Emily RussellNorth Country voters on Trump’s handling of the economy and immigration in his second term
Outside a grocery store in Tupper Lake, Steve Reynolds gathers up carts to bring them back inside. Reynolds, who is retired and works at the store part-time, says he knows firsthand how expensive food is these days.
“To look down at a grocery cart and see 100 dollars and nothing in it is shameful.”
Reynolds isn’t a Democrat or a Republican, but when it comes to the president, he doesn’t like Trump and doesn’t buy what he claimed in his State of the Union address earlier this week.
“He said that all the prices are going down and this and that,” says Reynolds. “My electric bills are going to double if not triple in the next month, so I don’t know who he’s talking to. But if anything, I’m more ashamed of Congress to let him go the way he’s been going.”
President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
One member of Congress who’s remained loyal to Trump during both his terms is North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. That’s despite Trump withdrawing her nomination last year to be the UN ambassador. After his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Stefanik said in a statement that Trump has delivered “significant results,” including massive tax cuts.
The North Country was part of the red wave in 2024, and Trump has steadfast supporters here, like Donna Parks from Tupper Lake.
“I think he’s doing very well compared to what Biden has done in the last four years and I do support him, yes I do, all the way,” said Parks.
Parks doesn’t follow politics that closely, but one important issue to her is the economy and she’s happy with how Trump’s handled it. “It’s improving compared to Biden, yes, it’s improving,” said Parks.
In his State of the Union, Trump said the economy is “roaring like never before.” It did grow over the last two quarters of last year, though that growth did not set any records.
Dave Dohman from the town of Jay is an independent and says he’s frustrated by Trump’s false claims.
“I think he just lies about a lot of things and tries to make himself sound better, but it doesn’t seem like he’s doing very much better to me,” said Dohman.
Dave Dohman lives in Jay, NY. Photo: Emily Russell
A recent poll from ABC News, the Washington Post, and Ipsos found that about two-thirds of voters don’t approve of how Trump has handled key issues like the economy, inflation, immigration, and international relations.
Even among Republicans, unwavering support for the President is down, from 35% at the start of his second term to 27% today. That’s according to a recent study from the Pew Research Center.
Robert Whelan from Wilmington used to be a Republican, but now describes himself as an independent. “Unfortunately, I voted for Trump the first time,” said Whelan. “Not the second time, not the third time.”
Robert Whalen lives in Wilmington. Photo: Emily Russell
Whelan has a long list of complaints about the president, including Trump’s lies about the 2020 election being stolen, about his role in the January 6th riot, and about how he ignores some court orders.
But Whelan’s key complaint about Trump has to do with his handling of immigration.
“He said that he was going to get rid of the worst of the worst,” said Whelan “Instead what he’s doing is going after and terrorizing people that have full-time jobs here.”
Federal agents have detained immigrant workers in Watertown, Potsdam, Tupper Lake, and Sackets Harbor.
In Lake Placid, immigrants work many of the service industry jobs. Linda Gutmann and her husband live in the village. They’re both Democrats and speak Spanish, so they say they talk regularly with the immigrants in the area.
Paul and Linda Gutmann from Lake Placid. Photo: Emily Russell
“We feel awful that they may feel the ill effects of his so-called immigration policy, which seems just to be an anti-brown skinned policy, anti-foreigner policy,” said Gutmann.
Immigration has and continues to be a key issue for many Americans, including many in the North Country.
Thomas Owen is a retired construction worker in Saranac Lake and identifies as a conservative. Owen said he appreciates Trump’s stance on taxes and the economy, but he feels like immigration tactics have gone too far.
“I mean, I know it’s tough to get the illegals out of here, but there are other ways to do it, I suppose,” said Owen. “Maybe the ICE agents need better training.”
Thomas Owen is a retired construction worker living in Saranac Lake. Photo: Emily Russell
Serena Clement from Tupper Lake also describes herself as conservative. She voted for Trump in each of the last three elections, and she appreciates the president’s strict stance on immigration.
“I like the fact that the borders are closed. I really like that,” said Clement. “It makes us a lot more safe. I like the fact that he’s putting America first.”
Clement lives paycheck to paycheck and says that’s hard. She feels like the economy still isn’t great, but she thinks it’s better than it was under Biden.
That contrast between Trump and Biden was one several voters mentioned, whether they were Democrats, Republicans, or independents.
Kasey Tulip, 35, lives in Colton. Photo: Amy Feiereisel
Kasey Tulip lives in Colton and describes himself as a centrist. He’s frustrated by how hard it is just to talk politics these days.
“I tell people I don’t like Donald Trump, and they’re like, ‘Oh, well you must have liked Biden, and blah blah blah,’ and it’s like, no I didn’t like that guy either.” Tulip said his political preference lies somewhere in the middle.
According to the latest Gallup polling, about 45% of Americans identify as political independents, a record high. For the first time in five years, Gallup says more independents lean left than they do to the right.