Pennsylvania voters back Democrats to check Trump agenda before midterms
Voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania say they are casting ballots to rein in President Donald Trump's agenda, even as many do not trust Democrats to fix the country's problems.
Voters in Pennsylvania, one of the country's most closely watched battleground states, say they are heading to the polls with President Donald Trump's agenda in mind, even though he is not on the ballot in the midterm elections. Interviews with voters in Delaware and Bucks counties suggest that many are motivated more by a desire to check the administration than by confidence in the Democratic Party.
Several voters said they did not trust Democrats but were willing to give them a chance to change the country's direction on issues including affordability and rising prices, the war with Iran, and corruption in Washington. One Doylestown voter named Tomas said he did not believe Democrats would do better than the party in power, but that he would vote for them because Trump was « taking us down the tubes ». A Pennsylvania voter named Clay said he did not trust Democrats either, arguing that the party currently in power was so dysfunctional that it might as well be replaced.
Affordability has emerged as a central concern. Voters were asked whether Democrats would be better equipped to bring prices down, particularly after inflation surged during the administration of former President Joe Biden. A Doylestown voter named Chris said Republicans had made things worse over the past two years, pointing to higher gas, energy and food costs. He said he doubted that a change in party control would push prices higher, arguing that conditions could not get much worse.
Other voters cited broader reasons for opposing the Republican Party. A Newtown Square resident named Nancy described the president as mentally ill and said Republicans would not rein him in. A Media resident named Tom said he believed Trump had not been good for the country and that his actions needed to be slowed. A voter named Bill said he was voting a straight Democratic ticket because the Republican Party refused to stand up to what he called the fascist actions of Trump. Another voter said immigration enforcement, the renaming of the Kennedy Center and the situation in Ukraine were more important to him than affordability.
The stakes in Pennsylvania are high. The state is home to several competitive congressional races, including in Bucks County, and its results are expected to play a significant role in the fight for control of Congress. Republicans are working to maintain their majorities as Trump campaigns for GOP candidates. Cook Political Report recently moved the race in Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District, where Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick faces Democratic challenger Bob Harvie, from « Likely Republican » to « Lean Republican », signaling a more competitive contest as Election Day approaches.
The midterm elections, scheduled for eight days after the reporting, could have major consequences for the rest of Trump's presidency. A Democratic takeover of either chamber of Congress would complicate his efforts to advance his agenda. Democratic attorneys general, some of whom are also facing tough races, have publicly pushed back against the administration. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, a Democrat campaigning for his political career, said, « The federal government can't just roll over us ».
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