Northeast
Trump’s attempted assassin was a ‘loner,’ FBI says, as experts share telltale signs in others across America
![Trump’s attempted assassin was a ‘loner,’ FBI says, as experts share telltale signs in others across America Trump’s attempted assassin was a ‘loner,’ FBI says, as experts share telltale signs in others across America](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/teen-loner-split.jpg)
Ever since Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump on July 13, a picture has emerged of his social behaviors and possible mental state.
Some residents of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania — the small Pittsburgh suburb where Crooks lived with his parents — have described the shooter, 20, as a “loner” when speaking to local news outlets.
An evaluation of Crooks’ phone revealed that he had previously searched for symptoms of depressive disorder, according to reports.
TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT COULD HAVE WIDESPREAD MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT, EXPERTS SAY: ‘VICARIOUS TRAUMA’
During a press conference call with reporters on Monday, Kevin Rojak, special agent in charge at the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, described Crooks as a “loner, as far as his association or any other activities related to his mental state.”
“His primary social circle appears to be limited to his immediate family, as we believe he had few friends and acquaintances throughout his life,” Rojak said.
Thomas Matthew Crooks is pictured in front of the Butler Fairgrounds in the aftermath of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on July 14, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Bethel Park School District; Getty Images)
Jason Kohler, who attended the same high school as Crooks, described the shooter to Fox News as an “outcast” who was always alone and was “bullied every day.”
Kohler told reporters that Crooks sat alone at lunchtime and was mocked for his clothing, which often included “hunting outfits.”
TRUMP’S SURVIVAL WAS ‘MIRACULOUS’ GIVEN BULLET’S PROXIMITY TO HIS BRAIN, DOCTOR SAYS
Looking back, some classmates said, there were warning signs that Crooks could have had the capacity to plan the type of violent attack that left one man dead, wounded two people critically and injured a former president of the United States.
![Trump survives assassination](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1722341603_113_Trumps-attempted-assassin-was-a-‘loner-FBI-says-as-experts.jpg)
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump is rushed offstage during a rally on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“The signs were there, and somebody definitely had to have known,” said Vincent Taormina, another former classmate of Crooks, in a previous interview with Fox News Digital.
When is a loner dangerous?
Jonathan Alpert, a Manhattan-based psychotherapist and author, pointed out that many loners are “absolutely harmless.”
“Being a loner in itself is not at all a dangerous trait,” he told Fox News Digital via email on Monday. “Withdrawing from society and extreme isolation can be indicative of depression, and that’s it.”
In some cases, however, people who are known to be loners can be “quite disturbed,” Alpert noted.
![Teen loner](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1722341603_715_Trumps-attempted-assassin-was-a-‘loner-FBI-says-as-experts.jpg)
“Being a loner in itself is not at all a dangerous trait,” a psychologist said. “Withdrawing from society and extreme isolation can be indicative of depression.” (iStock)
“Any extreme behavior or erratic shifts in mood suggest emotional instability and should not be taken lightly, especially if the person has a history of hostility directed at others or society,” the expert said.
“Enter into the mix obsessions with violence, weapons or death — and you have an individual with potential to inflict harm on others.”
“Any extreme behavior or erratic shifts in mood suggest emotional instability and should not be taken lightly.”
Paranoid or delusional thinking can heighten the risk, Alpert warned, from these individuals — “especially if they think they have a special mission to carry out or if they think others are out to get them.”
![Holding hands](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1722341603_366_Trumps-attempted-assassin-was-a-‘loner-FBI-says-as-experts.jpg)
“Everyone needs to feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves, and that they have people who care about them,” a mental health professional said. (iStock)
Dr. Judy Ho, associate professor and IRB chair at Pepperdine University in California, agreed that preferring to be alone is often just a personality trait, and not always a sign of potential danger.
“Sometimes people like to have some alone time to recharge, because being with people all the time is exhausting to them,” she said.
