7 Counties in 7 Days: A Cross-Country Road Trip to Key Presidential Battlegrounds
As America heads into a pivotal election, these seven swing states—Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Arizona—are poised to play a decisive role in determining whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris will become the next president of the United States.
While all 50 states will cast their votes, the outcome in these seven critical regions may very well decide the election. The USA TODAY team embarked on a journey through seven counties—one from each of these battleground states—to talk to voters, capture their thoughts, and explore the key issues that will shape the race. 7 Counties in 7 Days: A Cross-Country Road Trip to Key Presidential Battlegrounds
Richmond County, Georgia
Georgia has emerged as a prime target for both campaigns, with Richmond County serving as a potential bellwether. Election officials anticipate a close race, as the state saw razor-thin margins in 2020. This year, voter engagement and turnout will likely determine the winner.
In Georgia’s key Richmond County, election officials are bracing for another extremely tight election outcome. Richmond County, which includes Augusta, presents a snapshot of the larger battleground in Georgia. Though it typically leans Democratic, there are conservative areas that both the Harris and Trump campaigns are targeting. The Trump campaign is focusing on mobilizing its base and attracting voters concerned with issues like the economy and border security, while the Harris campaign aims to build a broad coalition, including in rural regions often overlooked by Democrats. 7 Counties in 7 Days: A Cross-Country Road Trip to Key Presidential Battlegrounds
Beyond the candidates’ battle, another significant fight is unfolding across Georgia — a debate over election integrity, driven by election denialism that gained momentum after the 2020 race. Recent changes to Georgia’s election certification process have added fuel to this controversy.
Travis Doss, the executive director of the Richmond County Board of Elections, keeps Narcan Nasal Spray in his desk, a precaution he took after the 2020 presidential election when election workers in battleground states received fentanyl-laced mail. With another heated election approaching, Doss is confident his team can manage the upcoming vote with fairness and accuracy, despite predictions of a razor-thin result.
Cabarrus County, North Carolina
North Carolina has not gone blue since 2008, and current polling suggests a tight contest. Cabarrus County is a microcosm of the state’s changing electorate, with a sharp rise in voter registration—especially among people of color—who may tip the balance.
In North Carolina’s pivotal Cabarrus County, Democrats are energized, aiming to make inroads in a historically Republican stronghold as part of a broader effort to turn the red state blue. Cabarrus, one of the fastest-growing counties in the state, is experiencing rapid demographic shifts, including a growing population of voters of color. This has spurred Democrats to target these new voters, hoping to erode Donald Trump’s margin just enough to flip the state in favor of Kamala Harris.
While Republicans are working hard to maintain their conservative edge, Democrats see an opportunity. The state has become increasingly competitive, with recent polling showing Harris and Trump in a close race. The housing market in Cabarrus County has also felt the effects of the population influx, making affordability a key issue for many residents.
Jo Bocko, a local Democratic campaign volunteer, has noticed a change in voter sentiment since President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed Harris. As she canvasses neighborhoods in Cabarrus County, Bocko feels the momentum building. Democrats hope that by narrowing Trump’s lead in counties like Cabarrus, they can finally tip this key battleground state in their favor. 7 Counties in 7 Days: A Cross-Country Road Trip to Key Presidential Battlegrounds
Erie County, Pennsylvania
Erie County has become a symbol of political shifts in the U.S., having voted for Obama, then Trump, and later Biden in successive elections. Republicans have made gains in voter registration, making the county a crucial area to watch as Pennsylvania is once again a key battleground.
Erie County, Pennsylvania, has become a bellwether in recent elections, with its voters consistently aligning with the winning presidential candidate. This pivotal county supported Democrat Barack Obama in both 2008 and 2012, then flipped to Republican Donald Trump in 2016, before returning to the Democratic side with Joe Biden in 2020. Erie County’s shifting loyalties have made it a key focus for both parties as they gear up for the next election.
A recent University poll shows Kamala Harris holding a slim 48% to 44% lead over Trump among Erie County’s likely voters, a tight race well within the poll’s margin of error. This polling was conducted shortly after the candidates’ debate in early September, highlighting the competitiveness of this battleground.
For residents like Bill and Joyce Mallett, whose porch is adorned with Trump flags and signs—including the infamous “Let’s go Brandon” slogan—Erie County is still deeply divided. As they see cars pass by their home, they receive mixed reactions: some drivers show support with a fist in the air, while others respond with less friendly gestures. But despite the political tension, Erie County’s next choice may once again play a decisive role in determining who becomes the next president. 7 Counties in 7 Days: A Cross-Country Road Trip to Key Presidential Battlegrounds
Oakland County, Michigan
As Michigan’s richest and most populous county, Oakland plays an outsized role in the state’s electoral outcome. Reproductive rights remain a critical issue here, following a 2022 initiative to protect abortion rights that garnered widespread support from the county’s voters.
In Michigan’s suburban Oakland County, both the Trump and Harris campaigns are working to shift the vote margins in their favor, knowing that the size of the margin here could determine the outcome of the state’s election. With its 1.3 million residents and significant economic impact, Oakland County has been a reliably Democratic stronghold, but the margins of victory in this pivotal county could prove crucial in a battleground state like Michigan.
In 2016, Donald Trump lost Oakland County to Hillary Clinton by about 54,000 votes but managed to win the state by a razor-thin margin of 11,000 votes. In 2020, Joe Biden doubled Clinton’s margin in Oakland County, which helped secure his 154,000-vote statewide victory.
