Wisconsin resident Damon Anderson was left "speechless," while Nevada retiree Doug Goodman saw the justice system functioning as intended. Pennsylvania voter Charles Floray remained resolute, expressing no change in emotion.

On Thursday, Americans responded to the unprecedented conviction of former President Donald Trump on 34 felony charges with a blend of astonishment, elation, frustration, apathy, and colorful language.

Some hailed it as the rightful delivery of justice, while others, echoing Trump himself, decried it as a miscarriage of justice.

This marks the inaugural instance in American history where a former president or prominent candidate has faced conviction for a crime, a seismic verdict that left many grappling with disbelief.


For Trump, this marked the latest and most striking event in a political journey marked by numerous such occurrences — from a presidential campaign aided by foreign adversaries, through four tumultuous years of governance, to two impeachments and three other indictments still making their way through the legal process — none of which have managed to thwart his ambitions.

As preparations for the polls continue, one can explore the presidential candidates and compare their stances on key issues in our Voter Guide.

Despite the verdict, Trump retains his position as the most influential figure in the GOP, and pre-verdict polls suggest that another term in the White House remains well within his grasp.



Now, voters are pondering what lies ahead. Will the GOP truly continue into the November general election campaign with a convicted felon as its nominee?

On Thursday, Trump unequivocally stated that he isn't backing down, pledging to pursue redemption at the ballot box.

This sets the stage for a tumultuous, explosive, and unparalleled presidential race that has the potential to strain the nation's collective composure.

"It's become even more perplexing than it already was, and I find that terrifying," remarked Anderson.

TODAY US NEWS 24 spoke with swing-state residents shortly after the verdict, while many were still digesting its implications. Their responses were extensive.

"I'm sort of at a loss for words": Verdict Leaves Wisconsin Residents Astonished

Marian Azeem-Angel and Rusal Ferus, first-year graduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, were seated at the Memorial Union terrace when they learned of the guilty verdicts. 

Both cast their votes for Biden in 2020 and intend to do so again this fall.

"My friends from out of state just texted me, saying, 'It finally happened,'" remarked Ferus, originally from Georgia. "Thank goodness there's some closure to all that deliberation."In the midst of their conversation, a woman at a nearby table, reading the news for the first time, audibly exclaimed, "Holy crap."

Hannah Neece from Green Bay expressed her belief that the jury "made the right call" but admitted she was taken aback by the verdict. I honestly didn't think he'd be found guilty, let alone on all counts," shared Neece, 31, who voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020.

Similarly, Anderson, 27, from Milwaukee, didn't anticipate Trump's conviction.

"I'm a bit lost for words," said the Milwaukee resident, who didn't support Trump in either the 2016 or 2020 elections but admitted, "I was kind of rooting for the guy, to some extent.



Anderson has decided against voting in this election, unable to fathom Trump remaining the GOP nominee.

"They can't nominate him anymore, can they? Now that he's convicted. He can't be president," Anderson pondered, expressing his belief that Trump shouldn't have pursued the 2024 candidacy with a pending case against him. "If they still allow Trump to run, what kind of game are we playing? What's really happening? It's even more bewildering than before, and I find that terrifying."

Meanwhile, Appleton resident Dorothy Ternes, 84, and Waupaca County GOP chair Joel Bartel exemplify the contrasting reactions to the verdict.

"Justice must prevail, and it has," affirmed Ternes, while Bartel deemed the verdict a "misuse of our judicial system" that could potentially incite conflict.

"It's functioning as intended": Nevada Voter Emphasizes the Importance of Respecting the Verdict

Doug Goodman, an impartial voter from Sparks, underscored that the verdict "was delivered by 12 individuals mutually accepted by both parties."

"From a nonpartisan perspective, it's crucial to recognize the American justice system and acknowledge that this is how it's meant to function, so the verdict must be honored," stated the 75-year-old, who supported Clinton in 2016 and Biden in 2020.

For Tom Daly, a 76-year-old Republican from Reno, Thursday's verdict isn't final.

Having voted for Trump twice, Daly believes the case presents several appealable aspects, something the former president intends to pursue.

"The appellate court will likely overturn this, and I anticipate it happening before the election because it's evidently a significant matter," he stated. "I don't think it'll take months; I believe it'll happen within weeks."

Daly opined that if the verdict is reversed, it would benefit Trump in the election.

Meanwhile, Sparks resident Diana Mackey, a 78-year-old Democrat and retired human resources director, was savoring champagne at a local casino to mark Trump's guilty verdict.

"It's wonderful," she exclaimed, pausing her conversation to relocate due to someone arriving in a truck adorned with a Trump sign flying the Confederate flag.



Mackey reminisced about her time working in New York City during the 1980s when Trump's presence was ubiquitous.

"There was always this aura around Trump—bankruptcies, stiffing people, cheating, lying," Mackey recalled. "I'm thrilled that he's finally been held accountable for the things he's been getting away with for years.

"The trial doesn't alter my perspective": Pennsylvania Independent Unaffected by Proceedings

Floray, a 73-year-old independent residing near State College, dismissed Trump's trial as "just all nonsense."

"It doesn't make a difference," Floray remarked. "It doesn't sway my opinion on Biden or Trump."

