The past years have been full of people not understanding other people. Filled with “us” and “them.” The upcoming years need to be filled with listening and understanding. Leading to “we” and “all.”

— Mark Gorman, 73, retired environmental nonprofit and government employee, Bloomfield

This is fantastic and inspiring that we can Make America Great Again just like we did eight years ago.

— name not provided, 45, president of a community nonprofit organization, Sheraden

We must develop a Fourth Estate which informs and reflects exactly what happens. … Four more years of “Trump covfefe” will be insufficient to preserve our democracy. And we must broaden the political spectrum to three full dimensions, not one limited to extremes.

— information not provided

Terrified. I am considering fleeing the country. … I am scared for my child and her future. I am mourning all the good things I have worked so hard to get in this life that are going to change. The only thing keeping me from fleeing the country is knowing that my family, friends, neighbors, and community are all familiar here. And we will only ever get past this together.

— Marylou Lenhart, software engineer, Avalon

Pennsylvania failed the nation. The future is bleak with a president devoid of moral principles. Hate is encouraged and vulgarity will reign. I am old and sad that my final years will see the refutation of my optimistic view that this nation has mostly kind citizens. I fear for the future of my children and grandchildren. Good people, there is much work to do to counteract the administration we just elected.

— Rebecca & Jim Studer, 83 and 81, retired scientist and engineer

Pessimistic. People ignore facts, science, and even what they are seeing with their own eyes. How do you reason with that?

— name not provided, 32, Lawrenceville

I wonder if our country is as mean, petty and fearful of one another as this victor symbolizes. Why are Americans so afraid of, and therefore opposed to, living with “other” people? … My heart is heavy, I’m mourning what I thought would be possible with a President Harris. … Maybe we are the most fearful, self-isolating and stingy people on earth. Time to get to work, whatever path that is.

— information not provided

The night is darkest before the dawn. But dawn will come.

— Andie Grey, community advocate, Beaver County

I’m feeling that we must continue — and intensify — nonpartisan, pro-democracy work.

— Greg Laski, 41, writer/scholar, Sewickley

Who’d of thunk this wouldn’t work out well? Appointing a deeply flawed candidate (not coming out of a primary process), dismissing all discussion of the Gaza genocide, embracing and campaigning with the likes of the Cheneys, and dismissing average Americans’ financial struggles. The DNC strikes again!

— “Nemo,” 65, Pittsburgh

I am terrified that this may be the end of democracy as we know it. This also might spell the death of any efforts to address climate change.

— Connor Griffin, 31, social worker, McKees Rocks

I don’t know what to think. … A slim majority of American voters saw fit to elect a self-aggrandizing, convicted felon who has co-opted the presidency and judicial system for his personal gain, to pardon himself and his criminal actors, who has no idea how to solve any of the problems that plague our society.

— information not provided

I am terrified, disgusted and devastated. I want to nap, so that maybe I can wake up and realize this election (and its results) were all just some horrible nightmare. I fear for the safety and future of my friends, my community, this country.

— “E,” Allegheny County

I am feeling fantastic. I look at the beautiful, little faces of my grandchildren knowing that my friends and I contributed to providing them the opportunity to live free and make their own decisions on how, where and with whom they want to live without intrusion from big brother government.

— Tom Ryan, 72, certified public accountant, Pittsburgh

I will never understand people who vote against their own interests. While I get that our system is built to actively prevent us from learning about — and thereby changing — the system, I’m always shocked to see the groups that will be most harmed vote for candidates on the right.

— Michael J. Gibson, 36, communications director, Brighton Heights

I am disappointed and sad, but not too surprised. I had hoped enough people would side with democracy and fairness for all, but patriarchy, sexism, and racism came to the fore — again.

— Susan, 70, part-time interpreter, Friendship

Notice how magically, for no apparent reason, the elections that were full of fraud, cheating, illegal immigrants and dead people voting in the millions, are now wonderfully free and fair without a hint of scandal.

— Daniel Bair

I am discouraged by particular groups within the nation who put self-importance and greed before the good of all and good of our shared planet. Election night I heard the crowd yell, “Give us Barabbas!” … They got him.

— name not provided, Pittsburgh

I feel optimistic solely because the Trump win seems to be not due to his ability to win more votes but because of the Democrats’ ability to lose votes. If the Dems are able to run a more widely appealing candidate and in a climate where inflation isn’t a big worry, I think they’ll win.

— David V. Auth, 27, law graduate student, North Oakland

As a senior, I feel so much sadness over the unfinished business we have now pushed on to our children and grandchildren. Every long-term problem we have — from environmental protection to making housing and health care affordable, from strengthening public-sector systems (including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid) to assuring reproductive rights — is now at greater risk than it was before the election.

— Barbara Sieck Taylor, nonprofit executive, East End of Pittsburgh

More optimistic federally and statewide than I had been. Looking forward to lower gas and groceries prices. Regionally, I’m concerned that there were no changes in state House and Senate districts that favor conservatives. Also the significant margin which Democrats won by.

— Todd McCollum, 54, chairman, City of Pittsburgh Republican Committee, North Side

Exhausted and empty.

— Christine, 39, nonprofit professional, West View

We are circling the bowl at this point. It seems like evil is going to win out. I feel bad for the kids of today because tomorrow is going to have a lot of pain and suffering.

— John Sayenga, 63

Extremely anxious about the future of the country and the world. The policies of the incoming Trump administration are unlikely to benefit most Americans and are likely to do great harm to the United States’ relationships with erstwhile international allies.

— name not provided, Squirrel Hill

It is too soon to ask this. And this is emblematic of the entire problem. Just stop. Breathe. And get back to me next week.

— information not provided