TRUMP SHOOTING: ‘GOD’S HAND OF PROTECTION WAS ON HIM,’ SAYS REV. FRANKLIN GRAHAM, OTHERS
“This is the traditional ‘introvert’ style, where they do like being with people in small doses and tend to feel more relaxed when they have ample alone time.”
Some people also tend to isolate due to depression, she noted, which often comes with signs of a down mood, loss of interest in activities they usually enjoy, irritability, low self-esteem or feelings of worthlessness, sleep and appetite changes, complaints of fatigue, and/or even suicidal ideation or self-harm attempts.
![Trump shooter graduating in a yearbook photo](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1722341603_11_Trumps-attempted-assassin-was-a-‘loner-FBI-says-as-experts.jpg)
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the would-be assassin of former President Donald J. Trump, graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)
“A more dangerous ‘loner’ mentality would involve some specific elements, such as acting like they are harboring a big secret, expressing that they feel disenfranchised or lost, or having strong feelings of people ‘wronging’ them and expressing wishes that people should pay for these types of bad deeds,” Ho said.
DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY MAY IMPACT YOUNG ADULTS TWICE AS MUCH AS TEENS, HARVARD SURVEY FINDS
Other telltale signs might include lacking a specific purpose or drive, desiring power but feeling like they lack it, and spending hours studying conspiracy theories or getting into hobbies that have some sense of danger or riskiness to them, according to Ho.
Judy Gaman, CEO of Executive Medicine of Texas and a healthy living expert, reiterated the distinction.
“Everyone gets the blues from time to time, and depression can be linked to many things such as trauma or hormone fluctuations,” she told Fox News Digital.
![mental health](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1722341603_517_Trumps-attempted-assassin-was-a-‘loner-FBI-says-as-experts.jpg)
“The loner type personality is anti-social, often angry at the world or a specific group of people, and may have a history of being bullied or abused as a child,” an expert said. (iStock)
“Transient mood changes are far different than the personality disorders that are seen in what we often term ‘loners,’” she went on.
“The loner type personality is anti-social, often angry at the world or a specific group of people, and may have a history of being bullied or abused as a child.”
5 tips for handling ‘loner’ behavior in others
If you suspect that someone you know is a loner and exhibits the warning signs shared above, there are steps you can take to help avoid escalation.
1. Carefully assess the situation
“Take note of the specific behaviors and patterns that lead you to believe he or she poses a threat,” Alpert suggested.
As part of this assessment, it’s important to avoid acting on assumptions, he added.
![Teen loner split](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1722341603_144_Trumps-attempted-assassin-was-a-‘loner-FBI-says-as-experts.jpg)
“The stigma against mental illness is still really prevalent, so sometimes knowing they are not judged for sharing their vulnerabilities will mean everything to them,” an expert said. (Bethel Park School District; iStock)
“All too often, people are quick to conclude, erroneously, that someone is prone to certain behaviors simply based on how they look — for example, not everyone dressed in black is potentially a school shooter,” Alpert said.
2. Have a sit-down without judgment
The best way to begin, according to Ho, is to share observations of some concerning behaviors without interpreting what those behaviors might mean.
“Express that you are concerned about the person and ask what’s going on, and allow silence so they can fill the space and share their thoughts,” she advised.
3. Offer help
“Once they’ve shared, ask what you can do to help, rather than assuming what you should do, or what you might want, because it can be different than what they really want,” Ho recommended.
Consider volunteering to go with the person to talk to a mental health professional or other trusted individuals if they are open to that, the doctor suggested.
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“The stigma against mental illness is still really prevalent, so sometimes knowing they are not judged for sharing their vulnerabilities will mean everything to them,” Ho added.
4. Know when to contact authorities
If you truly suspect that someone poses a danger to others, it’s best to avoid direct confrontation with the person, Alpert said.
![Teen loner silhouette](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1722341603_67_Trumps-attempted-assassin-was-a-‘loner-FBI-says-as-experts.jpg)
If you suspect that someone you know is a loner and exhibits the warning signs shared above, there are steps you can take to help avoid escalation, experts say. (iStock)
“You don’t want to set them off,” the expert warned. “Instead, contact the authorities with your concerns.”
