The Democrat's Pennsylvania Edge

[Spock]

Interesting article on the Democrat's taking over the formerly Republican suburbs of Philly.

However, no one will be surprised that I have a beef with the article.

Early on, they tie the switch to Trump.

>>>Throughout the region, voting trends suggest a stark political realignment, one driven less by distaste for Republican policies than by distaste for Trump.<<<<

However, the body of the article indicates that the switch has been going on for a long time (which I agree with BTW).

>>>"Democrats gained judgeships, borough offices, and school-board seats. Their wins recalled the 2012 election, when the party secured a majority in the top county office—the board of commissioners—after a century-long disadvantage."<<<

>>>"in 1988, George H. W. Bush carried the counties by double digits. But in 1992, Bush carried only Chester County."<<<

>>>"During the 1990s, the Democratic trend persisted,"<<<

>>>" In the mid-2000s, college-educated and working-class voters rejected Republicans because of George W. Bush and the Iraq war. By 2008, Democrats had accumulated congressional seats, and Chester County, reliably Republican since the 1964 presidential election, supported Barack Obama. Suburban Democrats outnumbered Republicans within his first year in office."<<<<

>>>"Mitt Romney made Bucks County among his last campaign stops in 2012—to no avail"<<<

Obviously, the trend was in place before Trump.

[jarnon]

Interesting article on the Democrat's taking over the formerly Republican suburbs of Philly.

However, no one will be surprised that I have a beef with the article.

Early on, they tie the switch to Trump.

>>>Throughout the region, voting trends suggest a stark political realignment, one driven less by distaste for Republican policies than by distaste for Trump.<<<<

However, the body of the article indicates that the switch has been going on for a long time (which I agree with BTW).

>>>"Democrats gained judgeships, borough offices, and school-board seats. Their wins recalled the 2012 election, when the party secured a majority in the top county office—the board of commissioners—after a century-long disadvantage."<<<

>>>"in 1988, George H. W. Bush carried the counties by double digits. But in 1992, Bush carried only Chester County."<<<

>>>"During the 1990s, the Democratic trend persisted,"<<<

>>>" In the mid-2000s, college-educated and working-class voters rejected Republicans because of George W. Bush and the Iraq war. By 2008, Democrats had accumulated congressional seats, and Chester County, reliably Republican since the 1964 presidential election, supported Barack Obama. Suburban Democrats outnumbered Republicans within his first year in office."<<<<

>>>"Mitt Romney made Bucks County among his last campaign stops in 2012—to no avail"<<<

Obviously, the trend was in place before Trump.

You're right, the Philadelphia suburbs, which were solid Republican for a century, have been shifting, county by county, to the Democrats. Trump has nothing to do with it. In fact, he bucked the trend. For instance, he did better in Chester County in 2016 than McCain did in 2008.

[Bob78164]

Interesting article on the Democrat's taking over the formerly Republican suburbs of Philly.

However, no one will be surprised that I have a beef with the article.

Early on, they tie the switch to Trump.

>>>Throughout the region, voting trends suggest a stark political realignment, one driven less by distaste for Republican policies than by distaste for Trump.<<<<

However, the body of the article indicates that the switch has been going on for a long time (which I agree with BTW).

>>>"Democrats gained judgeships, borough offices, and school-board seats. Their wins recalled the 2012 election, when the party secured a majority in the top county office—the board of commissioners—after a century-long disadvantage."<<<

>>>"in 1988, George H. W. Bush carried the counties by double digits. But in 1992, Bush carried only Chester County."<<<

>>>"During the 1990s, the Democratic trend persisted,"<<<

>>>" In the mid-2000s, college-educated and working-class voters rejected Republicans because of George W. Bush and the Iraq war. By 2008, Democrats had accumulated congressional seats, and Chester County, reliably Republican since the 1964 presidential election, supported Barack Obama. Suburban Democrats outnumbered Republicans within his first year in office."<<<<

>>>"Mitt Romney made Bucks County among his last campaign stops in 2012—to no avail"<<<

Obviously, the trend was in place before Trump.

You're right, the Philadelphia suburbs, which were solid Republican for a century, have been shifting, county by county, to the Democrats. Trump has nothing to do with it. In fact, he bucked the trend. For instance, he did better in Chester County in 2016 than McCain did in 2008.

Agreed. That's where I grew up. That's why some of the worst of the gerrymandering that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court undid was in the Philadelphia suburbs. --Bob