A Final Dispatch From America’s Bellwether

The Run-Up

For months now, “The Run-Up” has been traveling around the country talking with people, trying to ensure that when today came, whatever happened wouldn’t feel like a surprise.

So as people go to the polls to cast their vote for Kamala Harris, Donald Trump or someone else, we wanted to return to the place where we started almost exactly a year ago.

Clallam County, in the northwest corner of Washington State.

It’s the last true bellwether county in America. Voters there have correctly picked the president every year since 1980.

Last year, what we found in Clallam really did match the mood of the country.

Democrats were worried about Joe Biden’s age. Some Republicans were hoping they might have an option other than Donald Trump. And overall, people expressed frustration with their options and both political parties.

On Election Day, we return to Clallam to hear what’s on the minds of these voters — people whose feelings and decisions could reflect how the country votes.

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