Opinion | Trump, the Resistance and What Democrats Should Do Next: 11 Voters Discuss.

Joseph, 57, New York, white, office manager

Disappointing.

Ashley, 19, New York, Black, student

Unpredictable.

Julie, 49, Texas, white, medicine

Scary.

Denise, 27, Georgia, Black, unemployed

Confusing.

Harold, 54, Florida, white, construction

Scary.

Nick, 26, Pennsylvania, white, finance analyst

Anxious.

Spencer, 30, Illinois, white, therapist

Chaotic.

Ariel, 23, Indiana, white, assistant

Backwards.

Laura, 66, Missouri, white, mail carrier

I was going to say “scary,” too.

Terrell, 39, Texas, Black, nonprofit

Alarming.

Zarina, 42, California, Latina, program management

Fascist.

Joseph, 57, New York, white, office manager

We’ve seen this play before. And now it’s being ramped up worse than it was prior. People are not stepping up to stop it from rolling down the hill.

Laura, 66, Missouri, white, mail carrier

Things are getting eliminated right and left. I don’t think a lot of thought’s going into it. It’s scary to me that somebody like Trump could be elected by our country. I’m just dumbfounded, really. I just don’t know where it’s going to go, and I don’t know who’s going to fight it.

Denise, 27, Georgia, Black, unemployed

He and his administration are trying to take away this and that. And they don’t even understand what they’re doing, in my opinion.

Ashley, 19, New York, Black, student

I said “unpredictable” because even with people who I know in real life that are nowhere political, all of a sudden, they’re starting to talk about politics. I think the unpredictability when it comes to the economy is what’s scaring people.

Harold, 54, Florida, white, construction

I’m in my mid-50s, and across my lifetime, I’ve seen the United States be so resilient. I feel like it is something we could come back from. But whether it’s a short time or a long time, I just feel like it’s going to still be very tough to come back from. Still, I try to stay positive and say we’ll survive this. We’ll survive Trump.

Ariel, 23, Indiana, white, assistant

There are some short-term concerns, but what concerns me are long-term systemic things like the slash and burn with science, for example. It’s going to take a while to rebuild and rebuild trust in the things that the government was using and doing.

Zarina, 42, California, Latina, program management

I’m an older millennial, and I think we’re the first generation ever that actually is in a worse financial situation than our parents. So I think 50 years from now, we’re probably still going to have a lot of people that owe a lot in terms of loans that are being severely underpaid or just aren’t able to find work.

Terrell, 39, Texas, Black, nonprofit

I worry about the xenophobia and tribalism that’s really pervasive in our day-to-day interactions. I wonder if some people feel like they still have a place in our country. And then I think about how we are viewed globally.

Nick, 26, Pennsylvania, white, finance analyst

I’m definitely concerned about a deprioritization of climate and education and the strength or overreach of the executive branch. I think we’ll definitely see impacts of that in 50 years.

Spencer, 30, Illinois, white, therapist

Historically, after major swings toward one side or the other politically, when we come out the other side, things go stronger the other way. So I’m hopeful — and a lot of this is just me trying to get through all this — that if we have a strong enough response to the chaos, we’ll have protections in place so that things like this won’t happen again.

Spencer, 30, Illinois, white, therapist

I knew it would be bad. I just didn’t think it would be this bad this fast.

Joseph, 57, New York, white, office manager

I don’t think those that voted for him really realized what he was going to do and how much he was going to hurt those that voted for him.

Ashley, 19, New York, Black, student

Low key, Costco and their defense of D.E.I. A lot of corporations are supporting Trump, so to see Costco take the opposite stand really surprised me.

Terrell, 39, Texas, Black, nonprofit

It surprised me how quickly colleges and universities folded on D.E.I. efforts. I knew they weren’t going to last, but it surprised me how quick they were to unplug that. I’m also concerned about how the I.R.S. and ICE now are like, “Hey, let’s link up, and let’s look at the undocumented citizens who are filing their taxes.”

Laura, 66, Missouri, white, mail carrier

I’m probably one of the older ones of you, closer to the generation of the rioting back in the ’60s. But I am surprised and disappointed that there’s not more response. There’s just people out there that should be responding in a harsher way or more constructive way. I’m really upset that people aren’t taking this more seriously and just letting it happen because they’re scared. Everybody’s scared.

