How Did Our Readers Vote in This Election?

By all appearances, the United States will have a new president in January since, as states confirm and certify their counts, President-elect Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris obtained the majority of both the popular vote and the Electoral College vote.

But how did our readers vote? We’ve been taking snapshots of your opinions since August, with our first People-Powered Election Survey. In the months leading up to the election, about 200 readers each month have weighed in on their picks, and also answered questions designed to take the temperature of our audience.

Granted, Election Day was very busy, so our response to our exit survey was a little less robust than our previous surveys. But what emerges from a comparison of the final vote on the county and state level compared to our readers’ responses is interesting, we think.

We also asked our readers one final question: Why is it important to vote?

Many said they voted to make sure their voices were heard, and to elect the best leaders.

“It’s an amazing privilege others fought and died to give us. This is a luxury we must take full advantage of,” said one reader.

“”It’s one of the few rights we have across the board, regardless of socioeconomic level, race, gender or educational level,” said another.

Another said that being able to vote is a blessing.

“”We are blessed that in this country we are given a say in politics and how our government should work,” that reader responded.

Another acknowledged the divide that has become more apparent.

“Voting is the surest and best way for our votes tot come together–however the threats to this incredible American right has been threatened this year,” the reader said. “I hope we learn from it and that people do not fear one another’s vote, but rather welcome it so our democracy should work as it should vs. everything being totally politicized.

“I hope that after today, America will feel more as one, however it will take some time to mend the issues that have led us to this furious boil. Those that are angry are hurting in some way, and I hope that there is some way to address that hurt so they can feel that we are all in this together.”

The results:

President
  • People Newspapers Readers August: Trump/Pence 50%
  • People Newspapers Readers September: Biden/Harris 51.2%
  • People Newspapers Readers October: Biden/Harris 54.8%
  • People Newspapers Readers Election Day: Biden/Harris 56.3%
  • Dallas County Voters: Biden/Harris 65.13%
  • Texas Voters: Trump/Pence 52.20%
Senate
  • People Newspapers Readers August: John Cornyn 51%
  • People Newspapers Readers September: John Cornyn 48.8%
  • People Newspapers Readers October: John Cornyn 50.3%
  • People Newspapers Readers Election Day: MJ Hegar 48.4%
  • Dallas County Voters: MJ Hegar 61.22%
  • Texas Voters: John Cornyn 53.60%
U.S. House District 32
  • People Newspapers Readers August: Genevieve Collins 49.5%
  • People Newspapers Readers September: Colin Allred 49.3%
  • People Newspapers Readers October: Colin Allred 52.3%
  • People Newspapers Readers Election Day: Colin Allred 45.3%
  • Dallas County Voters: Colin Allred 52.82%
  • Texas Voters: Colin Allred 52.00%

Dallas County Sheriff

  • People Newspapers Readers August: Chad Prda 46.9%
  • People Newspapers Readers September: Chad Prda 44.9%
  • People Newspapers Readers October: Marian Brown 48.2%
  • People Newspapers Readers Election Day: Marian Brown 53.1%
  • Dallas County Voters: Marian Brown 64.47%
Democrat, Dallas County Comm. Pct 1
  • People Newspapers Readers August: Patrick Harden 46.4%
  • People Newspapers Readers September: Patrick Harden 40.1%
  • People Newspapers Readers October: Theresa Daniel 43.1%
  • People Newspapers Readers Election Day: Theresa Daniel 48.4%
  • Dallas County Voters: Theresa Daniel 67.54%

Texas House 108

  • People Newspapers Readers August: Morgan Meyer 49%
  • People Newspapers Readers September: Morgan Meyer 47.8%
  • People Newspapers Readers October: Morgan Meyer 51.3%
  • People Newspapers Readers Election Day: Morgan Meyer 45.3%
  • Dallas County Voters: Morgan Meyer 49.66%

Texas House 114

  • People Newspapers Readers August: Luisa Del Rosal 36.6%
  • People Newspapers Readers September: John Turner 39.1%
  • People Newspapers Readers October: Luisa Del Rosal 40.1%
  • People Newspapers Readers Election Day: John Turner 40.6%
  • Dallas County Voters: John Turner 53.61%

Bethany Erickson

Bethany Erickson, former Digital Editor at People Newspapers, cut her teeth on community journalism, starting in Arkansas. She's taken home a few awards for her writing, including first place for her tornado coverage from the National Newspapers Association's 2020 Better Newspaper Contest, a Gold award for Best Series at the 2018 National Association of Real Estate Editors journalism awards, a 2018 Hugh Aynesworth Award for Editorial Opinion from the Dallas Press Club, and a 2019 award from NAREE for a piece linking Medicaid expansion with housing insecurity. She is a member of the Education Writers Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Association of Real Estate Editors, the News Leaders Association, the News Product Alliance, and the Online News Association. She doesn't like lima beans, black licorice or the word synergy.

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