Ricky Brinkley, a 65-year-old Democrat, is a retired truck driver working in his daughter's beauty supply store in Nashville, N.C., March 11, 2026. Brinkley says he votes in every presidential election but not all midterms — and never hears directly from candidates for high office. Voters like Brinkley will be critical to Democratic Senate candidate Roy Cooper's campaign this fall. (AP Photo/Bill Barrow)