DV Journal

(This article first appeared in Broad + Liberty)

On October 19, 2024, the presidential election was still two and a half weeks away. Voting by mail or absentee ballot had begun across the commonwealth. Conflicting polls signaled a nailbiter.

In Delaware County, where deep Democratic turnout had helped boost Biden in 2020, the elections board was preparing to open up three “voter service centers” in addition to one at the county seat in Media, where a voter could request and receive a mail-in ballot, or get help with a ballot that needed to be replaced. Drop boxes were conveniently located less than 100 feet away from two of the four locations.

Late that afternoon, Colleen Guiney, chair of the county Democratic party texted County Councilwoman Christine Reuther, also a Democrat, and said, “Do you think there’s any point in trying to have volunteers outside the media voter service center to help when the lines get long? I don’t know if it’s a bad idea interfere [sic] with voting or if it might be helpful.”

“We may wind up helping more Rs than Ds,” Reuther texted back, exposing a sharp partisan lens. “I am not sure there is much to help with.”

The text is one of a handful of messages from county officials obtained by Broad + Liberty showing select members of an all-Democratic council feeling at ease mingling their official jobs with their more partisan selves, blurring the ethical lines of a duty to administer the election in a nonpartisan way.

Four days later on Oct. 23, Guiney again texted Reuther, this time about a potential drop box in Chester Township, a municipality so Democratic it would eventually vote for Harris over Trump by an 89-11 split.

“Has Jim made any progress with a Chester Drop box?” Guiney asked, apparently making a reference to Delaware County Elections Director Jim Allen.

“Not as [of] yesterday. I can’t be the only squeaky wheel without opening the [door] to ‘partisan [pressure] claims. I spoke to [election board members] Scott Alberts and will try to reach Ashley [Lunkenheimer]. Can you get other people to write emails to him and the election board that they are getting confusion from voters?”

Reuther, like Guiney, appears eager to get the Chester drop box open. But the exchange seems to imply if Reuther were to bring this up to Allen, he might rebuff her. Reuther then appears to work with Guiney to launder her complaints through others so the complaints will look organic and public, rather than having originated from an incumbent elected official.

When Broad + Liberty reached out for comment and said the text was problematic, the county took issue with that characterization, but did not offer any different version of facts.

“It’s unclear what is supposedly problematic about a member of Council providing suggestions as to how residents can provide feedback,” Michael Connolly, Delaware County’s communication director, replied. “A resident reached out to Councilwoman Reuther, who looked into the issue raised and exhausted what could be done at the time to address the concern.”

Connolly did not respond to questions about the previous Reuther text regarding help that might “wind up helping more Rs than Ds.” Guiney also did not respond to a request for comment.

In yet another text, Reuther told Guiney, “If the General assembly does not fix the election code, I may urge the election board to stop doing over the counter voting. It is not good for the staff and the SURE system is not set up to handle it.”

The complaints naturally suggest the question of how long councilwoman Reuther has felt these concerns, given that she has been one of the biggest advocates for expanding various methods of voting. She was one of the leaders, if not the top leader, in 2020 for the county’s acceptance and use of the controversial grants doled out by the Chicago nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life, or CTCL.

The chairman of the Delaware County GOP blasted the revelations.

“One party controlling all facets of government is not what was ever intended by our forefathers. This is precisely what we have in Delaware County, and my sense is very few people, regardless of party, see this as in the best interest of our citizenry,” Delco GOP Chairman Frank Agovino told Broad + Liberty after reviewing the texts and documents.

“Recent comments from one of our elected Council members is just another example of absolute power corrupting absolutely. Comments made about discerning which services would benefit ‘Rs’ more than ‘Ds’ when it came to the establishment of Voter Servicing Centers is just another reason people distrust the management and integrity of elections in Delaware County.”

Agovino’s comments come in a year in which Republicans are ambitious about putting a dent in the council’s 5-0 Democratic tilt, especially after the council raised taxes 23 percent last year.

Emails obtained by Broad + Liberty also showed Council President Monica Taylor using her government email account to help organize and promote a “Souls to the Polls” get-out-the-vote drive.

Souls to the Polls is explicitly nonpartisan. For example, the website for the Philadelphia-area branch says the group is a “non-partisan, neighbor-to-neighbor project,” and that “[w]e serve voters regardless of their affiliation.”

Yet because Souls to the Polls has been affiliated with black churches for so long, and because the black population has been such a reliable Democrat voting block for well over half a century, it sometimes appears Democratic-aligned. Consider that the North Carolina Democratic Party directly boosted Souls to the Polls on its website in 2022.

Vice President Harris frequently coordinated her campaign with Souls to the Polls as well.

“Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign is launching its ‘Souls to the Polls’ effort this weekend to turn out Black churchgoers in battleground states as Election Day approaches,” an ABC news report on Oct. 11 said.

