Four years ago, I regularly visited Trump Country to see the woman who would become my wife the following year. We started seeing each other during the height of election season. I had no doubt about the political leanings of the community of Palm Coast, FL. There were Trump/Pence signs everywhere. I witnessed a group of people at a busy intersection, waving signs and encouraging drivers to “Honk for Trump!” There was far too much honking going on for my taste.
I lived in Orange County (Orlando), where Joe Biden won 61% of the vote to Trump’s 38%. Trump won the State of Florida, so it only stands to reason that there are large portions of the state where Trump supporters make up the majority. Flagler County is one such place where Trump won 60% of the vote.
This time around in the 2024 election, people are generally less passionate in their visible support for Trump. Some outliers have their home and yard plastered with Trump material. But it’s a lot less. The neighbor’s home I photographed four years ago is down from 12 signs in his yard and one in a window to one large Trump banner on his garage door. I’ve met that neighbor while walking my dog and he waves when I drive by when he’s out. My next-door-neighbor who used to work in his yard wearing a Trump hat, hasn’t worn it in a few years. I’ve seen no groups at intersections and heard no honking of horns.
A year after the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol, 76 Floridians had been arrested, including several from Palm Coast and surrounding communities. That number has continued to grow. I suspect if there’s another call to come to the Capitol with the promise, “It will be wild!” People might think twice before making the ride up to DC.
People don’t talk about politics much in the workplace anymore; it’s too divisive. Trumpsters generally don’t attempt to defend their positions because there are mostly few facts to support them. Non-Trumpsters, those who believe in science, facts, and truth-telling, are tired of bumping their heads against the wall, so they aren’t saying much. In-person arguing has been replaced by fighting it out on the Internet; the peace is mostly kept.
I’m now a resident of Palm Coast. I have developed a community here of my wife’s friends and several I’ve cultivated on my own. We host a game night every few months, and I have a few activities to keep me busy besides writing. Seeing fewer Trump signs could be a sign of weariness among Trump supporters. I overhear fewer conversations in grocery lines and restaurants proclaiming their support. Many of my new neighbors used to assume that everyone else must love Trump. Now they don’t discuss him like the disgraced family member not mentioned at family dinner.
I’ll know soon if Flagler County voters feel differently about Trump when they finish voting. Enthusiasm is certainly down. I voted early a week ago, and the line was primarily white people, reflecting the population. The sign wavers weren’t supporting Trump but for local candidates running for city council or the mosquito control district (don’t ask) with three elected board seats. I could speculate all day about the reduction of Trump signs and noise. It certainly makes things seem more peaceful.
This post originally appeared on Medium and is edited and republished with author's permission. Read more of William Spivey's work on Medium. And if you dig his words, buy the man a coffee.