Jarryl Larson is a passionate progressive. Her husband, Byron Johnson, is a longtime Republican who cast his first presidential ballot for Dwight Eisenhower in 1956. The two are seemingly a political odd couple, especially during a presidential election year, but the couple — married for 26 years — agree more on candidates and issues than disagree.

Both participated in the Maine Presidential Caucuses in March. Johnson, 82, voted at the Lincoln County GOP Caucus wearing an oversized Wendell Willkie for President campaign button. Willkie was the 1940 Republican presidential nominee defeated by Franklin Roosevelt.

Johnson joined 745 other county Republicans who voted in the caucus at Wiscasset Middle High School. Johnson cast his ballot for Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who finished third behind the winner, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, and New York billionaire Donald Trump, who eventually won the GOP Presidential nomination.

On March 6, Larson, 75, voted in the Lincoln County Democratic caucus in Wiscasset. Like Johnson, her candidate, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, lost. As the two major political parties prepare to nominate their presidential candidates this month, the couple has reached agreement on who should become the 45th U.S. President: Hillary Clinton.

Johnson is a reluctant Republican. He supported Kasich because he believed the other top contenders were heavily influenced by the GOP’s Tea Party wing. He also described Trump as a “crooked contractor.”

Johnson worked for years as a city engineer in various California cities in the 1960s and 1970s. Even though he’s never met Trump, Johnson feels like he’s met the billionaire due to his dealings with other businessmen and contractors.

“In Simi Valley, I dealt with people like that before. They were the Tea Party before there was a Tea Party. They all want the governmental services, but they don’t want to pay for them,” he said.

Larson doesn’t like Trump’s demeanor, or his willingness to “bash” women, especially Hillary Clinton. She believes women voters will decide this year’s presidential contest based on resentment over his characterizations of Clinton and other women by using unflattering and demeaning names.

“Studies have shown one in three women have experienced domestic or sexual abuse. I think all of his Hillary-bashing will result in women overwhelmingly supporting her. I don’t care for the name-calling on either side, but Trump and Congressional Republicans have treated her badly which will trigger PTS (post traumatic syndrome) in women who have been treated badly in their lives.”

Larson supported Clinton in 2008, but she decided to back Sanders this year. She liked the Vermont Senator’s stance on “economic fairness” and his appeal to young voters.

“I’m glad he ran. He brought up a lot of issues that probably wouldn’t have been discussed,” she said. “He better understands the personal issues affecting people’s everyday lives in this highly unequal economic framework. I think his voice was good for the party.”

Larson described Clinton as “intelligent and bright.” She met the former Secretary of State several years ago in Massachusetts. Larson’s Sudanese-born foster child Nya Chambang’s former home village received funds from the Clinton Foundation. Larson and Chambang heard former President Bill Clinton talk about what the foundation was doing to assist the devastated village and refugees.

Her daughter created the ThonMet Peace Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, to benefit her home village in Sudan. Chambang met with President Clinton who advised her about running the foundation.

“On a personal level I think they (the Clintons) are human, but they haven’t been exposed to the average person’s pain and suffering the way Sanders has,” she said.

Johnson preferred the old Republican Party to the latest version. He admired President Eisenhower for his performance as Supreme Allied Commander in World War II and his two terms as president. In 1964, he also cast his ballot for the GOP’s “Mr. Conservative,” U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater, who lost in a landslide.

Johnson remembers the Democrats’ unfair portrayal of Goldwater as a warmonger.

“They all told me if I voted for Goldwater we’d be at war in Vietnam in six months. And they were right. I voted for Goldwater and in six months the U.S. went to war in Vietnam. So I guess I’m to blame,” Johnson said.

The couple met while working for the City of Simi Valley, California in the late 1960s. They were best friends for 20 years before getting married. This is each one’s second marriage.They both have children from a previous marriage. He has four children from  his previous marriage and she has a son. As a couple, they have raised eight refugee children from four different countries. They also host international students in their Edgecomb home each summer, according to Larson.

While Larson may not like Trump or all the name-calling associated with political campaigns, she does have kind words for one Republican in particular.

“Byron is my best friend and the kindest man I’ve ever known,” Larson said.