Julie, 49, Texas, white, medicine

I will reiterate what was already said, that it was surprising how quickly the colleges folded. I feel that way about just about everyone. It’s like the guy opens his mouth, and everyone’s like, “Yes, we will do that.” I think it’s great that Harvard is trying to stand up to this, but it would appear that they are still doing what he wants behind the scenes. So it’s disappointing.

Zarina, 42, California, Latina, program management

F’s across the board. It’s unfortunate when you take a look at just what this country was founded on. These branches are supposed to be checks and balances for each other. And right now, there don’t seem to be checks anywhere. There are certain judges that are standing up to him. But I’ve still been very disappointed just specifically when it comes to, especially, the judicial branch and then also Congress as well. There’s these elected officials that are supposed to represent the interest of the greater people here. I don’t think they’re actually representing any of us at this point. And in fact, just everyone’s falling in line with the person that was elected as president.

Ariel, 23, Indiana, white, assistant

Disappointing, a little bit.

Harold, 54, Florida, white, construction

Ariel took the words out of my mouth. Disappointing.

Spencer, 30, Illinois, white, therapist

Useless. I’m sorry.

Terrell, 39, Texas, Black, nonprofit

Inept.

Nick, 26, Pennsylvania, white, finance analyst

Increase the financial security of the average American.

Julie, 49, Texas, white, medicine

I feel like we’re facing a threat to our country. And I feel like they should be fighting that. And I don’t see it. I feel like they’re just trying to still play the game the way the game used to be played. And that’s not how it’s being done anymore. They have to fight.

Julie, 49, Texas, white, medicine

Think about the way the Republicans have been doing this for the last few years. It’s like deciding that just because Obama only has a month or so left in his presidency, we’re not going to give him that Supreme Court seat. They just decided that. The Republicans fight filthy. And I get it. I believe in being fair and doing the right thing. But we can’t play that game right now, because these people will destroy us. We have to fight back.

Zarina, 42, California, Latina, program management

I think back to when Bernie Sanders was running. He really embodied this whole idea of an outsider. The best candidates seem to come in and talk about how they’re looking to transform the status quo, which Bernie wanted to do by taxing the superrich fairly. I think if Democrats are looking to revitalize their base again, I think they have to stop serving corporate interests the way that they are right now.

Denise, 27, Georgia, Black, unemployed

I think we should keep supporting the judges and all who are trying to fight back at Trump’s executive orders. I see the points of view that the other participants have brought up. Maybe Democrats can look into a different way of fighting back. But I also feel like they’re doing the best that they can under these circumstances.

Joseph, 57, New York, white, office manager

We’re going to have to deal with this for the next four years. The best thing for us to do is worry about the midterms, flip as many seats as we can so that we have the majority to change or stop things.

Terrell, 39, Texas, Black, nonprofit

You need to go back to the drawing board and reconnect with common people and talk about how you can work toward helping people get what they need. We know how bad it is. We knew homie was bad before he left the office the first time. We knew homie was bad before he ran. No one cares how villainous he is.

Ariel, 23, Indiana, white, assistant

Focusing on Trump and how bad of a threat he was didn’t work. And I think they were too focused on 2020 because it worked in 2020. But he was already in power. Moving forward, they need to do what Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders have done — the Fight Oligarchy tour, reconnect with people, find out what the average American wants — and then run with that platform through the midterms.

Ashley, 19, New York, Black, student

Yeah, Trump was impeached twice, and nobody cared. It’s so hard to even defend Democrats anymore because they don’t stand on their convictions enough. Especially now over the last 100 days, it’s really tiring. And I think people just need a sense of hope. And I’m not getting that. We just need to know that you are on our side, because it doesn’t feel like it.

Laura, 66, Missouri, white, mail carrier

I’m probably, like, one of 10 Democrats in the entire county. I’ve had to change the way I talk and look at things. Otherwise, I’m not going to have any friends or any neighbors. And speaking to that, I see my co-workers and all the people here who voted for Trump. They can’t give you a reason why. Voting Republican is just what their family does. I don’t think fighting Trump is the entire answer. But we’ve got to do something to bring the two parties together to talk without shouting, because it’s just not going to work any other way. We’ve got to talk. And that’s hard.

Zarina, 42, California, Latina, program management

A European friend told me, “If half of this were to happen in my home country of France, everything would be burned down right now.” I’m not advocating violence, but I think a general strike would probably be best, in terms of just, OK, for those of us that actually do believe in a true democracy and government actually representing its people, it’s very, very clear that this government is not going to look out for most of us. If our politicians are not going to, we have to look out for ourselves.