Now, both parties are intensely focused on mobilizing undecided voters. At the Oakland County Republican Party headquarters in Bloomfield Hills, volunteers use custom software to auto-dial voters, aiming to sway those in the middle. “We’re calling those people in the middle,” says Nate Wilkowski, the GOP field director. Meanwhile, Democratic organizers like Lori Goldman are gathering in homes across the county, conducting similar outreach efforts, hoping to widen Biden’s margin and help Kamala Harris capture Michigan.
The battle for Oakland County will be a measure not just of voter turnout, but of how well each campaign can move the needle in this crucial suburban stronghold. 7 Counties in 7 Days: A Cross-Country Road Trip to Key Presidential Battlegrounds
Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Waukesha County, just west of Milwaukee, is a Republican stronghold in a state where Democrats dominate the urban areas. As Democrats work to reduce the Republican advantage, both parties are keenly focused on this populous and influential county.
Waukesha County, once a Republican stronghold, has seen its political landscape shift, making it a crucial battleground in Wisconsin. As the largest suburban county near Milwaukee and the third most populous in the state, Waukesha is now a key focus for both parties. Historically, it delivered lopsided Republican victories, but in recent elections, Democrats have begun making inroads, narrowing the margins. This shift could play a pivotal role in determining who wins Wisconsin in 2024.
Democrats have prioritized Waukesha early in their campaign efforts, seeking to build on recent gains and further reduce Republican dominance in the county. Meanwhile, Republicans are working to retain their stronghold, knowing that large margins in Waukesha have historically helped them win statewide races.
At the Waukesha Farmers’ Market, these competing political forces are on full display. Republican state Rep. Scott Allen greeted marketgoers with a friendly offer of Packers schedules, while nearby, local vendors like Alena Joling and Patty Chones engaged with shoppers, each representing a microcosm of the county’s changing demographics and political dynamics. As both parties ramp up their efforts, Waukesha County remains a bellwether for Wisconsin’s future political direction. 7 Counties in 7 Days: A Cross-Country Road Trip to Key Presidential Battlegrounds
Washoe County, Nevada
Washoe County, home to Reno, is Nevada’s most politically divided region. Its voters are almost evenly split among Republicans, Democrats, and independents, making it a prime target for both parties. With such a diverse electorate, Washoe will be pivotal in determining which way the state swings.
Washoe County, Nevada, stands at the center of the state’s battleground politics. As the second most populous county and home to Reno, it is known for its deeply divided electorate. Washoe County has a nearly even split among Republicans, Democrats, and non-partisans, with Republicans holding a slight edge in registered voters. However, after decades of voting Republican, the county flipped blue in 2008 for Barack Obama and has stayed that way in presidential elections since. With Kamala Harris and Donald Trump now in a close race, Washoe County’s swing voters will likely play a decisive role in who wins Nevada.
As a microcosm of Nevada’s broader political dynamics, Washoe voters are focused on key issues like the economy, crime, and border security. The division is evident in the contrasting political atmospheres between places like South Carolina, where James and Claudette Deatherage once lived as Republicans among like-minded neighbors, and their current home in Reno, where political tensions run higher.
James recalls the sense of unity in South Carolina: “Everybody had the same beliefs. It was brilliant, it was fun.” But in Reno, where political friction is common, he feels less comfortable. After attending a JD Vance rally in July, James put up a small Trump sign on his fence in west Reno, reflecting the county’s divided nature and the crucial role it will play in the 2024 election. 7 Counties in 7 Days: A Cross-Country Road Trip to Key Presidential Battlegrounds
Maricopa County, Arizona
In 2020, Joe Biden became the first Democrat to win Arizona since Bill Clinton, largely thanks to his victory in Maricopa County. With a population over four million, Maricopa’s voters are heavily influenced by debates over border security and abortion rights, both of which are central to the campaigns.
Maricopa County, Arizona, is the key battleground for both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris in the upcoming election, as it holds the political fate of the swing state in its hands. As Arizona’s most populous county—home to more people than 25 states and anchored by the state capital, Phoenix—Maricopa has transitioned from a reliably red region to a deeply contested purple zone. Winning over three key voting groups in this vast county will be critical: transplants from other states, Latino voters, and moderate Republicans.
Once a conservative stronghold, Maricopa’s shifting demographics reflect broader changes in Arizona. Transplants bring diverse political perspectives, while Latino voters, a growing and influential group, have increasingly leaned Democratic. Moderate Republicans, who helped flip the county for Joe Biden in 2020, remain crucial for both campaigns.7 Counties in 7 Days: A Cross-Country Road Trip to Key Presidential Battlegrounds
In communities like Gilbert, where many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reside, the political shift is particularly noteworthy. Historically conservative, Gilbert’s Republican mayor and far-right U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs have long reflected the area’s political landscape. However, the emergence of figures like Daniel Barker, a former state appeals court judge and prominent church member, who backed Biden in 2020 and supports Harris now, underscores the growing divide within the Republican base. 7 Counties in 7 Days: A Cross-Country Road Trip to Key Presidential Battlegrounds
As Trump and Harris vie for Arizona’s pivotal electoral votes, Maricopa County’s diverse electorate will likely determine the outcome, with each campaign needing to appeal to these critical voting blocs.
As the nation braces for a high-stakes election, these seven counties will be watched closely. What happens here could very well decide the future of the presidency.