Ballots & Baseline- The Message Behind the 2025 Vote

In this episode, Patty and the crew dive into the newly released results of the 2025 U.S. elections — from the major gubernatorial races to the New York City mayoral outcome, and unpack what Americans are really saying with their ballots. We’ll explore major mood shifts, emerging themes (economy, affordability, leadership style), and what this means looking ahead to 2026 and beyond.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Whether it's life, relationships, politics, or current events, nothing is
off limits. This is the Patty and the Millennials podcast,
powered by Independence Blue Cross, helping to bridge the gap
between baby boomers, gen X and millennials.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Welcome to another edition of Patty and the Millennials and
Patty Jackson. I am a radio vet who loves a
great conversation, and that's what we have. I'm a baby boomer.
There's millennials, there's gen X, there's gen Y. Is there
anybody else? We talked to everybody. That's what we're gonna put.

Speaker 3 (00:35):
We've talked to everybody.

Speaker 2 (00:36):
Men, women, authors, We've got Kimberly Ree, she's an author,
Optimus always win.

Speaker 3 (00:44):
Kim your Jersey resident.

Speaker 2 (00:47):
This week's election was a message sent because I think
people are tired.

Speaker 4 (00:58):
Yeah, they are. I'm actually working in DC today. You know,
I'm an I'm an author, but I also have another
hat in diversity and issues around around the world. And Patti,
You're absolutely right. You know, first of all, New Jersey

(01:19):
we stepped up. We really did. I'm so proud of
the Garden State. And Mikey Cherrell is going to do
an exceptional job as many other women right historical right
and also New York. You know, they they they knocked
it out of the park. And his leadership team is

(01:42):
also going to be exceptional. So you know, what I
will say is that this election sent a clear signal Crystal.
People are tired, patty, people are exhausted of political theater
that harms real family. When you threaten shutdowns, which you

(02:04):
know we're in now, and critical support programs like snap,
you are You're not just debating policy, you're jeopardizing live
So voters choose, and they chose stability, compassion, and leaders

(02:26):
who understand the stakes for working families and the safety
of our nation. And that is the message that each
of us sent at the polls on Tuesday. I couldn't
be more proud.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
Well, it a salvo, but a message was sent with
this past election. We've got Desi, Neil here, DESI your
thoughts on this shake up with this election.

Speaker 5 (02:57):
You know where you.

Speaker 6 (02:59):
Know that you got the keys to something and somebody's
trying to open the door and they don't have the keys,
and they turn to each key one by.

Speaker 1 (03:04):
One, and you know you got the key.

Speaker 2 (03:06):
That's how I feel.

Speaker 6 (03:07):
First of all, I feel empowered from a community perspective
because I feel like, you know, there's a lot of
people who felt like.

Speaker 1 (03:13):
Votes don't matter and don't change anything.

Speaker 6 (03:15):
So this was really empowering for people to see that
we can make a difference. People who you know, were
unexpected to win in these different states have won, and
so I hope people feel invigorated, empowered.

Speaker 5 (03:27):
But I feel like.

Speaker 6 (03:28):
He shook, like the Orange is shook. He is shook up,
and I'm glad about it.

Speaker 2 (03:35):
Rees Green is in re saying college graduate, Saint Jerry's
Rees here stepping out into the world and wait, he
ad Jersey got you all.

Speaker 3 (03:43):
Your thoughts on this week's past election. I really loved
it because it's shown me that Jersey really cares about
its communities, about his kids in schools, and just showing
that we've been paying attention to what's been going on.
We don't want certain people to come run and take
over our state that don't reflect with our ideals, in
our beliefs. And I was just so glad to see
all the communities come together, but also counties flip that

(04:06):
have never flipped before. Because I will say I was
a little bit worried going into this election, but I'm
so proud to be New Jersey. Like we just showed out.

Speaker 2 (04:15):
Comedian magician Derek Lee is joining us this week's this
past week's election. Our past election really shook things up,
and a message was said, what are your thoughts on.

Speaker 3 (04:31):
The recent election.

