Traffic moves past the Oxford town sign along Route 26 on Wednesday. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

OXFORD — David Nelson didn’t stay up late Tuesday to hear the results of the presidential election, but it didn’t take long for the news to arrive early Wednesday.

“My phone started blowing up and me and a bunch of people were texting back and forth, happy with what happened,” Nelson said. “I’m happy with the election results.”

The 56-year-old food truck operator cast his ballot Tuesday for Donald Trump, who defeated Kamala Harris in the presidential election early Wednesday. Harris won 52% to 45% in Maine. But here in Oxford, Trump crushed Harris 66% to 33%.

The Oxford County town of about 4,200 people lies at the southern edge of the mostly rural 2nd Congressional District, which backed Trump for a third time. And many residents and visitors to the town were in a celebratory mood in the hours after Trump declared victory Wednesday morning.

“I was very happy,” said Jo-Anne Royer, who was having lunch with a friend at Daddy O’s Diner. Royer, 83, said she doesn’t usually pay too much attention to politics. She has identified as a Democrat, Republican and independent throughout her life.

“I don’t always agree with what he says as far as his personality goes,” Royer, of South Paris, said of Trump. “But I think he’s sincere and wants to get the country back (to a better place).” She said Trump will be good on issues including the southern border, the economy and abortion.

Royer’s friend and lunch companion, Beverly Chase, is a Harris supporter. She was disappointed with the election outcome but said she doesn’t think a Trump presidency will impact her day-to-day life too much.

Beverly Chase, of Bethel, left, and Jo-Ann Royer, of South Paris, have lunch at Daddy O’s diner on Route 26 in Oxford on Wednesday. The friends supported different presidential candidates – Chase voted for Harris and Royer voted for Trump – but said they tend to avoid talking about politics so it doesn’t get in the way of their friendship. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

“I’m hopeful,” Chase, 74, said. “I’m a positive person and I’d like to think that something good can still come out of it.”

Outside the nearby Walmart, Nelson said Trump “is the only candidate who actually talked about policies, and not just the other candidate, and what he would do for me and my country.”

David Nelson of Oxford said he voted for Trump and was relieved that he won the election. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

“The other candidate just talked about him,” said Nelson, who lives in Oxford. “There was no policy.”

He said he supports Trump’s policies on immigration and the economy. “I’m way worse off now than I was four years ago,” Nelson said.

Jeremy Fitts also voted for Trump. “The last four years have been an economic downfall and we need a change,” the 45-year-old DJ and substitute teacher said.

Fitts said immigration at the southern border is also an important issue for him. “There’s nothing wrong with immigrants, but you have to do it properly, be vetted and come in legally,” he said.

Fitts, who lives in Oxford, said he is “not a fan of Trump himself,” but likes his policies. He said his whole family is Republican-leaning and is happy with the election results.

He said he did not start voting until the 2016 election. It wasn’t Trump’s candidacy that year that motivated him, but rather a frustration with liberal and Democratic politics, he said.

Jeremy Fitts, of Oxford, talks Wednesday about his support and vote for President-elect Trump. Fitts, speaking in Oxford, said his support was primarily over border and immigration issues, but also the economy. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

“If you don’t agree with them you’re obviously a racist or a sexist or a bigot, it’s that type of thing (that frustrated me),” Fitts said.

At a strip mall down the street, Debra Rollins, of Lewiston, said she was “beyond happy” to see the election results Wednesday.

“This morning when I woke up, I felt at peace,” the 61-year-old who cast her ballot for Trump said.

“You have to come here legally, like my grandfather did, and you can’t just let everybody in the country,” Rollins said. “Not only that, when you can’t afford groceries or gas (it’s a problem). We were a lot better off when he was president. We could afford our bills.”

Rollins’ husband, Orison Rollins, said he should be close to retirement but doesn’t see it happening anytime soon because he needs to keep working.

“We did have (Trump) for four years before,” Orison, 63, a truck driver, said. He said his company was doing better and was able to give out bonuses under Trump’s administration. “And prices were down,” he said. “Inflation was down.”

Orison Rollins, of Lewiston, looks to his wife, Debra, in Oxford Wednesday as they talk about their relief that Trump won the election. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

Orison Rollins said he thinks his life will improve under Trump, but it won’t happen overnight.

“I’m excited about what’s going to go on the next four years,” he said. “We have three grandchildren, and I want to see a better world for them.”

At Daddy O’s, 32-year-old Hilda Chang was more worried than excited.

She said Trump’s attitudes toward immigrants and minorities were one reason she voted for Harris.

Chang, who is Salvadorian, Guatemalan and Chinese, said she has been bothered by how Trump has spoken about Central American countries in the past.

“I have trans friends in different states and friends in red states, and I’ve followed what has happened in terms of the Republican party and Project 2025. Knowing what that could mean for my friends, and for the nation, really scares me,” the Buckfield resident said.

“I’m just in shock, honestly,” she said.

Bethany Paradis, of Scarborough, supported Harris and was also sorry to see the election results. Her husband, Alan Paradis, voted for Trump.

Bethany Paradis, of Scarborough, talks Wednesday with her husband, Alan, at Daddy O’s diner on Route 26 in Oxford. She voted for Harris while her husband voted for Trump. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

“I worry about abortion rights,” Bethany Paradis, 64, said. “I worry about just the discord that I think Trump brings. He inflames people. I worry about that and I am a bit fearful of his behavior.”

Asked if he is a Trump supporter, Alan Paradis said he is a Republican.

“I like what he did in his first term and I think if he would have just shut his mouth he would have been back for a second term (in 2020),” the 65-year-old said.

Alan Paradis said said he wants to see Trump secure the southern border. “If they did it right, I have no problem with (immigration),” he said, though he also worries about whether there are enough resources, such as housing, to support an influx of immigrants as well as Americans who are in need.

The couple avoid talking about politics due to their different opinions.

“And we’re still married,” Alan Paradis said with a laugh.