Teachers, parents and health care providers should all be paying extra attention to mental health warning signs, added Gaman.
5. See something, say something
“We often don’t want to intrude or violate someone’s privacy, but by saying something when you see something concerning — whether to the person directly and/or to law enforcement — you can possibly save their lives as well as those of others,” Ho said.
“Don’t underestimate what you can do to help someone who is suffering. Just lending a helping ear is often enough for them to step back and see the big picture, and find a reason for hope and to continue on.”
“By saying something when you see something concerning … you can possibly save their lives as well as those of others.”
If Crooks’ isolation was a factor in his decision to commit the attempted assassination on July 13, that highlights the importance of social support for mental health, experts agree.
“Community is important to all people,” Ho told Fox News Digital.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health
“Everyone needs to feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves, and that they have people who care about them,” she went on.
“Even if it is just a very small group of friends, it’s important for every human being to feel like they have a few trusted individuals they can rely on.”
Audrey Conklin and Christina Coulter, both of Fox News Digital, contributed reporting.
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Boston, MA
2024 Boston College Eagles Football Position Preview: Defensive Line
![2024 Boston College Eagles Football Position Preview: Defensive Line 2024 Boston College Eagles Football Position Preview: Defensive Line](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4015,h_2258,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/bc_bulletin/01j40kqth1rrr5wdhqvm.jpg)
It’s a new era for Boston College.
The Eagles football program has had multiple changes in the offseason. Some of those changes include new faces at defensive coordinator in Tim Lewis, who is working his first collegiate job since 1994, and defensive line coach Jeff Comissiong, who will be working his second stint of his career with the Eagles (2007-12).
Although the coaches look different, the team retained a majority of its players which included 15 starters. With numerous players from last year’s defensive line returning, a group that helped the Eagles rank No. 70 in total defense in 2023, the squad looks to be in a solid place to continue its improvement in 2024.
Below is a look at the projected depth chart for the defensive line for the upcoming season.
Projected Depth Chart:
DE: Neto Okpala, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edwin Kolenge, Clive Wilson, Quintayvious Hutchins
DL: Kwan Williams, Gilbert Tongrongou, Ty Clemons, Regen Terry, Josiah Griffin.
DT: George Rooks, Sedarius McConnell, Owen Stoudmire.
NT: Cam Horsley, Nigel Tate, Caleb Jones.
Neto Okpala
Senior | 6’1″ 250 lbs | Loganville, Ga.
Okpala is entering his fourth season with the Eagles. During his time in Chestnut Hill, he has appeared in 35 games which included ten starts (all in 2023) and has tallied 26 total tackles (13 solo and 13 assisted), two sacks, one pass defended, and one forced fumble. Okpala was a three-star recruit from the class of 2021 and ranked No. 784 nationally, No. 45 in edges, and No. 72 in the state of Ga., according to 247Sports Composite.
Donovan Ezeiruaku
Senior | 6’2″ 247 lbs | Williamstown, N.J.
Ezeiruaku is entering his fourth season with the Eagles. He had a standout junior campaign, earning a starting spot. During his time in Chestnut Hill, he has tallied 116 total tackles (65 solo and 51 assisted), 20 tackles for loss for 81 yards, 11.5 sacks for 53 yards, three passes defended, and three forced fumbles. Ezeiruaku was a three-star recruit from the class of 2021 and ranked No. 1,239 nationally, No. 132 in linebackers, and No. 23 in the state of N.J., according to 247Sports Composite.
Edwin Kolenge
Redshirt Sophomore | 6’3″ 248 lbs | Montreal, Quebec
Kolenge is entering his third season with the Eagles. During his time in Chestnut Hill, he has appeared in 16 games and tallied 18 total tackles (eight solo and ten assisted), 3.5 tackles for loss for 20 yards, two sacks for six yards, one forced fumble, and one block. Kolenge was a three-star recruit from the class of 2021 and ranked No. 759 nationally, No. 74 in linebackers, and No. 4 in the state of Conn., according to 247Sports. Although a Canada native, he is a product of The Loomis Chaffee School in Winsdor, Conn.
