It’s fair to say that Pennsylvania, right now, is getting its generous share of election coverage. Pollsters and politicians across the commonwealth are constantly at odds trying to anticipate the electoral results of this battleground state. It almost seems impossible to predict but, likewise, impossible to ignore. In past elections, Pennsylvania’s results have swayed, with neither party really gaining political dominance over the other. Currently, there haven’t been answers as to which party will win the state. But, as a native Pennsylvanian, I keep asking myself: “Why are Pennsylvanian politics this way?”
One factor affecting Pennsylvanian politics is the demographic change. Beyond Philadelphia, the state’s largest city, Pennsylvania has experienced a growth of migrants to small towns in search of work opportunities. Their presence in the Rust Belt, an area throughout the Midwestern U.S. nicknamed for its aging infrastructure and industry, has tilted some long-standing Western Pennsylvanian voters towards a more cautionary and conservative stance. This conservative realignment, with the addition of new migrant voters, has created a political vacuum for candidates to campaign in.
Suburban voters are another crucial aspect of Pennsylvania politics, and their malleable votes are incredibly sought after by political candidates vying for their support. However, not all suburbs are impartial. Recently, suburbs in Delaware, Montgomery and Chester counties have become more left-leaning, in part due to their proximity to a reliable Democratic bastion like Philadelphia, compared to the slightly right-leaning, but still swing northeastern and western counties of Northampton and Erie, respectively. Regardless, suburban votes have been frantically fought over during this election cycle, and for a good reason: Their votes might possibly be the deciding factor in this upcoming election.
You may be asking yourself, “What does this mean for me?” It means whether you’re a resident of Pennsylvania or merely a visitor in this beautifully complicated state, the deciding votes in the current national, state and local elections could make a significant impact in swaying the balance of power in government. So, make your plan to vote in this election.