One of the religious leaders emailing with Councilwoman Taylor said, “Our mandate is clear: to do all we can to ensure an optimal outcome of the Presidential election” — rhetoric that seems far from neutral.

Yet the county not only said Taylor’s actions using her government-sponsored email were OK, they were laudable.

“More people lawfully participating in free and fair elections is a good thing. Who someone chooses to vote for is their business, but the county does dispute any attempt to characterize assisting voters as something nefarious,” Connolly said.

Still another email shows the county was actively shopping for employees to staff the “voter service centers” (VSCs), but that the county was doing that weeks before the election board would finally approve them.

That revelation is important because it adds another data point to a controversy that erupted close to the election’s conclusion when the only Republican on the election board, John McBlain, announced his resignation in protest of the creation of the VSCs.

When the VSCs were voted on officially on Oct. 11, McBlain said he witnessed a coordinated plan.

“So, at the time of the [Oct. 11] meeting, it was clear that there was a partisan [effort] to pack the room in favor of this. There were dozens of Democratic committee people or volunteers,” McBlain said days after that meeting. “There were a dozen or more members of the League of Women voters who were nothing more than the provisional wing of the Delaware County Democratic Party who were present to speak in favor of it.”

According to the email obtained by Broad + Liberty, on Sept. 12, 2024, a staffing coordinator for a temporary employment agency emailed an elections administrator. “I will be working on the positions for the satellite offices, please let me know when you have a firm decision on those,” the staffing coordinator said.

The county is correct in asserting that it had brought up the issue of VSCs prior to September. It is also correct to say that the discussion of those VSCs was glancing.

“We’re exploring the possibility — I want to emphasize the word ‘exploring’ — voter service centers,” Elections Director Allen said in June.

“Voter service centers: Currently we don’t have anything nailed down. We are examining options in the western part of the county. We’ll be approaching Chester Heights for the western part of the county as well as Upper Darby,” Allen subsequently said in August. “Additionally we have to be satisfied that we’re going to be able to staff that properly with persons who are very familiar with the inner workings of the SURE system,” Allen added.

In September, VSCs came up again, but for less than two minutes of the entire meeting, which focused almost exclusively on the one VSC at the county seat in Media.

The county did not directly answer a question about whether the VSCs were a fait accompli.

Another issue raised by one of the Souls to the Polls emails discussed earlier is that the email used language about the VSCs that had become forbidden for various legal and technical reasons.

“We would plan to arrive at the Churches around 8:30 for breakfast and pickup would begin at 9:30 to head to the polls,” the email said, (emphasis added).

In public comments by Democrats on VSCs or satellite election offices, officials have taken care not to call them polling places, because that verbiage came with real-world consequences.

In the 2020 election, Philadelphia set up numerous satellite election offices around the city, but when the Trump campaign asked for poll watchers to have access to the spaces, they were denied.

At the core of the argument was the notion that the “satellite election offices” were clones, so to speak, of each county’s home-based election office in the county seat. Only by saying the offices were providing the “ministerial duties” of the county, it was impossible for them to be actual polling places.

The Trump campaign filed suit and the issue went all the way to Commonwealth Court where a three-judge panel upheld that reasoning in a 2-1 vote.

“The Trial Court reasoned that the Election Code provides that polling places operate only on Election Day and are available only to voters residing in specific districts, whereas satellite offices are restricted by neither date nor location,” the majority ruling held. “The Trial Court further explained that the Election Code specifically provides that mail-in ballots cannot be delivered to polling places, but must be sent to the Board’s offices or placed in drop boxes.”

The lone dissenting judge, Patricia McCullough, blasted that thinking in her dissent, saying “the act of voting undoubtedly occurs when an elector completes and delivers a mail-in ballot in person ‘to said county board of election.’”

The email calling VSCs “the polls” is similar to another instance discovered by Broad + Liberty in which the behind-the-scenes language differed from the public-facing discussion. In a 2020 document authored by two nonprofits, the Philadelphia-based Committee of 70, and the nationally focused organization Vote at Home Institute, the groups said satellite election centers would provide for “de facto early voting.”

If those same groups or if county governments had called satellite election offices “early voting centers” or “polling places” it’s very likely the legal challenge from the Trump team to place poll watchers at the sites might have been successful. The entire legal argument from the counties was centered on the idea that a satellite election office is critically different and distinct from a polling place.

As for the partisan lens Reuther displayed in her text that worried more Republican voters might be helped, she, too, has been caught in controversial moments before.

In preparation for the 2020 election, with the coronavirus pandemic still in first-year bloom, the Chicago-based nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life offered election grants to election offices around the country. Although the grants would eventually become an open call to any county government in the nation, it began as an invitation-only outreach, and Delaware County was among the lucky counties to be chosen.