Clive Wilson
Redshirt Sophomore | 6’4″ 263 lbs | Youngstown, Ohio
Wilson is entering his third season with the Eagles. During his time in Chestnut Hill, he has appeared in ten games, mostly on speical teams. Wilson was a three-star recruit from the class of 20222 and ranked No. 1,136 nationally, No. 143 in defensive linemen, and No. 33 in the state of Ohio, according to 247Sports Composite.
Quintayvious Hutchins
Redshirt Sophomore | 6’3″ 246 lbs | Bessemer, Ala.
Hutchins is entering his fourth season with the Eagles. During his time at Chestnut Hill, he has appeared in 17 games, mostly on special teams, has played in both the defensive end and tight end positions, and has tallied six tackles. Hutchins was a three-star recruit from the class of 2021 and ranked No. 1,438 nationally, No. 78 in edges, and No. 63 in the state of Ala., according to 247Sports Composite.
Gilbert Tongrongou
Redshirt Sophomore | 6’3″ 263 lbs | Woodbridge, Va.
Tongrongou is entering his third season with the Eagles. Duirng his time at Chestnut Hill, he has appeared in five games and tallied six total tackles (one solo and five assisted) and one fumble recovery. Tongrongou was a three-star recruit from the class of 2022 and ranked No. 875 nationally, No. 119 in defensive linemen, and No. 20 in the state of Va., according to 247Sports Composite.
Kwan Williams
Junior | 6’2″ 306 lbs | Baltimore, Md.
Williams is entering his third season with the Eagles. During his time in Chestnut Hill, he has appeared in 22 games and tallied 20 total tackles (seven solo and 13 assisted). Williams was a four-star recruit from the class of 2022 and ranked No. 391 nationally, No. 52 in defensive linemen, and No. 9 in the state of Md., according to 247Sports Composite.
Ty Clemons
Redshirt Junior | 6’3″ 273 lbs | Decatur, Ala.
Clemons is entering his fourth season with the Eagles. During his time in Chestnut Hill, he has appeared in ten games and tallied four tackles. He missed the entirety of last season with an injury. Clemons was a three-star recruit from the class of 2021 and ranked No. 1,462 nationally, No. 79 in edges, and No. 64 in the state of Ala., according to 247Sports Composite.
Regen Terry
Redshirt Senior | 6’3″ 293 lbs | Florence, Ariz.
Terry is entering his third season with the Eagles after transferring from Arizona after the 2021 season. He has yet to appear in a game during his time at Chestnut Hill and missed the entirety of the 2023 season due to injury. Terry was a three-star recruit from the class of 2020 and ranked No. 855 nationally, No. 42 in wide defensive ends, and No. 20 in the state of Ariz., according to 247Sports Composite.
Josiah Griffin
Redshirt Freshman | 6’4″ 242 lbs | Springfield, Mass.
Griffin is entering his second season with the Eagles after redshirting during his freshman campaign. Griffin was a three-star recruit from the class of 2023 and ranked No. 1,758 nationally, No. 194 in defensive linemen, and No. 15 in the state of Mass., according to 247Sports Composite.
George Rooks
Redshirt Junior | 6’5″ 282 lbs | Jersey City, N.J.
Rooks is entering his second season with the Eagles after transferring from Michigan during the 2022 offseason. Last season, he started in 12 games and tallied 28 total tackles (13 solo and 15 assisted), 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. Rooks was a four-star recruit from the class of 2021 and ranked No. 271 nationally, No. 35 in defensive linemen, and No. 6 in the state of N.J., according to 247Sports Composite.
Sedarius McConnell
Redshirt Junior | 6’3″ 282 lbs | Atlanta, Ga.
