(The Center Square) – Pennsylvania’s swing state status put the Commonwealth in the political spotlight in 2025, prompting multiple visits by the president and vice president as both sides worked to establish their positioning for the 2026 midterms.
But beyond the now-familiar red-versus-blue battle, alternative parties are gaining momentum, with a growing bloc of independent voters demanding a greater voice.
Trump and Vance visit
The year’s most high-profile political events touched on familiar themes – tariffs, tax cuts and economic messages – coupled with a clear message that Pennsylvania remains central to the nation’s agenda.
At the end of May President Donald Trump took a victory lap in West Mifflin to celebrate Pittsburgh Steel’s partnership with Japanese company Nippon Steel.
Speaking in a warehouse surrounded by steel workers, unions and state legislators and Congress, Trump called it the most critical investment in the history of the American steel industry – a deal he made he had previously objected.
The president took the opportunity to emphasize how increasing tariffs on steel from 25% to 50% would protect the US steel industry.
Takahiro MoriNippon’s executive vice president and executive vice president, told the audience that the company would embark on massive investments that would reshape US Steel’s position on the world stage. “You have trusted us and we will work hard to earn that trust in the coming years,” he said.
“America’s golden age has only just begun,” Trump said, “and together we will make America great again, greater than ever before.”
Vice President J.D. Vance then a visit to Lucerne County in July, where he addressed a group at a machine shop in West Pittston. He spoke about the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which fits the administration’s efforts into a broader mission to create opportunities for the next generation.
Vance raised key issues, including: economy, energy policy and border security. He then outlined the economic benefits of the bill, including above-inflation wages for blue-collar workers, no tax on overtime and tips, cuts in government spending, tax breaks for companies investing in America, and tariffs on companies that choose to produce their goods abroad.
The optimism in the room contrasted with criticism of the budget resolution – particularly changes to the public safety net and the restoration of work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, which would have moved coverage to millions of people across the country.
Both Trump and Vance made another stop in Pennsylvania in December to boost support for lower-vote races ahead of the midterm elections.
Trump focused on fares and “no tip tax” during the Dec. 9 stop at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County.
He represents the swing district U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan (R-08), a freshman Republican who spoke at the rally. Democrats have positioned it for a potential surge in 2026, criticizing higher prices that they blame on the administration’s tariffs.
“My favorite word is tariffs,” Trump said several times, describing how they would generate huge foreign revenues that he said would assist farmers, protect the steel industry and spur investment and manufacturing relocation.
However, according to the Voters Voice Poll conducted by Noble Predictive Insights, these same tariffs have created uncertainty among Americans.
The vote found that 15% of registered voters cited price increases and inflation as their top concerns, followed by government corruption (13%), the economy/labor (11%), health care (9%), illegal immigration (8%), and crime/violence (7%).
Inflation level better than expected initiated the third cut in the federal rate on December 10.
A week later, the vice president addressed the crowd in the Allentown area, highlighting their efforts to keep the state scales in the negative.
At a rally held at Uline Shipping Supplies in Alburtis, Vance touted Trump’s economic policies and highlighted several GOP candidates.
While the city of Allentown is a Democratic stronghold, the surrounding areas of the county — and the broader Lehigh Valley — include more conservative suburbs and rural areas, making the entire region a key swing area for both major parties.
Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity praised the administration’s policies – such as no tip tax and an expanded child tax credit – before reaching for Governor Josh Shapiroclaiming he is more focused on his alleged presidential ambitions and portraying him as an adversary who is fighting the administration in court rather than working with it.
Garrity hopes to dethrone Shapiro next year, but he faces an uphill battle.
According to Quinnipiac University poll released in October, Shapiro’s 60% approval rating was a modern high since he took office in 2023. A hypothetical matchup with Garrity gives him a 55-39% lead, and 7 in 10 respondents said they didn’t know enough about the treasurer to decide whether he would receive their vote.
Vance acknowledged that many Americans still have high prices and affordability issues, attributing them to the previous administration’s high deficits, energy costs and inflation. He cautioned that it would take time to set high prices, but added that progress was being made.
