Logan Circle and Shaw: Voter priorities and what we saw on Election Day

Human equality was a common motive for voters at polling places in the Logan Circle and Shaw neighborhoods today.

Although they’re two neighborhoods with significant LGBTQ+ populations, voters shared with The Wash that the social issues they’re focused on this election season include the economy, abortion, democracy, climate change and marijuana legalization.

“I have friends who are like, ‘If Trump wins, then [gay] marriage will go away, and we’ll be stuffed back into the closet,’” said Joseph Schroder, who wrote in his vote for president at the Shaw polling place. “I don’t think that’s actually true.”

On the other hand, Clifton Hogan, who voted for Harris near Logan Circle, said he’s worried by Project 2025 ideologies as a gay man.

“Obviously, gay marriage hasn’t been made illegal, but Roe v. Wade was decided precedent, but here we are two years later,” Hogan said. 

The Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Library was a lively polling spot, with an outdoor line stretching the length of the building. The volunteer site coordinator, who did not share her name in fear of being perceived as representing the D.C. Board of Elections, said the voter turnout has been “overwhelming in a good way.”

The site coordinator said she’s seen a diverse and enthusiastic flock of voters, many of whom registered to vote on the spot. She said this contributed to the long wait times and line, which moved to the shaded side of the library around lunchtime after voters complained of baking in the heat.

People running for office, including Brooke Pinto for D.C. Council and Nicole Shea for Shaw’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission, were also outside the library with their teams campaigning and talking to voters.

Outside the library, Schroeder said he’s focused on the economy, federal debt, and the way the country budgets, which are top-of-mind issues. While his identity as a gay man changes how he culturally views things, he wrote in a candidate because his views don’t align with Kamala Harris nor Donald Trump.

“I’m in D.C., so I feel like I have the privilege of being able to [say] my vote doesn’t matter,” he said. “If I was in Pennsylvania or something, I would have to make a real choice and probably vote for [Harris], but at the moment, I’m sort of casting a protest vote.”

D.C. is notorious for voting blue in each election. In 2020, 92.1% of voters in the District voted for Joe Biden.

Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church near Logan Circle had a less lively outdoor crowd. Still, voters reported that the printed ballot system was out of order, so everyone was required to vote digitally. One man walked out of the polling place shortly after entering, declaring to passersby that the indoor line was too long for him to wait in during a break between food deliveries.

Jacynta Smith, registered to vote in North Carolina, said she’s focused on bodily autonomy and is hopeful as her home state is a swing state.

She was found outside the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church waiting for Corey Littman while he voted. Littman’s priorities are abortion, climate change and marijuana legalization.

Regarding LGBTQ+ issues: “I’m not personally in that community, but I do want them to have the protections everybody deserves,” Littman said. “It’s not my highest priority, personally, but I do think it’s important.”

Emily Menge voted for Harris at the Logan Circle polling place, prioritizing women’s rights and democracy.

“D.C. is dramatically [Democrat], so I don’t think it’s shocking that most of these people are voting for her,” Menge said. “Without D.C. statehood, it … doesn’t make you feel great about your vote.”

James Ashton, who was chanting “Trump, Trump, Trump” under his breath as he exited the Shaw Library polling location, said he voted Republican due to the economy and border issues.

David Lublin, department chair and professor of government at American University, said he hasn’t seen many people say LGBTQ+ rights are a number one priority for voters in this election. 

“In particular, I’ve seen this election as a battle of whether abortion or immigration is the most important issue,” Lublin said.

Lublin said transgender issues have been a discussion point for some Republicans, mainly due to gendered sports and restrooms, but “the lack of discussion of same-sex marriage and related questions I think show to what an extent that it’s no longer really a debatable proposition in the U.S.”

The polls will close at 8 p.m. In the Shaw neighborhood, Kamala Harris will host an election night watch party tonight at Howard University.