McConnell is entering his first season with the Eagles after transferring from Illinois. During his time with the Fighting Illini, he tallied 11 total tackles (five solo and six assisted) and one pass defended. McConnell was a three-star recruit from the class of 2021 and ranked No. 1,187 nationally, No. 140 in defensive linemen, and No. 108 in the state of Ga., according to 247Sports Composite.
Owen Stoudmire
Redshirt Junior | 6’1″ 284 lbs | Creston, Ohio
Stoudmire is entering his fourth season with the Eagles. During his time in Chesnut Hill, he has appeared in 19 games and tallied 17 tackles. Stoudmire was a three-star recruit from the class of 2021 and ranked No. 1,283 nationally, No. 151 in defensive linemen, and No. 51 in the state of Ohio, according to 247Sports Composite.
Cam Horsley
Graduate | 6’4″ 306 lbs | Cinnaminson, N.J.
Horsley is entering his fifth season with the Eagles. During his time in Chestnut Hill, he has appeared in 48 games which includes 35 starts and has tallied 122 total tackles (58 solo and 64 assisted), 11.5 tackles for loss for 43 yards, 3.5 sacks for 19 yards, five passes defended, and one fumble recovery. Horsley was a three-star recruit from the class of 2020 and ranked No. 1,627 nationally, No. 118 in defensive tackles, and No. 36 in the state of N.J., accoridng to 247Sports Composite.
Nigel Tate
Redshirt Junior | 6’3″ 320 lbs | Washington, D.C.
Tate is entering his fourth season with the Eagles. During his time in Chestnut Hill, he has appeared in 13 games and tallied ten total tackles (two solo and eight assisted). Tate was a three-star recruit from the class of 2021 and ranked No. 893 nationally, No. 114 in defensive linemen, and No. 23 in the state of Md., according to 247Sports Composite.
Caleb Jones
Redshirt Sophomore | 5’11” 315 lbs | Chesapeake, Va.
Jones is entering his second season with the Eagles after transferring from North Carolina A&T after the 2022 season. During his time with the Aggies, he tallied 20 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks. He missed the entirety of the 2023 season with an injury. He was an unranked recruit from the class of 2022.
This is an ongoing series on Boston College Eagles On SI. Check out our other position previews here. Offensive Line | Tight Ends | Wide Receivers | Running Backs | Quarterbacks.
Pittsburg, PA
We went to Pennsylvania to ask voters how they’re feeling. Here’s what we learned
A view of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 29, 2024.
Nate Smallwood for NPR
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Nate Smallwood for NPR
Who’s going to win?
Voters in a handful of battleground swing states will decide whether former President Donald Trump will return to the White House or if Democrats’ gamble of replacing President Biden with Vice President Harris as their nominee will keep him out.
A Morning Edition team visited Pittsburgh and some of its suburbs to hear from voters in Pennsylvania about how they’re feeling about the revamped race. We knocked on doors, visited local parks and attractions and even attended a family dinner.
Voter turnout here in Allegheny County was critical to Biden winning the state four years ago. More people voted than in 2016 and, even in towns that Biden lost, he still picked up support that got him across the finish line.
Pennsylvania narrowly went for Trump in 2016, breaking its run of voting for the Democratic presidential nominee since 1992. His message resonated with working-class voters here, where the coal, steel and manufacturing industries have been in decline for decades.
On our visit, we learned that plenty of enthusiasm and support for Trump remains.
Retired police chief Alan DeRusso told us he’s excited to vote for Trump again as a “Let’s Go Brandon” flag fluttered on his front porch.
What do his neighbors here in Moon Township think of his political sign, we ask.
“I really don’t care,” he said with a chuckle. “I mean, as a cop, I couldn’t do too much. But as I’m retired, I can do whatever I want.”
He told us he’s a registered Democrat, but that he can’t stand the party anymore.
Alan DeRusso poses for a portrait outside his home in Moon Township, Pennsylvania on July 23, 2024.
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He listed off his concerns, including inflation, trans kids in sports and border security, which he linked to Harris.
