Writer’s Note: This is an aggregated piece I put together for my Reporting and Writing Across Platforms class at the University of Georgia. While completing this assignment, I learned to come up with a story idea using topics trending on social media and Google Trends, search for already published articles to gather information from and embed social media posts in my writing.

Biden, Trump Compete for Older Vote at Villages

The Villages is Florida’s largest retirement community and greatly contributed to Trump’s Florida win back in 2016. With so many Democratic ballots mailed in Sumter County already, this “blue wave” could completely throw off the president’s plan for reelection.

A train of over 300 golf carts made its way through “Florida’s Friendliest Hometown” to the Sumter County elections office to cast ballots in support of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Oct. 7.

The Villages, a retirement community north of Orlando, houses some of the state’s oldest residents, with nearly 80% of homeowners aged 65 or older. 

While Florida as a whole continues to grow more diverse over time, The Villages remains predominantly white and Republican, with there being almost two Republicans for every Democrat, Tampa Bay Times reporter Alex Leary wrote in 2017.

In 2016, President-elect Donald Trump won by 115,000 votes in Sumter, Lake and Marion counties altogether, which encompass the 32 square mile-long community.

Sumter County, in particular, plays an important role in the president’s reelection campaign. Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report tweeted that a lack of support from the county could cost Trump the state of Florida, and possibly the entire election.

In response, incumbent vice president Mike Pence stopped at the community to hold a rally after his “Latinos for Trump” event in Orlando. 

As the Trump administration attempts to secure suburban votes, the coronavirus continues to pose a threat to the older population. 

“I’d say about a quarter of people here are wearing masks,” U.S. correspondent for The Telegraph Josie Ensor said in a tweet while covering Pence’s rally. “People have pushed their socially distanced chairs together.”