Broad + Liberty obtained county emails about the grants. In one of those, an attorney raised the issue with Reuther that the CTCL might have a left-leaning bias.

“Not at all surprising,” Reuther said in response. “I am seeking funds to fairly and safely administer the election so everyone legally registered to vote can do so and have their votes count. If a left leaning public charity wants to further my objective, I am good with it. I will deal with the blow back.”

Despite those concerns, when the county announced its cooperation with the CTCL, it described the organization as “nonpartisan.”

(For an alternative point of view, see “Counterpoint: GOP Disarray is a Positive for Democrats”)

As this historic 2024 political year comes to a close, many Democrats are crying in their eggnog. Not only did we fail to win back the House of Representatives. This prospect seemed likely in January, but we lost the Senate and frustratingly lost the White House again — and the popular vote. Three issues add to our tears as we enter 2025 in the political wilderness.

We are leaderless. During a presidential transition, there is one president — and that appears to be President-elect Donald Trump. From meeting with world leaders in France to his team negotiating to end wars and driving economic news, Trump is controlling and dominating news cycles. Conversely, Joe Biden is largely MIA, as is Kamala Harris, who reportedly is debating whether to run again for president in 2028, for governor of California in 2026, or exit politics.

Meanwhile, congressional leaders Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries remain invisible, taking the temperature of colleagues and privately planning for next year.  Then there are governors thinking about 2028, who want no public role in the party’s soul searching.

Democrats also have message and message-delivery problems. Whether reflecting on “WOKE” issues, debating if we are economically too liberal or too moderate, or unsure how to address chaos foreign (Israel and Ukraine) and domestic (immigration and public safety), Democrats are uncertain of their message.

Equally concerning, in this last election cycle, Democrats were largely unable to engage with popular podcasts and influencers, many of whom knew their audiences were uncomfortable with Democratic positions. There was no hesitation in hosting Trump, who consistently engaged with them for the last four years.  Audiences saw him as authentically sharing their values, a cornerstone of voter intensity and engagement.

Democrats need to solve their new media problems of today and figure out the next influential platforms for tomorrow.

Finally, Democrats lack an agenda. I spend most of every day consuming, analyzing and discussing politics. I have no idea what Biden or Harris wanted to do if they won. What were the motivating principles, other than defeating Trump, that made them want to get out of bed every day?  Democrats offer few, if any, bold ideas that inspire the majority of voters, let alone the party faithful.

While the glass appears half empty, I am optimistic. In defeat, the party can consider new voices, examine how to expand its coalition, seek a new message, and propose a fresh agenda.

Who are the candidates we should watch for?  I don’t know, and that’s a good thing. Professionals should not have the answers readily available, which has been part of the problem for the last 10 years. Winning candidates understand their community, its people and their issues, and offer clear and bold solutions.

In 2013, the Republican National Committee spent millions of dollars on an autopsy of Mitt Romney’s failed presidential campaign, culminating in a set of solutions to win in 2016.  Many GOP candidates for president embraced most or all of that report. However, one candidate did not.  He went in the opposite direction, proposing to aggressively stop illegal immigration, redo free-trade deals, and end the Forever Wars of Afghanistan and Iraq. The Republican establishment and its traditional media allies were aghast at these ideas, believing they would lead to a generation of failure. That candidate’s name was Donald Trump.

(For an opposing viewpoint, see: “Point: Democrats Have an Opportunity to Rebuild”)

As Democrats look to 2025, several factors provide them with a sense of hope and optimism for regaining and maintaining political power. The landscape of American politics can be unpredictable, but the current climate offers promising avenues for Democrats to explore as they prepare for coming elections.

One of the most significant advantages for Democrats is the current disarray within the Republican Party. Donald Trump continues to loom large, and as long as he remains the dominant figure, the GOP faces challenges that could hinder their effectiveness. Trump’s leadership style and mercurial decisions have already led to fractures within the party, as evidenced by recent conflicts over critical issues such as federal spending and debt. The internal strife is palpable, with members of Congress publicly threatening one another and factions forming around various ideological lines. This discord creates a political environment for Democrats to capitalize on, as voters may become disillusioned with the GOP’s inability to present a united front.

Moreover, the impending spectacle of public feuds, such as the inevitable clash between Trump and Elon Musk, can detract from the Republicans’ focus on governance. As these high-profile egos engage in personal attacks and power struggles, the general public may lose sight of the substantive issues that matter most to them. This distraction could provide an opportunity for Democrats to present a cohesive and positive vision for the future, contrasting the chaos of the Republican Party with their agenda.

In addition to the weaknesses of their political opponents, Democrats have a strategic advantage with their leadership. The impending election of a new chairperson for the Democratic National Committee is crucial in consolidating party unity and direction. This new leader will not only fill a void but also serve as a rallying point for various factions within the party, especially as potential presidential aspirants begin to vie for attention in early primaries. With effective leadership, Democrats can maintain a united front and present a clear and compelling narrative to voters.

Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, is a prime example of the leadership Democrats can rely on. His ability to unite the caucus while navigating complex political challenges has been commendable. Jeffries’ savvy political acumen positions him as a key figure who can leverage the Republican discord to the Democrats’ advantage.

Additionally, the rising star of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez within the party signals a bright future for progressive voices that resonate with younger voters, who are increasingly becoming a significant voting bloc. Her ascendance to a leadership track reflects a broader acceptance of diverse perspectives within the Democratic Party, enabling them to appeal to a broader range of constituents.

The political map for Democrats may be challenging, but it is also an opportunity for growth. The party has faced setbacks in recent elections, particularly in statehouses and congressional seats. With a renewed focus on grassroots organizing and mobilization, Democrats can work to reclaim lost ground. They have the potential to build a robust infrastructure that engages voters at the local level, addressing issues that matter most to them. This approach can resonate with individuals who feel neglected by the current political discourse.

As Democrats gear up for the 2025 elections, they have several reasons to be hopeful. The internal conflicts within the Republican Party, strong leadership emerging from within their ranks, and a commitment to grassroots engagement provide a solid foundation for their efforts. By emphasizing what they can do differently and uniting around a shared vision, Democrats have the potential to inspire voters and regain confidence in their ability to govern effectively. With the right strategy, the party can turn challenges into opportunities, paving the way for a more prosperous political future.

While many Republicans are rejoicing in President Donald Trump’s victory and many Democrats are in mourning, others are analyzing what went wrong.

Bucks County GOP Chair Pat Poprik said, “I am so happy that the majority of voters in Bucks County joined the majority of voters in the country and voted for change. We knew the country was not going in the right direction and that we needed a strong determined leader, like President Trump, to turn it around. Based on how well he did in his first four years, I am looking forward to the next four years to have a stronger border, a better economy, and a safe country in which our children and grandchildren can live.”

Bucks County was the only Delaware Valley county to vote for Trump. He won there by 1,284 votes.

Democratic consultant TJ Rooney said, “I agree, generally, with very little Bernie Sanders says. In this case, however, he is exactly correct. Unless we stop playing identity politics, we will continue to lose elections.”

Delaware County Republican Chair Frank Agovino said, “The level of commitment from volunteers and staff was at a level not seen in decades. Delaware County, and all the collar counties, delivered better results compared to 2020 which proved to be the difference for President Trump, Sen.-elect Dave McCormick, and all of our statewide row offices.”  Locally, incumbent Rep. Craig Williams (R-Delaware/Chester) was successful, he noted.

Similarly, Chester County GOP Chair Raffi Terzian was “thrilled with the election of Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States and JD Vance as vice president. We are also excited about the election of Dave McCormick as our next U.S. senator, as well as the victories of our statewide candidates,” mentioning Treasurer Stacy Garrity, Auditor General Tim DeFoor, and Dave Sunday, attorney general-elect. Terzian also lauded incumbents Williams and Rep. John Lawrence, who were reelected. He thanked everyone who worked for the GOP victories.

Even that Democratic bastion, Philadelphia, saw a Republican shift, with the election of Joe Picozzi, as state senator in northeast Philadelphia.

“President Trump and Republicans up-and-down the ballot proved that by focusing on the issues that truly impact the lives of Philadelphia residents, including the cost-of-living, crime, illegal immigration, and far-left policies that place special interests above working families, Republicans can win support in our city,” said Philadelphia GOP Chairman Vince Fenerty.

Jeff Jubelirer, with Bellevue Communications, said, Pennsylvania “remains a swing state. It swung back the GOP’s way this cycle. I’m not surprised Trump won given the dissatisfaction among the broad electorate with two big issues – the economy and immigration. Harris had the impossible job of presenting a new agenda while not turning her back on Biden, whose job approval numbers were so negative. I believe many independent-minded voters cared more about who they felt would be better on these issues (in this case, Trump) than they did about their personal feelings about Trump’s character.”

“I think Trump’s coattails helped McCormick a lot as well.  The only place where the GOP didn’t make gains was the Pennsylvania House. Districts are drawn in a way that makes it very difficult to beat incumbents. It’s ironic that a conservative Democratic House member (Frank Burns) from a big Trump area was the reason that the Democrats held the slim majority.

“I credit a lot of the GOP’s success this year in Pennsylvania to the efforts of the party to increase voter registration, particularly in Bucks County. It turned out their voters included many who appear to be new and/or not just the typical ‘likely voter’ who regularly participates.”

Bruce L. Castor Jr., a lawyer and former Montgomery County Commissioner, who represented Trump during his Senate trial, wondered how many of the incumbent Democratic senators who voted to convict Trump lost their seats. Those senators include Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.), although Casey hasn’t conceded.