“She’s been [to the border] once for a drive thru. That was it,” DeRusso said. “What’s come to our border? Nobody knows.”
Some conservatives have incorrectly claimed that Harris was assigned to be Biden’s “Border Czar.” The vice president was tasked with examining causes of migration in 2021, primarily from Mexico and Central America.
When it comes to Trump’s felony convictions – for falsifying business records to hide a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels – the former police chief has concluded that Trump did nothing wrong.
“I think there should be a full investigation as to why those charges were even pursued,” DeRusso said.
Down the street, his neighbor Mahendra Shukla, a naturalized U.S. citizen from India, felt similarly.
Trump’s conviction in New York earlier this year didn’t change his view of the former president and he felt the case was unfair because of when it was tried in court.
“He was guilty, not now, he was guilty whenever he committed the crime, but nobody came after him [then],” Shukla said.
Shukla spoke to us as a construction crew worked on renovations to his home, which he has lived in since 2016.
A neighborhood street in Moon Township, PA on July 24, 2024, where NPR journalists talked to several residents about their views on the election.
Nate Smallwood for NPR
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He voted for Trump that year and again in 2020, but his politics are not clear cut, he said. He’s a registered Republican. But in 2008, when he became a U.S. citizen and first eligible to vote, he did so for President Barack Obama.
![Left: Kathleen Madonna-Emmerling, Right: John Wink](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1500x1500+254+0/resize/100/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4d%2F6d%2F35e6af0f4a4c9b3e85856a8cf718%2F1.jpg)
This election, he said he will definitely not be voting for Harris. Shukla said he was concerned that gender and race played a role in Harris’ selection as vice president in 2020. That year, Biden did say he would select a woman to be his running mate but did not explicitly say that it would be a person of color.
So, we asked Shukla, does that mean he’d vote for Trump a third time? “Ideally, I would not like to vote for Donald Trump,” he said, adding, however, that he sees a benefit to Trump.
“Most politicians are two people. One is on the camera and the other is on the back side,” Shukla said. “Democrats and many Republicans, they don’t show their real person. I want to see the real person. [With] Donald Trump, the advantage is that I get what I see.”
A few miles north in Sewickley, Sylvia Marco was thrilled at the prospect of voting for a woman presidential candidate.
We met her as she was helping to lay out booths for a harvest festival near Beaver Street, an area lined with trendy restaurants and shops in this affluent suburb.
Sylvia Marco poses for a portrait in Sewickley, Pennsylvania on July 24, 2024.
Nate Smallwood for NPR
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“I liked [Harris] all along,” Marco said. “Of course, I would love to see a woman president because I was all in for Hillary Clinton.”
She’s concerned about Trump’s fitness for office, the GOP’s 2024 platform, the state of democracy and his seeming admiration of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Her husband, Bob Marco, whom she described as being a little more conservative than she is, was nearby.
“Bob!” she called and he made his way over. We asked if he would be canceling out Sylvia’s vote with a vote for Trump.
Robert Marco, poses for a portrait in Sewickley, Pennsylvania on July 24, 2024.
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“Yeah,” he responded, chuckling, before quickly backpedaling with “No, I’m not. No, I’m not.”
“If he votes for Trump, he’s being kicked out of the house,” Sylvia quipped.
“I’m voting for Harris,” he said, adding that he doesn’t want a president who is a convicted felon.
In South Heights, a town that sits just off the Ohio River, Reggie and Jim Madonna’s family gathered for their weekly Tuesday night dinner.
There we met their grandson Jimmy Madonna, a 25-year-old working in environmental inspection and compliance in the oil and gas industry. He’s the kind of newly energized voter Democrats are likely to be relieved to hear about.
He sat with us, eating a plate of halupki, a stuffed cabbage dish. He told us he’s always leaned left on politics, but this year, it’s been harder to get excited about the election. Though he disagrees with Trump and is concerned about Project 2025, a roadmap created by a conservative group to expand presidential authority, Biden just wasn’t the candidate for him.
