As the 2024 general election starts to ramp up, Pennsylvania has become a battleground state constantly being fought for by both candidates. From Trump and Kamala duking it out in the polls daily for the vote of young people… the question to be asked is why does Pennsylvania matter?
What is a swing state?
Well, well, well here we are PA … another day another election to vote for. But why does Pennsylvania cause so much controversy when voting for candidates? Well, it’s because Pennsylvania is a swing state. A swing state is a US State where two major political parties have similar levels of support among voters. They affect election season more than anything and usually cause chaos throughout the next few months.
Pennsylvania is important because they have the largest number of electoral votes among the battleground states. But the pendulum has swung since Trump came into office back in 2016 and back to Biden in 2020, which has called for both Democrats and Republicans to come back to the states to secure the 270 electoral votes.
Many of the state’s biggest swings were toward Democrats in 2020, but Trump nearly held the state by expanding his margins in small cities and rural areas again. And those areas combine for a lot; the rural counties statewide gave Trump a nearly 240,000-vote gain over the GOP’s 2012 performance — bigger than Democrats’ gains in both urban and suburban areas combined. Key counties include those between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg like Blair, Cambria, Clearfield and Franklin counties, which have relatively large populations and swung for Trump more than other rural counties. If Trump can keep growing his margins in these counties, it could offset any edge Democrats have in the suburbs.
Washington Post, “A guide to the 7 battleground states that could swing the election”
Kamala is taking charge!
Vice President Kamala Harris has continued to hit the ground running in Pennsylvania to secure votes in the state. From multiple rallies, one on one discussions with Pennsylvania leaders, sending representatives to Penn State and even a CNN townhall hosted in Pennsylvania.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Josh Shapiro visited Penn State over the last few weeks sharing the importance of voting from young people on campus.
Trump is coming in full force!
Former President Donald Trump has visited Pennsylvania numerous times including Penn State! From an appearance on Oct. 26 at the Bryce Jordan Center, rumors swirling over an appearance at the Penn State versus Ohio State noon game and even serving fries at a local PA McDonald’s, the former president has been seen throughout the state campaigning. This does not come as a surprise, especially after being grazed by a bullet this past July in the state.
What can you do?
The one thing VALLEY Magazine implores all its readers to do … VOTE. Using our voices for the betterment of our country is the reason why are thriving today as a society. For more information on the Nov. 5 general election, go to PSUVotes.org.
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