“The Trump-GOP comeback began that day,” said Castor. “I called them out on it and dared them to prosecute. How could the Democrats not have realized goading when it was staring them in the eye? And that the rest of the country would recoil at the misuse of all that prosecutorial power? President Trump won because he is best for the country and the Democrats stuck with Biden too long and compounded their mistake by trying to jam a less than unqualified candidate down the throats of the whole rank and file of their party… [This was] the greatest most skillfully done political comeback in U.S. history helped along by the greatest collection of political blunders ever known since politics came to be. They could not help themselves. Hatred is a powerful motivator.”

Despite a slew of negative television commercials, incumbent Republican state Rep. Craig Williams defeated Democratic challenger Elizabeth Moro, keeping the GOP’s fading hopes of flipping the Pennsylvania House alive.

In the ads, Moro hammered Williams as an anti-abortion absolutist despite his vote against a constitutional amendment to outlaw it.

In unofficial returns, Williams garnered 22,048 votes while Moro stood at 19,823 in the 160th District, which straddles Chester and Delaware Counties.

Williams thanked voters in a Facebook post.

“In the end, my opposition spent more than $1.5 million in TV ads with a lying message. The governor came to our district to repeat the lies and told people specifically not to believe that I’m a nice guy.

“I made a decision to trust that our community knew the truth,” said Williams. “I made a decision to run a campaign that would make you and your (and my) children proud. The vote yesterday by my widest margin yet confirms my faith in our community that you, in fact, can win by being a good person and fighting for the truth. It took bipartisan support to win by that margin.”

Williams is a two-term incumbent. He served in the Marine Corps for 28 years, flying 56 combat missions, was decorated for valor in battle, and retired as a colonel. He served on the Joint Terrorism Task Force, was deputy legal counsel to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the War on Terror, and served as chief prosecutor with the Marines. He was a federal prosecutor for the Department of Justice.

Williams says he knocked on thousands of doors during his reelection campaign.

“I’m getting a lot of positive responses at the doors relative to my work on the Pennsylvania budget, especially my work on law enforcement and keeping communities safe,” Williams told DVJournal previously. Residents also give him high marks for working with PennDOT to get roads repaired, he said.

“I had town hall [recently] with 1,900 people on the phone talking about road projects in the district,” Williams added.

Moro is a real estate broker. Previously, she had run for Congress before the district was eliminated. She wrote “The Civil Graces Project” and co-founded Neighbors for Crebilly, seeking to preserve Crebilly Farm.

Last year, Williams announced he had secured a $4 million grant to help Westtown acquire Crebilly Farm for preservation.

“I am very grateful to all of you,” Williams added. “Thank you to those who worked so hard with me on the doors, phones, and at the polls. I am humbled and promise to serve with a grateful heart.”

Also, on Facebook, Moro said, “I am grateful to all of those who have supported me during this election and believed in our shared goals of making life easier and more fulfilling for all in Pennsylvania. During this campaign, I met and spoke with voters all over the district, advocating for civil graces and against political division. While I am disappointed in the election results, I look forward to the work we can do in our community together.”

In two other closely-watched House races in the region, the House Democratic Campaign Committee declared victory Wednesday morning in the race between Bucks County Rep. Brian Munroe and Bucks County’s Recorder of Deeds, Republican Dan McPhillips. As of noon Wednesday, however, the Associated Press had not declared a winner.

Democrats have also claimed victory in the Philadelphia race between Sean Dougherty, scion of a well-known Philadelphia political family, and Aizaz Gill, the enthusiastic and community-minded president of the Burholme Town Watch and Civic Association.

Former President Donald J. Trump won Pennsylvania Tuesday night, ensuring a historic second term in the White House. But he did it without the votes of most of the Delaware Valley. So, how do local residents feel about his victory? Opinions broke down along party lines.

While a majority of Delaware, Chester and Montgomery County voters cast their ballots for Harris, for the first time since 1988, Bucks County voters backed a Republican, at 50.69 to 48.35 percent for Trump.

Bucks County GOP Chairwoman Pat Poprik was pleased with the result.

“We are extremely proud of the results from Bucks County yesterday. What we saw was the culmination of a lot of hard work by the campaigns, committee members, dedicated volunteers, and grassroots conservative leaders,” Poprik said. “The voters, both in Bucks and nationwide, sent a clear message last night that we want a president who will improve the economy, secure the border, and make America strong, safe and respected on the world stage. That person is our 45th and soon to be inaugurated as our 47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump!”

Delaware Valley residents reacted with jubilation or trepidation, depending on their political leanings.

“The election last night broke my heart and head. I’m certain there are many of you out there who feel similarly dizzied by the results,” wrote Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester) on social media.

