PA Political Playbook: How Trump Won Pennsylvania

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The most vital story

1. How Trump won Pennsylvania and what the numbers show about the future of a key swing state

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“Pennsylvania has for months been considered a key swing state that will decide the 2024 election. Candidates, political parties and advocacy groups have spent more than $1 billion courting the commonwealth’s small number of persuadable voters.

Here’s how to do it Donald Trump won Pennsylvania, and what the votes cast in some of the state’s key counties tell us about the present and future of American politics.

The highlight of the evening for me was the voter turnout in Philadelphia.” (Philadelphia Tribune)

Elsewhere

Donald Trump made his biggest gains in northeastern Pennsylvania communities near Joe Biden’s hometown. “The Inquirer analysis shows that four of the six counties where Trump had the largest percentage increase in votes in 2020 are in the Northeast, including Lackawanna County and Luzerne County.” (Questioner from Philadelphia)

Trump improved margins in rural AP, but a collapse of urban Democratic votes gave him victory. “Donald Trump won back Pennsylvania and the presidency on Tuesday when the urban coalition that propelled Joe Biden to victory in the state in 2020 failed to show up for Vice President Kamala Harris.” (Penn Capital Star)

A Tale of Two Jets: Old Media Faces New Constraints. “Donald Trump’s victory is not the result of the failure of news outlets to sufficiently hold him accountable. The real answer is much more uncomfortable: The national news media has more limited reach and influence than at any time in the modern era.” (Traffic lights)

Bad news. “Legacy media has to compete with a choose-your-own-adventure reality.” (Atlantic)

Country

2. When it comes to Trump’s support, Northampton County continues its 120-year record of electing presidents

Magisterial District Courts of Northampton County

“As the dust settles on Republican dominance in Tuesday’s election, Northampton County cemented its reputation as a presidential prognosticator.

Since the early 1900s, Northampton County voters have backed the winning candidate three times, and he is just one day away. Hubert Humphrey in 1968, Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Elsewhere

This is now President Donald Trump’s world. But is Josh Shapiro on board? “Right now, anyone making the list of six potential Democratic candidates for 2028 is on that list,” said James Carville, a national Democratic strategist. (PennLive)

The Senate leader says McCormick was not invited to the hearing, but promises to attend anyway. “Former hedge fund CEO David McCormick, who was announced by the Associated Press as the winner of Pennsylvania’s controversial U.S. Senate race, will not be invited to Wednesday’s orientation meeting for newly elected members.” (Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper)

Lawmakers return to Harrisburg staring at the same partisan divide for two more years. “Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, will continue to be governor. Democrats will still hold a single-seat majority in Pennsylvania’s 203-seat House of Representatives, while Republicans will have a 28-22 advantage in the state Senate – the same split that has existed since 2022. (PennLive)

The controversy has died down after a bitter election cycle, but legal work still needs to be done, former AP judge says. “John Jones III, a former federal judge who handled the Pennsylvania Republican Party’s 2020 election challenges, prepared for a contentious post-election period with Keep Our Republic, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that spent months analyzing potential election issues in the states swings like Pennsylvania” (Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper)

Around the Republic of Poland

3. How did AP Democrats hold the House during the red tide? Meet Frank Burns

Incumbent Frank Burns wins re-election in the State House District 72 – Stoker Wieczorek race

“Democrats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives maintained their one-vote majority despite a statewide wave of GOP victories that flipped two congressional seats and could have unseated a veteran U.S. senator.

This condition is largely the cause Representative Frank Burnsa conservative Democrat with an overwhelmingly middle-of-the-road district Donald Trump-supportive region, held on to his seat.

In an era of Pennsylvania politics, Burns, of Cambria County, is one of the most important members of the House of Representatives – both during elections and when it comes to tamping down votes in the narrowly divided chamber.” (PA reflector)

Elsewhere

As the Pennsylvania Senate race winds down, provisional ballots could make the difference. Does yours need to be “fixed”? “With the U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania still close, many eyes are on provisional ballots that could tip the scales. However, some may not be counted without action. (WHY)

Will uncounted ballots change the election results in Bucks County, Pennsylvania? “Bucks County clerks will meet Tuesday to decide how many of the at least 10,200 uncounted ballots will be added to the unofficial election results.” (Bucks County Courier Times)

Election impact: ’60 Minutes’ visits Lehigh Valley for in-depth reporting. “Late last week, CBS’s ’60 Minutes’ came to the Lehigh Valley to air a 13-minute segment on Sunday with residents throughout the area about the election results. (CNHI News)

Bob Brady’s dispute with the Harris campaign has reignited long-standing criticism of the City party. But he says he’s not going anywhere. “Amid broader reflections on the future of the Democratic Party, some are again expressing concerns about the effectiveness of the city committee under Brady, who has led it for 40 years.” (Questioner from Philadelphia)

Allentown Mayor Race: Council Members Line Up to Challenge Matt Tuerk in 2025 Election. “The 2025 Allentown mayoral race is already shaping up to be competitive as at least two candidates say they plan to challenge Mayor Matt Tuerk, who is seeking re-election.” (Morning talk in Allentown)

Editorial

4. What do you mean

  • What now for Democrats? (Shanin Spectre)
  • Pennsylvania voters deserve to have their voices heard. (Ed Rendell)
  • I worked on the Harris campaign. Philly Dems’ delicate election effort is a sign that Bob Brady has to go. (Brendan McPhillips)
  • Republican victory in Philadelphia. (Guy Ciarrocchi)
  • The other gigantic loser of 2024? Mainstream media. Is there any way forward? (Will Bunch)
  • The biggest election winner this week is alternative media. (Beth Ann Rosica)
  • Trump’s victory is a lasting political revolution. (Brandon McGinley)
  • Kamala Harris lost because she took women for granted. (Pamela Paul)
  • Democracy is not a college class, it is a street fight. And it’s muddy. (Thomas Sangrey)

1 item

5. Top Apple Rankings

Fruit of the Month: Apples – Harvard Health

The ultimate list of good and bad apples by… Brian Fringecomedian and writer. He began yelling about apples professionally in 2016 and continues to yell about apples on stages across America and on radio shows around the world. So which apple is number 1?

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