In the 2020 Presidential election, Donald Trump did not win Philadelphia County, a historical trend that has not been broken since Herbert Hoover in 1932. However, post-mortem figures show that Trump made significant gains in several blue bastions across the state of Pennsylvania. In fact, Trump overperformed his 2020 numbers in six out of the top 10 counties, most of which were traditionally Democrat-leaning. One of the notable counties where Trump increased his margin was in Monroe County, located in the Poconos, which has been shifting towards a blue demographic with the influx of ex-pats from New York City suburbs.
Despite losing Philadelphia to Vice President Harris by a significant margin, Trump managed to increase his support base in the city by five points, gaining many more votes due to the larger population. Republicans are also showing promise in picking up a state Senate seat in Philadelphia, a significant achievement in a traditionally Democrat stronghold. Additionally, Pennsylvania’s three row offices of attorney general, auditor, and treasurer are now held by Republicans, boosted by raw-vote tranches from counties where Trump performed exceptionally well.
Trump made substantial gains in Luzerne County, where he saw his second-highest improvement over 2020 numbers. This momentum extended to Lackawanna County, home to Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, where Trump made his third-best improvement. Lehigh County, where the state’s third-largest city is located, saw a close race between Harris and Trump, potentially influenced by a growing Hispanic population.
Trump’s campaign also focused on Lehigh Valley, where he made significant gains in both Lehigh and Northampton counties. The post-industrial region, known for its mix of Latino and Pennsylvania German communities, saw Democrats struggle against Trump’s popularity. Trump’s success in these traditionally blue areas was a noteworthy achievement in the 2020 election.
In addition to winning back Northampton from Biden, Trump also performed well in Pike County, Bucks County, and rural Centre County. While Democrats made marginal gains in some mid-state counties, Trump’s performance in areas such as Cumberland, Adams, Jefferson, Snyder, and Juniata suggests a shifting political landscape in Pennsylvania. Historic Democratic strongholds are showing signs of Republican resurgence, as seen in the increasing support for Trump across the state.
Overall, the 2020 election in Pennsylvania reflected a shift towards Trump in traditionally Democrat-leaning areas. His ability to gain support in urban, suburban, and rural counties showcases a diverse base of Republican voters in the state. Despite some gains by Democrats in specific regions, Trump’s performance in key counties, coupled with Republican victories in state and local races, indicates a changing political landscape in Pennsylvania that will shape future elections.