She encouraged people “to grieve and to question,” but to make sure they took care of themselves and others who were hurting.

Chester County resident and political candidate turned pundit Guy Ciarrocchi said, “This win is not simply about the amazing comeback of President Trump. It’s bigger.

“The future of the GOP is not (yet) Malvern, it’s Mayfair. It’s not C-suites execs, it’s small business owners who manage from their kitchen tables and their employees. It’s people who build things and want to create and work and control their own destiny,” he said. “The future of America is not New York Times editors telling us what to think. It’s first and second-generation Americans who believe in the American Dream.”

Chester County Democratic Committee Chair Charlotte Valyo said, “Although we are disappointed, we left nothing undone and we accept the decision of the American people. We will continue to work towards bipartisan solutions to the problems that face our nation and the world. Our Democratic elected officials will continue to govern for all their constituents and work to improve the lives of all Americans.”

“Last night was a pivotal moment in taking America back to its core values and constitutional consistency,” said Wayne businesswoman Leslie Morgan. “God bless America! Now let’s go show everyone how to govern effectively and efficiently for the people.”

Philadelphia Democrat political strategist Lindy Li said Harris should have picked Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.) as her running mate.

“He’s famously a moderate,” she told Fox News. “So that would have signaled to the American people that she is not the San Francisco liberal that Trump said she was, but she went with someone actually to her left from Minnesota.”

Former Radnor Township Commissioner Rich Booker said, “I had predicted that Kamala would lose the election back in August. In response to a comment [someone] made on the golf course that with Biden out, the Democrats have now got a race, and that Kamala could beat Trump. I retorted “Mark it down–Kamala will lose by slightly less than Biden would have.”

“Democrats have gone too far, for too many years,” said Booker. “They never responded to any criticism of their immigration policy. They do not have any sense of what working people think. For many people, they may not have much, but the one thing that they always had, was their country. And the modern, progressive, woke democrats are taking that from them through their open-border immigration policies. They see it, and don’t like it. They let the Democrats know that yesterday.”

Republican state committeewoman Val Biancaniello, a Marple Township resident, said, “This morning, my husband and I are giving thanks to God for the reelection of President Trump. We are everyday conventional Americans who love our country, work hard and want our own children to enjoy the same freedom and opportunities this great country has provided for us. We can sleep again at night knowing under President Trump’s strong leadership, America will be safe and affordable again.”

Longtime Philadelphia political strategist Neil Oxman encouraged people not to overreact.

“My long view is that this country survives everything. The Civil War, the Depression, the Second World War, we’ve survived everything because we have this gigantic stable middle class,” he told DVJournal. “I don’t think the world is going to end.”

As we head into the homestretch of this election cycle, at least two things are clear to me. This election is as hard fought as any in our history and the margin of victory will be incredibly slim with the winner of Pennsylvania becoming president.

The margin of victory in Pennsylvania will likely be under 50,000 votes.

It’s also clear to me that inflation and the border are the two issues that dominate the minds of voters. However, the stealth issue that will also deeply affect the outcome revolves around transgender controversies, particularly Vice President Harris’ support for gender affirming care with taxpayer funded surgeries for even illegal immigrants in prison. The other part of this involves the battle over gender fluid and transgendered boys and men who compete in women’s sports.

Axios reports the Trump campaign agrees with me. Its closing ad campaign has focused on the battle over transgender issues. The main ad is entitled “Kamala’s agenda is they/them, not you.” It’s also reported the Trump campaign, exclusive of outside PAC spending, has spent more than $30 million on trans-focused ads that include an ad in Spanish in just the past 36 days. The source was AdImpact data. This amount of spending indicates the campaign believes Harris has flip flopped on it and it frames her as radical.

This issue is also important because every day there are renewed battles that often get media attention. For example, we have the ongoing battle in the Mountain West Conference after five women’s college volleyball teams have forfeited games against the San Jose State University’s women’s volleyball team because it has a biological male who identifies as a woman as a key player.

This raises not only the issue of fair competition but also a real risk of injury because of the San Jose State’s ability to spike a volleyball. The recent forfeit by the University of Nevada’s team to San Jose State showed a change in attitude by female athletes. Unlike the University of Pennsylvania’s women’s swim team, which was forced by the university to conceal Lia Thomas, a male swimmer on the team, the women at Nevada spoke out and publicly pushed back against the school officials who according to Outkick told them they were not ‘educated enough ‘around the science of transgenderism.

Maybe the women are like the 69 percent of Americans who told Gallup that “transgender athletes should only be allowed to compete on sports teams that conform to their birth gender.”

The Wall Street Journal noted that poll in a recent piece citing transgender sports as the sleeper issue of 2024 in the races of Democratic U.S. Sens. Casey, Brown, Tester, and Baldwin. The Journal stated, “But these days the hard edge of the transgender movement has dictated that its view of gender must be imposed nationwide. Senate Democrats have toed that line.” I would argue that Vice President Harris has toed that line even more firmly.

