LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Moments before early voting, a Gwinnett County couple split their votes on their tickets, showing marital unity amid political disharmony in the 2024 election.
Michelle Wilson and her husband Shywan Wilson said they had trouble deciding between Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris.
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“We didn’t look at the person. We looked at their issues,” said Michelle Wilson.
The couple remained undecided until the final day of early voting.
“As we were coming here, we were having a debate in the house before we got here,” Michelle Wilson said.
The two voted at an early voting site in Lawrenceville, a Republican stronghold for decades. It flipped in 2016 when its voters supported Democrat Hillary Clinton.
The Wilsons have been married for four years. Issues-wise, they approached this election from different perspectives.
“Me personally, it being allowing men to be inside bathrooms with girls,” Shywan Wilson said, alluding to issues surrounding transgender athletes — which the Trump campaign messaged intensely during the campaign’s last weeks.
Michelle Wilson shared opposing views with her husband over transgender athletes.
“That was one of those (issues) we were definitely going back and forth. I believe if you’re different, you should be who you want to be,” Michelle Wilson said. “The other one is women’s rights, so that’s a big one.”
When the Wilsons arrived at the polling site, they agreed to disagree—he voted for Donald Trump, and she cast her ballot for Kamala Harris.
“But we are here together as a married couple,” Shywan Wilson added.
He signaled the strength of their love and marriage amid the political discourse the two share with their contrasting views.
“No one should crucify another because of the way you vote. That’s what’s wrong with America now,” Michelle Wilson said. “Everyone gets upset because someone doesn’t agree with them. That’s not what America is about. Everyone should have their own opinion - even if you live together.”