Pennsylvania was a battleground state for the 2024 election, and by the time November rolled around, we were all certainly feeling battle-tested. Candidates spent a lot of time and money trying to convince Keystone State voters that they were the best option, so naturally Pennsylvania had a front-row seat at many key moments.
Here are the highlights of the 2024 presidential campaign in Pennsylvania.
On July 13, a gunman shot and killed current President-elect Donald Trump during a rally in Butler. Trump was not seriously injured, but the incident did kill one person, and the photo of Trump raising his fist in the air as blood streamed down his face became one of the most memorable photos of 2024. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned after a congressional hearing heard her questioned about how the gunman managed to get so close to the former president.
Trump returned to the scene of the shooting and attended an October rally, which was Trump’s first campaign event with Tesla CEO Elon Musk. And speaking of Musk…
After appearing at Butler’s second rally, Musk set up shop in Pennsylvania, suddenly aware of the state’s critical place in the electoral puzzle. He appeared at “town hall” events where attendees could win cash prizes, which caught the attention of Philadelphia’s district attorney, who questioned whether the giveaway was an illegal lottery. The judge ultimately ruled that the prosecutor had failed to show that the gifts given out were a lottery.
After brief tapings during which Gov. Josh Shapiro was one of two finalists to join the Democratic ticket, Vice President Kamala Harris ultimately selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. The couple made their first appearance together at a rally on Temple University’s campus, and Walz thanked Harris for bringing “joy” back to the campaign.
Before the candidates took the stage, Shapiro gave an impassioned speech at the rally, offering his support and repeating that he loves being governor of Pennsylvania.
It’s kind of stunning when you consider that these two events took place over the same weekend, and yet they happened – and Trump also made time to attend the Steelers game. At a rally in Latrobe, Trump said that when Palmer showered with other golfers, “they came out and said, ‘Oh my God, this is unbelievable.'”
The next day, he handed out drive-thru orders to pre-screened “customers” at a McDonald’s in Bucks County, visited Lancaster City Hall and attended a Steelers game in a private suite.
In perhaps the highlight of the Harris-Walz campaign, Harris put Trump on the defensive in the only meeting between the two candidates, held in October at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Trump addressed unverified (yet unconfirmed) “reports” that immigrants in Ohio are eating human pets and said he has a “conceptual plan” to replace the Affordable Care Act. Harris suggested that people left Trump’s rallies early because they were bored, told Trump that he lost the 2020 election and was responsible for the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
Later, in the discussion room, Trump appeared in person, declaring victory and airing several grievances. He complained about the moderators and refused to meet with Harris for further debates.
