Ahead of 2024 election, Dems get dire news in key swing state

In Pennsylvania, a notable trend is emerging as more Democratic voters make the switch to the GOP than vice versa, presenting a challenging scenario for President Joe Biden’s ambitions to secure the Keystone State in the 2024 elections.

The state’s voter registration data, as of December 18, reveals that 35,589 Democrats transitioned to the Republican Party in 2023, while only 15,622 Republicans shifted to the Democrat Party.

Erik Telford, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the Commonwealth Foundation, expressed concern about the implications of these trends, stating, “Current voter registration trends and polling in Pennsylvania should be setting off alarms for President Biden and Democrats at the state and national level.”

The data also indicates a significant number of voters from both parties opting for unaffiliated status, with 20,908 Democrats and 18,927 Republicans leaving their respective party affiliations.

Given the narrow margin by which former President Donald Trump lost Pennsylvania in 2020, approximately 80,000 votes, the movement between parties holds substantial importance in determining the recipient of the state’s 19 electoral votes in the upcoming 2024 elections.

Recent polls indicate a neck-and-neck race in Pennsylvania, with a 45%-45% tie according to the most recent Bullfinch Group poll, setting the stage for a potential rematch between Trump and President Biden.

Biden’s approval ratings in Pennsylvania have experienced a decline in 2023, reaching its highest disapproval rate of 61%, as reported in the Commonwealth Foundation’s December 19 poll.

Various polls also show Trump leading over Biden in crucial swing states such as Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, all essential in securing the path to 270 electoral votes.

On policy issues, a December 18 poll suggests that voters are more aligned with former President Trump across various topics. Telford highlights that under Biden’s leadership, voters overwhelmingly perceive that things are heading in the wrong direction.

Along with the presidency hanging in the balance, Pennsylvania’s senior U.S. Sen. Bob Casey faces a tough reelection against Republican David McCormick, which is sure to make next year’s election an interesting one for the Keystone State.