Speaker 7 (04:33):
Well, a lot of the Democrats are going to win.
A lot of Democrats won because people don't like the
state of the world right now. So the state of
the world right now, you have it, people just not
getting their Snap benefits, people not working the government, people
are going on day thirty seven thirty. What do you
think was going to happen? When Donald Trump was in office,

(04:54):
he said himself, he said, if there was a shutdown
for five days, it's the president's fault, and it wasn't.
He's right, But now he's trying to say it's the
Democrats fault.

Speaker 4 (05:07):
Now, I love America.

Speaker 7 (05:08):
There's a lot of stuff I agree with the Democrats,
but there's some stuff I agree with with Republican But
I do agree with this. People need to get their
Snap benefits and if they don't, they're going to be
walking into Walmart stealing.

Speaker 2 (05:22):
To certain people. When things happen, this is that moment.
This is the podcast Patty and the millenials.

Speaker 3 (05:29):
And we are I'll go oh, I'll go oh.

Speaker 2 (05:32):
This past election, salvos were shot, messages were sent.

Speaker 3 (05:40):
Your thoughts on the election, all right, So what I.

Speaker 8 (05:44):
Think is people can't get comfortable. They can't think that
they've got it all figured out or that we wanted
although we did and we got them fluttered a little bit.
We gotta remember the big prize is November twenty.

Speaker 2 (06:03):
Well, do you think that most people are angry? You
think about these snap benefits you think about.

Speaker 3 (06:10):
With the government.

Speaker 2 (06:11):
I wouldn't want to be working knowing that ain't no
money coming in.

Speaker 8 (06:16):
Listen, they they better than me. I would have walked
out a long time ago. I wouldn't give a damn
if them planes wear them planes, playing that you can
lay the planes on the roof if you're not paying me.

Speaker 2 (06:29):
So you think we have to keep this effort up,
that people cannot give up and start voting for people
they care about. You, the middle class is being crushed.
We see what's happening with the poor, the elderly. It's
like they don't even matter.

Speaker 8 (06:49):
Listen, the middle class is one pay check away from
being the poor. And so we have to remember who's
are and remember this from now on. Even the people
who voted for Trump or people that didn't serve their interests,
remembers for the future. Your interests aren't best served in

(07:12):
one particular party, and you can see what that party is,
and you know now that your interest is going to
be best served with the Democrats. No matter if you're
Republican or independent, get out there vote in November and
make your voice heard.

Speaker 2 (07:27):
I really want your opinion on this last election. America
is just not in a good state decks. This government
shutdown is terrible. The fact that people can't you know,
have stuff that they need to go to snap benefits.

(07:48):
We're on the verge of the holidays. Do you think
that people are tired because I say this, a lot
of people are in trouble and they're seeing that the
possibly being lied to.

Speaker 1 (08:04):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (08:04):
I think the biggest thing that you said was people
are tired. People are getting tired of being screwed over,
people are getting tired of being lied to. And the
one thing that I saw on election Day that shook
me was Donald Trump saying that he's not going to
release that benefits despite being told that he has to
do that. And I'm looking like there's no way people

(08:26):
are going to go to the voting post and see
that and be like, well, I'm still going to vote
for people that he is endorsing, and they did not.

Speaker 2 (08:34):
It just it really is turning into the haves and
the have nots because you absolutely cannot you cannot treat
people this way.

Speaker 5 (08:49):
I think it's funny that you said that too, like
it is one hundred the haves versus the have nots.
But I think a lot of us are starting to
learn that we're closer to have nots than we are
to have We're closer to snap benefits than we are
to a billion dollars, and I think a lot of
us that reality just slapped us in the face of
very hard recently.

Speaker 2 (09:12):
This past election, I think really showed us a lot
and it's going to be very interesting and next year
with those midterms, it's going to be even more interesting.
Thank you for joining us. This is the podcast conversation
Patty and the Millennials.

Speaker 3 (09:27):
We never keep it long.

Speaker 2 (09:29):
This was a short version here, but definitely what make
you think and conversation is important. I'm Patty Jackson.

Speaker 3 (09:39):
Thanks for joining us.