“We inherited a mess, but I think in 11 months we have made enormous progress in making our nation safer, more secure and more prosperous,” he said. “Let us work over the next three years to do even more great work for the American people and rebuild this country together.”
Alternative parties are making progress
Meanwhile, after the November 2024 elections, as Democrats and Republicans strategize their next moves, one alternative party believes its long-term strategy is starting to pay off.
The Forward Partyfounded by former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yangstepped into the gap created by a polarized America to give dissatisfied voters more choices.
in January Craig SnyderForward Pennsylvania political director. said The Center Square
that while they had hoped to meet Pennsylvania’s threshold for minor-party status in November, they had accomplished a lot.
If their two candidates for statewide office received 2% of the vote in the general election, it would open the door to official party status in the state. Eric SettleForward’s candidate for attorney general received 17,320 votes – or 0.3%. Chris Fostertheir candidate for treasurer obtained 0.4% with 25,512 votes.
Snyder said it was tough to compete with the hundreds of millions of dollars thrown into political communications aimed at Pennsylvania, and the country didn’t have a boat huge enough to ride the red tide.
However, he was encouraged by the infrastructure they built with the assist of volunteers.
“This shows that if you can’t compete at the level of paid political communication, it’s grassroots people who make the difference in building infrastructure and gaining supporters,” he said.
In 2025, the party continued to build infrastructure, numbering a dozen or so approved candidates works for various local offices in the lower half of the state.
Message approved Judge Pat Dugan in the race for Philadelphia District Advocate against a two-term incumbent Larry Krasner. Dugan was defeated in the May primary by a 64% to 36% margin. He ran for the seat again in November as the Republican candidate Krasner winning 73.1% of the city’s votes to Dugan’s 23.6%.
According to the Forward update, they have endorsed 70 candidates for 26 wins nationwide, and now have access to ballots in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, South Carolina, Utah and Minnesota.
Pennsylvania, along with Maryland, Minnesota and Virginia, is cited as one of the Forward’s strongest “turbocharged” states – with sturdy leadership and organization.
They also supported a Democrat Danny Ceislerwho defeated the Republicans Fred Harran in the Bucks County Sheriff’s race after receiving more than 55% of the vote.
“Forward candidates and supporters have shown that Americans don’t want more chaos or culture wars, they want leaders who take governing seriously and are willing to work with anyone to get results,” Forward said.
Independent voters want more of a voice
As the number of independent voters grows in Pennsylvania, there is broad bipartisan support for allowing the state’s 1.4 million independent voters to participate in primary elections, survey finds vote by Unite America.
The poll of 800 voters from across the Commonwealth found that respondents were 43% registered Republicans, 45% Democrats and 12% Independents. When asked which party primary they would choose to vote in if allowed, 22% said Republican, 25% said Democrat, 17% said neither, and 36% were unsure. Additionally, 69% support modern laws allowing more voters to participate in primaries – something lawmakers in Harrisburg are currently considering.
Pennsylvania is one of only eight states where it occurs closed primaries.
House Bill 280, introduced by Representative Jared Solomon (Philadelphia) calls for open primaries. It passed the House State Government Committee in May with a slim 14-12 vote and awaits further action in that chamber.
Sense. Daniel Laughlin (R-Erie) i Lisa Boscola (D-Bethlehem) sponsored Senate Bill 400, which proposes a semi-open primary election. In April, it was referred to the Senate State Government Committee.
In semi-open primaryindependent voters can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primaries. People registered with a specific party can only vote in their party’s primary elections. This differs from completely open primaries, in which voters can choose candidates from any party, regardless of affiliation.
“Registering as a Democrat or Republican should not be a prerequisite to exercising full voting rights here in Pennsylvania,” Boscola said. “It’s time to fix this. Allowing independents to vote in primaries is not only fair – it gives all Pennsylvanians the freedom to choose the leaders who represent them.”
Whether there will be progress on open primary legislation in 2026 remains an open question, but the debate itself reflects a shift in the electorate.
Lauren Jessop is a freelance writer and contributor to The Center Square