Jimmy Madonna, 25, of Pittsburgh, Pa., poses for a portrait following a dinner with family in South Heights, Pennsylvania on July 23, 2024.
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“If Democrats can’t put up a candidate that can beat Trump and Trump becomes the president, then democracy needs to learn from that,” Jimmy Madonna said. “You have to beat him in an election one way or another, and whatever is produced by him the same way.”
But Madonna said Harris stepping in as the likely new Democratic candidate made him reconsider.
“The day that Joe Biden stepped down, I went from thinking ‘I might not vote in this election’ to ‘I’m definitely going to vote in this election, and be more involved in it,’” Jimmy Madonna said.
The race may come down to voters like Adrian Dilworth of the Hill District, a historically Black Pittsburgh neighborhood, and Cindy Runco of suburban Moon Township.
Dilworth was out and about in the neighborhood, near Salem’s, a grocery store that opened earlier this year to alleviate the area’s need for fresh groceries.
She feels that Biden stepping down was the right move, but she wishes Democrats had considered other candidates. She’s also worried about Harris’ past as a prosecutor and her approaches to criminal justice that have drawn criticism from advocates.
Dilworth, who returned to live in this neighborhood to be near family after many years away, said it needs jobs, more housing and better funding for its schools and roads.
The Hill District neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 24, 2024.
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Dilworth said she would like to hear Harris’ plans specifically for the country and Pittsburgh and see them come true. We asked if it mattered at all that Harris could become the first Black woman president. “It doesn’t matter as far as the qualifications. I want somebody who’s qualified to do the job and who’s going to be a candidate for the people,” Dilworth said. “There’s good, bad and indifferent in every color and every race. So I want to see a person that really has the best hearts and minds for the people.”
![Bar chart: If November’s presidential election were held today, whom would you support? Donald Trump: 46%. Kamala Harris: 45%. Undecided: 9%.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2702x2700+1030+0/resize/100/quality/100/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2F4d%2F8ea737e745a5a49e1aa96bf8cd31%2Fartboard-1-3x.png)
Back in Moon Township, we met Runco, who had just taken her granddaughter to the playground at Moon Park, where kids played on a splash pad, volunteers walked around picking up trash and as joggers circled the park.
We spoke to Runco as she and her granddaughter watched a plane come in low for a landing at nearby Pittsburgh International Airport.
“I am a registered Republican, but I don’t like the extreme right of the party,” Runco said. “I’m a little frightened by Project 2025 and how that will influence or is influencing the party.”
Runco spent 20 years in a Christian ministry and generally opposes abortion, but feels it is sometimes medically necessary.
She wants a moderate position on that issue and also thinks Democrats veer too far to the left. She’s not a fan of what she called Trump’s “bullying” and him calling people names, but she feels the alleged assassination attempt on him may have humbled him. She thinks he could still move back to the center, which she prefers.
A view of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 24, 2024.
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“I’m right in the middle right now,” she said of how she will vote.
And now there’s one more factor in her indecision.
“I’m concerned with Kamala, a woman, when you go up against somebody in the world like Putin and what’s happening in China in some of those countries, I am concerned about that,” Runco said. “I don’t know that it’s the right time. Running the country is one thing, but international affairs is a whole ‘nother issue.”
She’s not persuaded by the examples of women who have run other nations.
“Because we are such a large, powerful country. It’s not like if you had a woman in a smaller country. Now, I do consider, depending on who the VP is, if it’s a strong man, that there might be enough.”
Connecticut
Asterisks, registration deadlines, early voting hours: A guide to the Aug. 13 CT primary
![Asterisks, registration deadlines, early voting hours: A guide to the Aug. 13 CT primary Asterisks, registration deadlines, early voting hours: A guide to the Aug. 13 CT primary](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2024/07/16/PTCN/74428065007-vote.jpg?auto=webp&crop=787,443,x0,y0&format=pjpg&width=1200)
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The Connecticut state primary election is Aug. 13, with early voting scheduled for Aug. 5-11. Winners of the primary election will be placed on the general election ballot for Nov. 5.