Harris has started to try to deflect from her previous positions in this area. In the interview with Brett Baier on Fox News Channel, she argued that President Trump was for sex change operations for people in prisons and she was just following the same principles. On the Breakfast Club Show out of New York, she argued she was only involved in two cases of gender changing surgery. I don’t think she can escape her support for these radical policies.

So, when this election is finally settled, I’m sure we’ll hear that inflation, the border, and the canard that Trump will end our democracy will all be analyzed. But don’t forget the sleeper issue of 2024.

While Republicans now outnumber Democrats in Bucks County, it remains a competitive political environment.  A recent poll showed that incumbent U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) has a 14-point lead over Democratic challenger Ashley Ehasz, at 54 to 40 percent. However, Ehasz released another poll showing only a 5-point lead for the incumbent.

DVJournal asked Fitzpatrick, who was first elected in 2016, why he wanted to serve another term in Congress.

“Serving the community where I was born and raised has been the greatest honor of my life and I am proud of all that we achieved together as ‘One Community.’ Earning the distinction of being the No. 1 most bipartisan member of Congress is not just a title—it’s a testament to my belief that true progress comes from unity and shared purpose, not partisan division.

“My experience as an FBI Special Agent taught me the value of teamwork in achieving what truly matters: results. This approach has been the bedrock of my service in Congress, where I’ve forged crucial partnerships with leaders from both parties to drive transformative change for our PA-1 community.”

Ehasz, who is making a second run against Fitzpatrick, did not respond to multiple requests for comments for this article. However, her campaign appears to be centered on abortion rights.

Ashley Ehasz

“Many Democratic races this year, up and down the ballot, are focusing nearly exclusively on that particular issue, abortion. And Ehasz’ is no exception,” said Christopher Nicholas, a longtime Republican advisor with Eagle Consulting Group.  “The issue clearly motivates the Democratic base, but it’s unclear as of yet how it impacts undecided voters. Recent surveys here have shown that abortion is the top issue for just 5 percent of voters, and it’s unclear from that which particular side of the issue those people fall on.”

About abortion, Fitzpatrick said, “I have always stood, and will continue to stand, firmly in support of Pennsylvania’s current law, which allows abortion to be legal through the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. My commitment to protecting women’s health remains unwavering, including safeguarding access to contraception and IVF. My position has been consistent and clear, including during last [election cycle] debate: I fully support Pennsylvania’s abortion law.”

Fitzpatrick serves on the Ways and Means Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. In addition, he co-chairs the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, Congressional Ukraine Caucus, and Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force. He also serves on the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

“Whether fighting to secure millions of dollars in funding for vital community initiatives, leading the historic reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, or utilizing my leadership as the National Intelligence Chairman to secure our borders and stand firm against authoritarian regimes, every action I take—locally, nationally, and internationally—is driven by a singular focus: fighting for you… for your safety, for a thriving PA-1 economy, and for the prosperity, security, and strength that will uplift our community now and for generations to come,” Fitzpatrick said.

He added, “We stand at a pivotal moment in our history, and the path forward demands sound bipartisan leadership and a particular understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities facing our community. I have proven we can turn thoughtful dialogue into meaningful action and achieve results for our hardworking families, business owners, veterans, senior citizens, and every individual in our PA-1 community.

“But I am not content with past achievements alone. My vision is forward-looking—building on what we’ve accomplished to tackle the challenges ahead with the same unwavering dedication, conviction, and integrity that have always defined my service,” Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick said, “Championing our PA-1 community is my top priority. By forging strong, bipartisan relationships, I have been able to secure over $53 million in Community Project Funding for over 30 projects across our district. From modernizing infrastructure to expanding health care services and senior care, these transformative projects will deliver life-changing improvements to our community.

“As co-chair of the Bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, I helped lead the passage of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which brought $290 million to our district. These critical infrastructure projects include 27 bridge reconstructions, 19 intersection upgrades, 8 roadway construction projects, and major flooding and drainage improvements. These projects have not only strengthened our infrastructure but also created thousands of jobs, boosting our local economy and enhancing the safety of our community,” he added.

“Beyond securing critical community funding, this Congress marked two other monumental victories. My bipartisan, bicameral Saracini Enhanced Aviation Safety Act was signed into law as part of the landmark FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, ensuring our skies are safe and fortifying our defenses against potential terror attacks. Additionally, my work with Congressman Jared Golden (D-Maine) on the bipartisanDefending Borders, Defending Democracies Ac thelped shape the House National Security Funding Package to protect our borders and combat authoritarian regimes abroad, like Russia and China.

