Philly stakes: Trump appears to overperform in surprising Pennsylvania places

In a surprising turn of events, Donald Trump made significant gains in traditionally blue strongholds in Pennsylvania during the recent presidential election. Despite the fact that no Republican candidate has won Philadelphia County since Herbert Hoover in 1932, Trump managed to increase his margin in the city by five points, attracting more voters than other counties with similar margins.

One of the most notable shifts occurred in Monroe County, located in the Poconos, where Trump overperformed his 2020 numbers by 7.5 points. This suburbanizing area has been trending blue, but with an influx of ex-pats from New York City suburbs, Trump was able to make significant gains.

Philadelphia, which historically leans heavily Democratic, fell to sixth out of 67 counties in terms of Trump’s improved performance. Vice President Harris still won the city by a wide margin, but Trump’s increased support suggests positive implications beyond the presidency. In fact, Republicans are on the verge of picking up a state Senate seat in the city, indicating a potential shift in voter sentiment.

Trump also saw gains in other traditionally Democratic strongholds, such as Luzerne County and Lackawanna County, where President Biden was born. Trump’s appeal to Hispanic voters may have contributed to his improved performance in Lehigh, Philadelphia, and Berks counties, which are home to significant Latino populations.

The Lehigh Valley, comprised of Lehigh and Northampton counties, saw Trump making significant gains, winning back Northampton from Biden after an upset victory in 2016. Additionally, Trump’s increased support was evident in rural areas such as Pike County and Bucks County, the most swing county in Philadelphia’s suburbs.

While Pennsylvania saw overall gains for the GOP, Democrats managed to maintain marginal hope in certain mid-state counties. Despite Trump’s victories in suburban areas like Cumberland County, Democrats made gains in terms of voter turnout.

Overall, Trump’s unexpected gains in traditionally blue areas of Pennsylvania have reshaped the political landscape in the state. With Republicans making inroads in Democratic strongholds and Democrats holding onto key counties, Pennsylvania remains a battleground state with shifting alliances and voter preferences.