Can an independent vote for Trump in 2024?

[Shermann]

Technically, of course. But can you really vote for Trump and claim to be an independent in good faith? In 2016, sure. He ran as an anti-politician. In 2020 this was becoming a bit of a stretch as he already had one impeachment under his belt. In 2024, he's up to two impeachments, 91 felony charges, and broke his Oath of Office for the Presidency by not facilitating the peaceful transfer of power. What's the attraction there for an independent? I submit that a Trump vote in 2024 exposes you as a hardcore MAGA-Republican.

[SoFlaBro]

1. Only a stupid motherfucker can vote for that soggy bag of shit.

shit

[brush]

2. Absolutely a stretch for any indy to vote for trump in '24.

Dems will get the majority of indies, now 50% of the electorate, and that means another Biden win...possibly the House and Senate too (can't imagine McConnell winning again after his freeze before the mic and camera. He's an old man in ill health).

[Shermann]

3. I have to believe this is the case

That said, I haven't seen any polling on the subject.

[ITAL]

6. McConnell isn't up again until 2026

I suppose he may step down before then, but I'd assume he'll be there through January 2027.

[brush]

7. Wishful thinking on my part. If he has yet another health scare, I hope he has...

enough sense to step down. I'm starting to think there should be an age limit in Congress.

[Brainfodder]

4. Technically one might be in a hurry and miss click here & there and vote for the laughing stock of..

wherever he is?

Maybe lost a bet, maybe ironically/sarcastically, maybe they want the world to burn since Edna left them?

People are strange after all.

[Shermann]

5. I guess some independents engage in identity politics

A lot of people don't really follow the news and just vote for who they like personally. I guess an independent vote can be pillared on ignorance.

[Ms. Toad]

8. No reason they can't.

The entire point of being independent is that you vote for whichever candidate you believe will best serve the country (or is most aligned with your beliefs), without regard to party. There's no reason Trump can't be that person.

In fact, an independent who votes for Trump might be an independent for similar reasons to why I consider myself an independent. From my perspective, the Democratic party is too centrist for me, and is not willing to stand up for marginalized individuals if doing so might cost them votes. I do not want to align myself with individuals who don't have my back. For practical reasons, I vote in the Democratic primary (that's where I have the most chance to vote for someone closer to my beliefs). I do voter protection for Democrats. But I have no particular allegiance to the Democrats, any more than the party has ever had a solid allegiance to the LGBT community. In a similar way, an independent on the other end of the spectrum might believe that the mainstream Republican party did not go far enough to the right, but still vote Republican most of the time. And they might even feel that Trump best represents where the country should be going. I disagree with them - but that doesn't make them not an independent voter.