FLORIDA — Quiet Dunedin, Florida, by the Gulf of Mexico, has the look and feel of a small town. But in the weeks before Election Day, the voters living here may have some of the most important voices in the entire country.
Dunedin's Pinellas County and the rest of central Florida are a diverse mix of demographics and party affiliations. Voters here sometimes tip the balance of an election toward the state's more Republican northern areas, while other times they side with Florida's Democratic-leaning southern counties.
As many here like to say, all roads to the White House go through Florida.
The state's national role is especially true this election season: Florida is a must-win for Republican Donald Trump. In addition, Trump is a key factor in so-called down-ballot House races across the state that will determine the makeup of the next Congress.
Several congressional races in central Florida — like many across the country — have turned into a referendum on Trump.
Ellen, a lifelong Republican in Pinellas County who asked that her last name not be used, lives in Florida's 13th Congressional District. She's exactly the kind of voter the party fears this election season. Describing herself as a Christian and a conservative who is unconcerned by Trump's faults, Ellen is more focused on the disorder within the Republican Party that resulted in a failure to fully support its nominee.
"I think it's sad, really, that we don't have enough backbone in our leadership to stand up and say we'll work on that later, but for now let's make sure [the Democrats] don't get control," she said.
Ellen says she will leave the Republican Party after this election. In the meantime, she has no intention of voting for anyone down-ballot "unless they have acknowledged, publically endorsed or said they're going to vote for Mr. Trump. If you're not going to vote for your nominee, I'm not going to vote for you."
Her vote in the election for Florida's open Senate seat will go to Marco Rubio, who continues to support Trump. But in the race for Florida's 13th Congressional District, where incumbent Congressman David Jolly has refused to endorse Trump, Ellen plans to vote for a third-party candidate.
"If you're not going to vote for your nominee, I'm not going to vote for you. David Jolly — I'm not voting for him," she said.
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