Spencer, 30, Illinois, white, therapist

They just need to fight more. They’re so status quo is the problem. They are so entrenched in corporate interest. You have Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer going on their book tours during the first few months of the collapse of democracy in our faces. It’s shocking and just so disappointing and clear that they’re out of touch at this larger level. At a local level, you see a lot of people in smaller government who are Democrats who are doing much better work, who are uniting their communities, who are fighting to strengthen their communities and bring people together.

Julie, 49, Texas, white, medicine

I’m trying to think of the people that are out there doing stuff. Bernie Sanders and A.O.C. are doing stuff. Jasmine Crockett has been very vocal and is a fighter. Pete Buttigieg. And all but Bernie are pretty young. What we need is some youth in this. We’ve been letting the older crowd make the decisions for too long.

Denise, 27, Georgia, Black, unemployed

Yes, I’d also like to go off of that and mention Senator Cory Booker and his marathon Senate speech that surpassed the Strom Thurmond filibuster. That was great.

Spencer, 30, Illinois, white, therapist

Gov. JB Pritzker, the way he is fighting vocally and standing up and saying no to what’s happening right now — that’s the kind of fight that we need in the party right now. And I would love to see him in more of a position of leadership in the party, as much as I would hate to see him not be the governor of my state anymore.

Nick, 26, Pennsylvania, white, finance analyst

It seems like right now Schumer and Pelosi are the current leaders. It’s a hard question, but I think it maybe should be A.O.C. or Pete.

Ariel, 23, Indiana, white, assistant

I’m upset with Jeffries because I saw an interview where he said: We can’t really do anything. It’s disappointing to hear that. And when Schumer caved on the budget proposal that he switched up on and essentially lectured people on how it should have been done and trying to defend himself, it just feels like they’re not listening and they’re trying to tell people how things should be done and they’re doing it right and “We know what’s going on, and you don’t.”

Ashley, 19, New York, Black, student

I’m not really into them, per se. The types of candidates I pay attention to are ones like Jasmine Crockett. She’s the most brutally honest person, and I 100 percent respect that because sometimes things just need to be said. There’s so much “I want to spare your feelings, so I don’t want to be too blunt.” But we’re at a point where we have to be really, really honest. And sometimes people need to hear it the way it is. And that’s why I really like Jasmine. She just says it how it is.

Laura, 66, Missouri, white, mail carrier

Some of it good, some of it bad. I feel like the Democratic Party and the leadership act too much like gentlemen, trying to do and say the right thing. And they just need to take their gloves off and make decisions and come to conclusions, do something.

Terrell, 39, Texas, Black, nonprofit

It seems like they’re running out the same defense, even though they see that it’s not working. You’re getting killed, but you’re still running the same game. You’re still using the same political tactics. You gave a grand speech, and you broke a record. It’s all performative. What are you doing to really reconnect with people, to galvanize and pull people together?

Terrell, 39, Texas, Black, nonprofit

I don’t care about you getting on TV and doing interviews. We know that you’re going to do that, and it’s political theater. If you’re out in the streets and you’re rallying with people and you’re going out and you’re speaking to people like us and you are sitting down and hearing our ideas and voicing our concerns and I see you standing with me and next to me, that, to me, feels like a stronger connection than you being on some prime-time news network.

Ashley, 19, New York, Black, student

I feel like he should have dropped out way before he did, because it was very apparent that he was physically sick. When Kamala became the nominee, I didn’t think she had a good chance because she didn’t have enough time to prepare for anything. I think he primarily played a role in why she didn’t win, because he didn’t drop out soon enough.

Zarina, 42, California, Latina, program management

Ashley nailed it. It’s unfortunate because it’s the most powerful person that we have in the country. And Biden made a lot of promises — I didn’t forget about them, in terms of student loans and taking a look at really reconnecting with people and just improving the conditions of the working class. And he just didn’t set the Democratic Party up for success, where he dropped out and then we had Kamala Harris step in. And yeah, that’s great, she had a lot of qualifications, but also, if we’re talking about a democracy, at least I always remember, there’s a process and a primary that leads to that nomination.

Denise, 27, Georgia, Black, unemployed

I think with what he did by dropping out of the race because of those concerns about his age — that was a great decision to hand it over to Kamala Harris. Unfortunately, we’re fighting a lot of systemic racism here. And the real reason I believe that she didn’t win is because she is a woman of color. She’s a woman, and then she is also Black and brown.

