Steve Walls is a 38-year-old electrician in Philadelphia. He never was really into politics – until 2016.
Walls has been excited about Donald Trump’s chances since he first talked about running for president years ago. But the wave of energy around Trump’s campaign this year swept him up. Walls works long hours, but he started door-knocking every chance he got.
Reporter Laura Starecheski and photographer Charles Mostoller joined Walls on the last leg of his journey. They followed him in the final weeks of Trump’s campaign and through Election Day in northeast Philadelphia.
All along, Walls saw what Democrats, journalists and pollsters had missed: Trump was bound for victory.
Steve Walls went door-knocking for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at least 10 times in the runup to the election. His northeast Philadelphia neighborhood of Mayfair is mixed politically. In 2012, about 60 percent of people here voted for Democrat Barack Obama, 40 percent for Republican Mitt Romney.
Credit: Charles Mostoller for Reveal
“We need to get over this political correctness. Everybody’s got to stop getting their feelings hurt. Time to put your big boy shoes on, go to work.”
– Steve Walls
Frank Giuffre, a disabled veteran, told Walls that he was planning to vote for Trump. Walls said he saw support for Trump all across the city. Credit: Charles Mostoller for Reveal
“When you ask them what they’re gonna vote for, 90 percent of these people are going, ‘I’m gonna vote for Trump.’ ”
– Steve Walls
Kay LeBlanc, another Mayfair Trump supporter, opposed Democrat Hillary Clinton because of her stance on abortion. LeBlanc said she couldn’t believe any Catholics would vote for her.
Credit: Charles Mostoller for Reveal
“Don’t you feel most of the people voting for Clinton are brain dead?”
– Kay LeBlanc
A collection of doctored playing cards shows Obama and local Philadelphia Democrats who have been indicted or are under investigation. The display is titled, “Philadelphia Democratic Cesspool of Corruption – So Sad – Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely in Philly.” Credit: Charles Mostoller for Reveal
“I want somebody that’s proud of my country. Not somebody who wants to rip it apart because the rest of the world doesn’t view us right. If they don’t view us right, it’s not my problem.”
– Steve Walls
Walls spent election night watching returns at the Tailhook Tavern, a military bar in northeast Philadelphia. He’d predicted Trump’s victory weeks before.
Credit: Charles Mostoller for Reveal
“You poked the bear. The silent majority’s gonna stand up.”
– Steve Walls
Walls celebrates as another state gets called for Trump. Credit: Charles Mostoller for Reveal
“We made a stand. … It’s our time.”
– Steve Walls
How did everyone miss the Trump supporters who were hiding in plain sight? On Reveal, we learn why they kept a low profile – until Election Day, that is – and hear what they have to say now that their candidate is headed to the White House.
Laura Starecheski can be reached at lstarecheski@revealnews.org, and Julia B. Chan can be reached at jchan@revealnews.org. Follow them on Twitter: @Starecheski and @juliachanb.