That's how it is,” she said. “It may not be in our favor. But that's kind of how the cookie crumbles. And if it doesn't go the way that I would particularly like, I think there are just other ways that we have to lobby and protest.”
Chantel Santo was spending a Saturday afternoon at a high school football game in Pen Argyl. She said she’s a Republican.
“I'm always typically willing to accept the results of the election,” Santo said.
"I'm worried, because I think after the 2020 election, I think that kind of put people on edge. I definitely am one person that felt that I didn't have 100% trust in the elections at that point. But I'm kind of hoping for the best. And I'm willing to accept it."Republican, Chantel Santo
Jeff Moyer is a Republican from Plainfield Township.
“[Election results] have been called in question long before 2020,” he said. “You know, hanging chads and everything in Florida with Gore and Bush. I don't think there's ever a Democrat that doesn't question the election. So if I question the election, it shouldn't be an issue either.”
Nethaniel Marx, 46, is a musician, comedian and independent voter. He was dressed as a hot dog playing a banjo one recent day in on Main Street in downtown Bethlehem.
“Am I to challenge the fact that there have been previous rigged elections in history and outcomes that might have been predetermined by special agenda or interests that are beyond our control or power? Or that I’m confined to the two options that we have…if you’re asking if I accept it, I guess the word is tolerate,” he said.
Nathanial Adjie, a 22-year old college student, was sitting in the Lehigh Campus Square in Bethlehem talking with a friend from another state who was filling out her absentee ballot. He said he’s a Democrat and he worries elections are not fully transparent.
“Personally, I feel like there's some things that are hidden from the public,” he said. “So I feel like not everything we get might be completely factual, the whole truth. But for the most part, I trust that it will be accurate.”
Talking politics
Adjie said he enjoys political discourse.
“I like to talk to other people to find out their political views and I find it more of a discussion than an argument,” he said. “My friends are poli-sci majors. So I usually talk to them to like, hear their opinions and learn a lot more. I'm always trying to learn more.”
Evay Politan, 57, was crossing the street near the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in downtown Allentown. She said she and most of her family are Democrats. But she said a feeling of distrust among them crosses party lines.
“Even Republican family members agree that the options for politicians aren’t good because politicians lie. It just seems like we're all getting lied to,” Politan said. “What they say they're gonna do, they don't do. Whether it's Democratic or Republican.”
At the Whitehall Township Library, Chris Andrews of Allentown said he used to have more civil political conversation with family and friends.
“Prior to this election, we would have healthy discussions and respectfully listen to one another,” he said.
"Ever since this past election, it was like a wall is thrown up. Hackles come up and tempers rise."Chris Andrews of Allentown
Back in Bethlehem, Desir said she has an “unwavering stance” when it comes to talking about politics.
"We'll discuss it, but people usually get tired of me just saying the same thing,” Desir said. “Because I'm more of a person like, ‘Okay, well, we've already talked about this, you know, my stance, and it's not going to change,’ because I believe in, you know, equal rights and having control of your body and not being hateful to people because of their skin color. So, yeah, those are fundamental morals and things to me."
Media trust
Desir said she likes to listen to NPR, but also looks to other sources for news.
"I get a lot of stuff on Instagram and Twitter and things like that,” Desir said. “But also, I was a journalism major, so I know to read all of the things and there are a couple of news sources that I just don't listen to."
In Pen Argyl, Santo said she thinks news media used to be neutral.
"It's not that way anymore,” she said. “There is a lot of corruption on both sides, but it's definitely swayed toward the conservative party.
"I’m a huge Tucker Carlson fan, so I trust him,” Santo said.
Moyer said he thinks the media is “very biased.”
“I think basically they're an arm or a wing of the Democrat Party,” he said.
Chris Plumaker of Easton said he’s a conservative-leaning voter, but seeks out news from a variety of outlets because he has “a lot of liberal ideas that I respect and agree with.”
“It’s a tough place to be,” he said. “Not really ‘cause it's left or right."
"There's no strong middle. That's what I'd like to find. That's what a lot of people would like to find - a good, strong middle."Chris Plumaker, of Easton
Courtney Miller was with her mother at a Doug Mastriano rally at the American Legion post in Palmer Township. She said she likes to watch Fox News.
“I understand that there are other conservative sources out there, but I’m a busy mom and a small business owner,” she said. “I watch the local news at night, I listen to the national news at night, you know, the ‘alphabet news channels,’ and I firmly believe that it is all very left-based. So I see it, I just see it plain as day.”
Sitting outside of Sports and Social in downtown Allentown, 51-year-old Yl Bitar said he’s an independent voter and likes to do his own research when it comes to news. He said he likes Newsmax because it “isn’t biased.”
“I can see it, they can see it. So I guess that's the thing. They say things that make sense,” he said.
He said he thinks most media organizations are too one-sided.
“People anymore, they don't care about the media. It's just, unfortunately, there are still some brainwashed individuals out there that do believe certain things. Even though, there's facts out there."
Fairness
Bitar said he thinks news organizations don’t treat all people running for office fairly. He also wishes there were more candidates to choose from in major races.
“They've gotten down to two parties, and now the American people are stuck with two people. How do you only find two people out of 350,000,000 that are qualified?” he said.
In Bethlehem, Desir said “fair” can be hard to define.
"I feel like the media, they're going to take sides and highlight things. However, you know, you get your information, because, that's the job is to get information. And sometimes it's hard to find, like the root of things."Katie Desir, of Bethlehem
At the Scheller rally in North Whitehall, Gail and Paul Saunders said they think most media organizations are biased against the GOP.
“If you look at Fox, they’re treating the Republican Party fairly,” Gail said. “But if you look at the other networks, you know, there’s no fairness at all there."
“Complete bias,” Paul said.
But the couple didn’t fully agree on whether Fox News treats both parties fairly.
“They have [Democrats] on the shows,” Paul said.
“[But] there are certain people on Fox who are biased,” Gail said.
Standing in Easton Centre Square, Gene Palmatier said he watches MSNBC on a regular basis and reads the Washington Post. But he said he thinks news outlets could be tougher on politicians.
“I think they're too nice to ‘em,” he said. “People ought to sweat a little before the elections come upon us.”
This story includes reporting from Julian Abraham, Jay Bradley, Ryan Gaylor, Olivia Marble, Tom Shortell, Brittany Sweeney and Olivia Richardson. Produced by Tyler Pratt and Jen Rehill.
How are you feeling about the media and the election process? What are your political conversations with family and friends like? Let us know and drop us a line at news@LehighValleyNews.com