Joseph, 57, New York, white, office manager

Biden came in and cleaned up a mess and did a very good job of it. Yes, he should have stepped down sooner so that we would have had time to prepare a better candidate. But we’re the only country that doesn’t believe a woman could be in that position. If we could change two simple things, things would run better. Term limits on everybody — Senate, House — you’re in there for a certain time. You can’t do your job? You’re out.

Joseph, 57, New York, white, office manager

I think if she would have had more time to prepare and be prepped in the sense of, yes, let’s get someone in there with young blood. But we also want someone who’s older and experienced standing beside them to make sure they don’t make mistakes.

Spencer, 30, Illinois, white, therapist

I don’t think she was given a fair opportunity to show on a national level what her abilities and ideas would have been. There’s such a deeply entrenched white supremacy and sexism in this country that that’s a hard equation to make right now when the threat is against fascism, even though she would be such a good leader. I am surprised that we’ve heard so little from her, from Tim Walz, from any of the previous leadership. They’re just gone. That’s a little surprising to me.

Ashley, 19, New York, Black, student

Honestly, I’m OK with her not saying anything, because she lost, and she accepted it. I feel like if she was constantly promoting herself in the party, people would still complain because it’s like, “Oh, she can’t live it down.” She lost, and she accepted it. And it’s fine. I’m not really expecting her to just come back, especially when people were attacking her a lot, especially about her race. I wouldn’t want to come back, either.

Nick, 26, Pennsylvania, white, finance analyst

I’m happy to not hear from President Biden, and I’m glad that Kamala Harris accepted the defeat with grace and we haven’t heard too much. But I would want to hear a little bit more from her and from Walz, too.

Nick, 26, Pennsylvania, white, finance analyst

I saw that picture of her hiding her image from photographers when she was meeting with Trump, which I thought was bad. But at the same time, I think the best policy for a Democratic front-runner is to steal that base from Trump, those types of people that voted for him. I think working together is a good strategy, going forward.

Spencer, 30, Illinois, white, therapist

Normally, I’d be all for reaching out across the aisle, but we are not reaching out across the aisle to a normal right versus left. This is somebody who is destructive and hateful and advocating for arrests of legal citizens and deeply destructive and dangerous things. I think it’s better to appeal more to a strong moral base on the opposite side. The people who voted for Trump are always going to vote for Trump. People who are not going to vote for Trump are never going to vote for Trump. Anybody who’s undecided is just apathetic. And that’s maybe who needs to be reached out to.

Joseph, 57, New York, white, office manager

I’m going to go with “demoralized.” Everything is not what we hope for. I don’t think that talking with the other side will work, because they’ve never listened to us in the past. And they still want to be in power and do what’s best for them or their donors. There is a little hope if we pick the right people to stand up and represent us in the midterms. And in four years we should have a shot to change things around and make things better.

Harold, 54, Florida, white, construction

I feel more demoralized. At one point I kind of believed in Trump. At one point, years ago, I just did. When Biden stepped down, I was almost hoping and praying that Ms. Harris would get in there. I feel like I have more faith in institutions instead of our own president. So many things are spiraling downward that were supposed to be going upward.

Ariel, 23, Indiana, white, assistant

I’m definitely more demoralized. I think I’m having an internal battle of how to step forward, how to step up at this moment. I should be at the front lines, protesting. But as a woman, I’m terrified for my rights. It’s definitely a battle every day, and it’s very hard to lean on anyone or anything right now because I don’t know.

Laura, 66, Missouri, white, mail carrier

The only thing that keeps me going is knowing that after the Republicans have messed up the government, the Democrats will be there to fix it. That’s the only thing I can have any hope for in the future. Historically, that’s what’s always happened. It’s just sad. I don’t even know what to think or feel anymore.

Terrell, 39, Texas, Black, nonprofit

Learn from this.

Julie, 49, Texas, white, medicine

Same.

Nick, 26, Pennsylvania, white, finance analyst

Connect with that Trump base better than in the previous election.

Spencer, 30, Illinois, white, therapist

If you fight for people, then they will help you pick up when you get hurt.

Joseph, 57, New York, white, office manager

Don’t go by what the other side is saying. Go by their actions.

Zarina, 42, California, Latina, program management

Remember your roots. Tax the rich. Tax corporations. Go back to serving your constituents.