Republican activist Scott Presler set his sights on flipping Chester County from blue to red.
On a recent visit, Presler spoke of “hundreds of electrified” Republicans who are “ready to win this November. We have a Republican challenger for every single position.
Chester County GOP Chairman Dr. Raffi Terzian agrees. “We’ve got a full slate of candidates. We’re excited and ready to go into the election season.”
Before the Trump era began in 2016, Republicans dominated Chester County for more than a century. Democrats won control of the county commission for the first time in history in 2019, and Republicans held a voter registration advantage until 2020.
Now, Republicans feel the partisan tide shifting back their way. At last count, there are just 4,749 more Democrats registered in the county than Republicans.
“Voter registration is a key initiative for our committee, and we are excited to partner with Scott Presler and Early Vote Action to flip Chester County RED. We will continue this work throughout this cycle and beyond, ensuring a brighter future for Chester County,” Terzian said.
Presler said, “We are on the verge of flipping Chester County red this November. Let’s go!”
Presler has emerged as the “Pied Piper of Republican Voter Registration” for his aggressive efforts to get more voters to register to vote. It was a break with the traditional GOP view that their party relied on high turnout from a small group of voters — often college educated or affluent. Presler’s focus on working-class voters during the rise of the Trump political movement has been a boon for the GOP, particularly in Pennsylvania where he’s credited with contributing to Sen. Dave McCormick’s narrow victory over incumbent Democrat Sen. Bob Casey.
The Chester County Republican Committee endorsed Neill Kling and Betty Ryberg for Common Pleas Court judge.
Ryberg, of Chester Springs, is an attorney with more than 25 years of wide-ranging experience gained in major law-firm and global pharmaceutical and medical device company settings, including first-chair trial experience.
Kling, a Wayne resident, has “a strong background in commercial litigation, who has represented and advised corporate, academic and individual clients at trial and appellate levels with respect to a broad array of issues that are central to their business and institutional purposes.”
The committee endorsed Malvern resident Joseph Lorusso for county controller. He spent much of his career as an investor in bond markets. In 1993, he founded Structured Finance Advisors, Inc. Eventually, Lorusso bought and managed approximately $8 billion of private assets for various institutional investors.
Berwyn resident Deana Feng Wang was endorsed for county treasurer. Holding an MBA, Wang has worked in marketing, sales, and business development in the pharmaceutical industry.
Alissa McGrory is running for clerk of court. An attorney, she’s been in private practice with a West Chester firm. Before that, she worked for a Philadelphia law firm and Independence Blue Cross.
The committee also endorsed Thomas J. Hatzidais, a registered nurse anesthetist, for coroner.
“We are excited to endorse an outstanding slate of candidates for countywide office,” said Terzian. “This group is made up of highly qualified and accomplished professionals who have undergone a rigorous vetting process to ensure they are ethical, experienced and fully prepared to serve the people of Chester County. It’s time to restore common-sense leadership that prioritizes our community and ensures that our county government is in capable hands.
“Additionally, we are proud to support the retention of Honorable Allison Bell Royer for the Court of Common Pleas and proud to support Honorable Ann Marie Wheatcraft, President Judge, for the Pennsylvania Superior Court and Matthew Wolford for the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court,” he said.