Connecticut primary elections are for enrolled party members only. Unaffiliated voters (those who are registered to vote, but not enrolled in a political party) must enroll in the party of their choosing prior to the voter registration deadline in order to participate in the primary election.
Candidates who are running unopposed do not participate in the primary election.
Here is what you need to know about the state primary election.
Can I vote in the primary election in Connecticut?
In Connecticut, there is only a primary election if there is a race.
There is a Republican primary in all 169 communities; there is a Democrat primary in only 28 communities.
The following communities have a Democrat primary: Bethany, Bloomfield, Bridgeport, Chaplin, Colchester, Danbury, East Granby, Ellington, Enfield, Granby, Hamden, Hampton, Hartford, Lebanon, Monroe, New Britain, New Haven, Norwalk, Scotland, Somers, Stamford, Stratford, Suffield, Trumbull, West Hartford, Windham, Windsor, Windsor Locks.
Want to make your vote count? Our CT voters’ guide helps make your voice heard in 2024
There is a Republican race to be on the ballot for U.S. Senate. Because U.S. Senator is a statewide office, every city and town will have a Republican primary.
The following communities have a Republican primary in addition the U.S. Senate primary: Bridgeport, Bridgewater, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Hebron, Killingly, Mansfield, Monroe, New Canaan, New Milford, Norwalk, Oxford, Pomfret, Putnam, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Scotland, Shelton, Southbury, Stamford, Thompson, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, Wilton, Windham.
Who is on the ballot for my primary election?
There are no primaries for the Democrats in Norwich area communities.
Like all Connecticut communities, there is a Republican primary in all Norwich area communities. In this race, Gerry Smith of Beacon Falls is facing off against Matthew M. Corey of Manchester.
Of the Norwich-area communities, only Killingly will also have a Republican primary for the state Senate seat currently held by Mae Flexer. The district also includes the towns of Brooklyn, Canterbury, Mansfield, Pomfret, Putnam, Scotland, Thompson and Windham.
In the Republican state Senate race, voters will choose between Chris Reddy of Hampton or Susanne Witkowski of Thompson.
Why is there an asterisk next to some candidates’ names?
The asterisk indicates that the candidate has been endorsed by the state party.
When is early voting?
Early voting starts on Monday, Aug. 5, and is available for seven days, ending on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Early voting locations are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on each day of early voting, except for Tuesday, Aug. 6, and Thursday, Aug. 8, when extended early voting hours are available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
More: Connecticut elections: Add these 16 important dates to your 2024 calendar
Where do I go for early voting?
Early voting usually takes place at a location different from the election day polling places.
In Norwich, early voting will be at City Hall, 100 Broadway, Norwich.
In Griswold, early voting will be at Town Hall (Meeting Room), 28 Main St., Jewett City.
In Killingly, early voting will be at the Town Hall, Registrars’ Office, 175 Main St., Danielson.
Plainfield has two early voting locations. Voters in district 001-47 and 002-44 will vote at Town Hall, 8 Community Ave., Plainfield. Voters in district 003-44 will vote at Moosup Fire Department, 37 South Main St., Moosup.
Am I registered to vote?
You can check your voter registration status on the CT Secretary of State’s website.
When is the deadline for voter registration for the primary?
While same-day voter registration is available for the general election in November, it is not available for the primary.
To vote in person on election day, new voters (those who have never before registered to vote in Connecticut) and unaffiliated voters (those registered to vote but not enrolled in a political party) must register in person at their Town Clerk or Registrar’s Office by noon on Monday, Aug. 12.
A comprehensive look: What’s going on around the United States ahead of the elections
New voters who wish to participate in early voting must register in person by noon of the business day before the day they wish to vote.
Unaffiliated voters who wish to participate in early voting must register in person by noon on Friday, Aug. 2.
When will results be available?
City and town clerks will begin posting results after all votes are counted. They are not permitted to begin counting votes until after the polls close at 8 p.m. on Aug. 13.
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