While Floray was non-specific about his presidential inclination this year — "anyone except Biden" — he mentioned that he and his wife endorsed Trump in both 2016 and 2020 before departing from the Republican Party to become independents two years ago. He believes Trump is guilty of the same behavior many politicians engage in: attempting to preserve their image before elections.



When questioned about his inclination towards Biden, he responded, "To be honest, there isn't much, but I believe Biden will assemble a team of competent individuals and experts in their respective domains and heed their advice."

"I'm fine with another four years," he continued. "It hasn't been all that terrible."

Gilbert Jacobs, a 78-year-old retired U.S. Army officer, businessman, and college professor from Erie County, previously cast his vote for Nikki Haley in the GOP primary earlier this year, despite her withdrawal from the race against her former boss, Donald Trump, a month prior.

Jacobs cited his preference for Haley's qualifications, but ultimately, his decision hinged on temperament. "I dislike his demeanor, and of course, he was just convicted on 34 charges today," Jacobs remarked to USA Today shortly after the jury announced its verdict. "It only reaffirmed my initial concern that I don't believe we can rely on him."

Nevertheless, despite Thursday's developments, he hasn't completely dismissed the idea of voting for Trump in November. However, he openly pondered whether the GOP would retain him as its nominee. "I appreciate the Republican platform," he stated. "It's just Trump I don't favor. This places me in a particularly challenging predicament.

"Unjustly Targeted": Michigan Republican Argues Trump Received an Unfair Trial


Thomas Roy, a Republican and staunch Trump supporter from the pivotal Michigan county of Saginaw, suggested that his vote might have been swayed if he believed the trial was conducted fairly.

According to Roy, Trump should not have faced trial in the Democratic stronghold of New York, and he believes that his defense team's request for a change of venue should have been approved.

Even Andy Silk, a men's clothing store owner in the Saginaw area who intends to vote for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., expressed doubt that Trump's convictions would significantly impact the election or prompt many other independents to veer away from the Republican Party and toward a candidate like Kennedy.

"I just don't see it as a major issue," he remarked. "I don't think voters are overly concerned about it."

According to Silk, part of the reason is the nature of the offense. He believes that falsifying company records is mostly a victimless crime, and he added that the allegations regarding covering up an affair with a porn star don't resonate with many American voters.

"I think what Americans truly want is strong leadership, and we're not as interested in what happens behind closed doors," he explained.

Silk further stated that he feels neither Trump nor Biden are adequately addressing the most crucial issues, such as the economy, national debt, and inflation.

"No one... is secure": Arizona Republican criticizes Trump's verdict.

Linda Carpenter, a 61-year-old barista from Mesa, describes herself as a "conservative" Republican who has steadfastly supported Trump since before his initial election victory in 2016.

"I completely disagree with the verdict, but I also oppose the trial itself one hundred percent. It felt like a farce to me and to many others," Carpenter asserted. "To me, this is an attempt to prevent him from actively campaigning and seeking re-election. In my view, this man has been turned into a human punching bag and a scapegoat."

Having voted for Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 elections and planning to do so again in 2024, Carpenter believes that the trial will backfire for voters come this fall. She argues that the ultimate verdict will propel Trump toward another White House victory.

"If they can subject a former president to this, then no one in the public is secure. We'll never truly have a republic again... if they're imprisoning ex-presidents simply because they disagree with his politics.

Erin Dickey, a 21-year-old student at Arizona State University, didn't meet the voting age requirement for the 2020 election but has since developed an interest in national politics. She's uncertain about participating in the upcoming election, expressing a lack of enthusiasm for either candidate.

Contemplating Trump's conviction, she remarked, "It's not shocking, but I'm curious to observe the aftermath. That's a significant number of charges to be found guilty of."

"They're furious about it": Georgia Republicans anticipate a backlash against Biden.

Tim Waters, a 62-year-old resident of Georgia and the chair of his local GOP chapter in Peach County, initially learned of the news through an alert in his group chat with other Republican leaders.

"People are not just unaffected by this; they're genuinely angered by it," Waters remarked. "They're furious."

Waters, a retired electrical engineer and conservative activist, remains confident that support for the former president will remain steadfast despite his conviction.

"Typically, you'd expect a president being convicted of 34 felonies to have a negative impact," he noted, suggesting that the conviction may actually enhance Trump's appeal to voters. "I view it positively. Donations have surged overnight from what I've gathered. People are frustrated, they see through this.

Steve Sanders, a 43-year-old attorney and chairman of the Richmond County GOP in Augusta, Georgia, also learned of the verdict through a group chat with friends.

"I think the prevailing sentiment is that this trial is essentially a farce, a spectacle," he expressed.

Although Sanders wasn't initially a Trump supporter, he cast his vote for the former president in 2020 and intends to do so again this year. He perceives the trial as evidence of Trump being unfairly targeted by Democratic leaders.

"It's abundantly clear to me that this is a political maneuver orchestrated by Democrats to weaponize the legal system against their political opponents, rather than winning over voters through traditional means," he asserted.

Within his conservative community, Sanders noted a range of attitudes among Trump supporters, from ardent fans to those more ambivalent. However, even among those with reservations about Trump, Sanders believes the verdict may galvanize support for the former president.

"I think there's a segment of voters who may not align with everything Trump does and haven't always been staunch supporters," he elaborated. "But witnessing how Trump is being treated in these legal battles is rallying many of them to his side more fervently than before. This group holds significant sway within the party, so I see it as somewhat of a boomerang effect."