18 Nov A Must-Listen-To Focus Group
Episode 14 of the Extremely Non-Extreme podcast is unique. I convened a focus group of five “swing voters” – people who do not vote a straight ticket and are not wedded to any political party. They included George Chanos, who lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he served as the state’s Attorney General. Gary Russell lives in California, where he was an engineer and Fortune 500 executive in the defense industry. Ray Lynch, who spent his highly successful career in retail store management, has lived all around the nation. Gary Hammer was born and educated in South Dakota, became a school teacher, and ultimately worked decades as an insurance industry leader. Wayne Johnson is a financial planner in the key political state of Iowa.
Politicians, their parties, and supporters should listen up, as these independent-minded folks are the very people who decide close elections. I asked an assortment of questions, the answers to which reveal:
- The thought processes these voters follow in making voting decisions, instead of just filling in all of the D or R ovals.
- Whether they vote for a candidate because they like his or her personality and background, or because they like his or her policies, or because the candidate is the “lesser of evils.”
- The last candidate for whom they were truly excited to vote, and why.
- What things are “deal breakers” – in other words, if a candidate stands for X, Y, or Z, these swing voters won’t vote for them, regardless of party.
- Their suggestions to the parties for votes to “swing” their way in 2026 state and federal races.
For the answers to these questions, click here.
(Note, my plan is to present soon a second panel – of suburban women (who are regarded as another key voting group in close elections.)
Written by Quentin R. Wittrock, founder of Principle Based Politics.
Look for his periodic posts, as this blog and the Extremely Non-Extreme podcast will explore and promote the ideas of principles and non-extremism in politics.
Principle Based Politics does not endorse or support any particular political candidate or party.
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