NEW RESEARCH: As Americans prepare to vote in next week's midterm elections, new research from Merrill College suggests political distrust may be motivating some citizens to become more engaged rather than driving them away from democratic involvement.
A study funded by
#UMD's Maryland Democracy Initiative found residents interviewed in Frederick County, Maryland, expressed deep frustration with politicians, skepticism toward news media and anxiety about the future of the American Dream. Yet many remained committed to voting, volunteering, following local news and holding elected officials accountable.
Frederick County offers a revealing setting for understanding political divisions as a “purple” county — one of Maryland’s most evenly split electorates between Republicans and Democrats.
Conducted by researchers Jodi McFarland Friedman and Sarah Oates, the study involved in-depth interviews with 18 Frederick County residents from April through June 2026 about how citizens experience American democracy.
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📸: Merrill College Senior Lecturer Tim Jacobsen
ALT Historic small-town downtown seen from above in autumn, centered on a twin-steeple white church surrounded by red-brick buildings, tree-lined streets with colorful fall foliage, and a multi-level parking deck.
ALT Crowd gathered along a canal for an outdoor evening festival, seen from a bridge where several adults—one holding a small child—lean on the railing watching tents, a stage, and people milling on brick walkways.
ALT Outdoor summer concert at a small band shell with a large seated lawn audience—families on blankets and folding chairs, kids playing, and a woman with a long braid lounging with her dog in the foreground.