This will be updated throughout the day with more dispatches from Dallas Morning News reporters who are visiting polling sites. After polls close The Dallas Morning News will have live election results for local, state and national races.
Election Day has arrived in Dallas, and hundreds of thousands of North Texas voters will hit the polls to help decide national, statewide and local races.
Many different issues are expected to drive the choices of local voters, including first-time voters. One of those major issues is the economy, which had been a major point of emphasis from politicians leading up to election day.
Here’s what local voters had to say about how the economy influenced their decisions during Tuesday’s election day:
Janet Flores of Dallas:
“Everything is expensive. It’s even expensive to get sick.”
Felix Garcia of Dallas:
“I see families struggling.”
Steven Duran of Denton:
“Trump added 25% to the national debt. He’s bankrupted every business he’s had and he almost bankrupted the United States. … You add 25% to the national debt you’re going to cause inflation, there’s no ifs, ands or buts about it.”
Clay Heldmann of Denton:
“I think that, because of some of the interest rates and stuff being so high right now, it is a little tougher for small business owners.”
Rayne Kays of Denton:
“I don’t want another four years of what’s going on now.”
Kenny Donnell of Grand Prairie:
“It really came down a lot for me to the economy.” Donnell voted Republican.
Brande Oliver of Red Oak:
“The middle class should not be struggling. And it’s not fair.”
Anna Prestridge of Red Oak:
“We got to be able to pay bills. Four years ago when Trump was in office, we were able to pay for things, we could put gas in our cars.”
Sue Ambrose, Emily Brindley, Lauren Caruba, Amber Gaudet, Kevin Krause, Arcelia Martin and Brian Womack contributed to this