“As I look ahead, my focus remains clear: continuing to fight for the issues that matter most to PA-1. I look forward to fighting for more federal investment in local initiatives and infrastructure, support for our small businesses, and policies that bolster our economy, expand access to healthcare, strengthen our national security, restore faith in our elections, and ensure every voice in our community is heard.”

DVJournal asked about rampant antisemitism on campuses and whether money from countries like Qatar should be going to colleges and universities.

“I unequivocally condemn antisemitism and all manifestations of hatred, whether on college campuses or anywhere within our country and the world. Transparency and accountability are paramount when addressing the influence of foreign funds on any U.S. institution, from higher education to our critical infrastructure or the core of our democracy. That’s why I introduced the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act. This legislation will prevent the influence of foreign adversaries in our elections by blocking foreign-funded political ads and prohibiting foreign donations to campaigns.

“As co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, I will continue to be relentless in fighting back against antisemitism on every front and safeguarding the well-being of our Jewish community, and I am eager to continue working with my colleagues to develop bipartisan solutions to counter malign foreign influence in all our institutions,” Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick is a former FBI special agent, a CPA, and a certified emergency medical technician (EMT).  A West Point graduate, Ehasz was an Apache helicopter pilot. She served overseas in Kuwait, Iraq, and South Korea. She works as a government and public services sector consultant.

Bucks County Republican Party Chair Pat Poprik said, “Brian does have the right positions for this county.”

Fitzpatrick has been ranked the most bipartisan member of Congress, which makes him a good match for the purple county, she noted. The district, PA-1, also includes a small section of Montgomery County.

“In the general, where it matters, he gets the independent vote. He gets tons of Democrat votes. That’s being representative, and that’s doing his job,” said Poprik.

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GOP U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick is campaigning hard on the fact that his opponent, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, supports another term for President Joe Biden.

While Casey’s position isn’t popular — a huge majority of Keystone State voters believe Biden is too old — it appeared the three-term Democrat might get a reprieve. Prominent Democrats like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have been working behind the scenes to push Biden out, which would let Casey off the hook.

A chorus of  Democrats and donors have called for Biden to bow out of the presidential race, fearing a Trump victory. Vermont Sen. Peter Welch was the first senator to ask Biden to withdraw for the “good of the country.” At least 20 House Democrats have called for Biden to drop out of the 2024 race.

That all changed Saturday when an assassin’s bullet narrowly missed former President Donald Trump. The Republican nominee survived, but it appears any hopes of getting Biden off the ticket didn’t.

“Everything is on pause for the moment given the gravity of the moment in time we’re in,” said Jeff Jubelirer, vice president with Bellevue Communications. “I haven’t heard any new Democrats saying anything about Biden since Saturday. It seems like this will remain on pause for at least the short term. However, I don’t know if this will change the overall calculus that many Democrats want Biden to drop out for a new candidate. I suspect the grave attack won’t change their positions.”

Jubelirer is right regarding the political math. A New York Times/Siena College poll released Monday found Biden losing Pennsylvania to Trump 48 to 45 percent. Worse, campaign professionals say, is the fact that around 60 percent of Keystone State Democrats say Biden it too old. And Democrats are split on keeping Biden on the ticket, with 48 percent sticking with Biden and 46 percent wanting him gone.

But Democrats like Casey and his colleague, Sen. John Fetterman, are backing Biden. “I refuse to join the Democratic vultures on Biden’s shoulder after the debate. No one knows more than me that a rough debate is not the sum total of the person and their record,” Fetterman said.

And it appears the national party is falling in line, too. Former Democratic National Committee chair Donna Brazile told The New York Times that after Biden’s debate fiasco, “it’s been hysteria on steroids. But now Biden’s not going anywhere.

“If he is not going to buckle under the weight of what has happened over the last two and a half weeks, I don’t know why anyone else should,” she said.

Republicans are delighted. They see Biden as a weak candidate, and Casey’s embrace of a candidate most voters believe is clearly unfit to serve.

McCormick has billboards around Pennsylvania that say “Same Old, Tired Ideas” with pictures of Casey and Biden. They went up last week in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton, and Bloomsburg. Casey and Biden are both from Scranton, while McCormick grew up in Bloomsburg.

McCormick’s campaign launched a digital ad after the June 27 debate titled “Bob Casey Knew,” a reference to the fact that, due to his relationship with Biden and the White House, Casey had to be aware of Biden’s declining cognitive skills.

“There’s nobody in the Senate closer to Joe Biden than Bob Casey,” McCormick told DVJournal. “As a veteran, I’m worried about Biden’s ability to keep our troops safe. How can Casey, one of Biden’s closest friends in Washington, continue to ignore what’s at risk with a weak commander-in-chief? The commonwealth deserves better than their failed leadership and tired, old ideas.”

Why won’t Casey, caught in a tough re-election campaign in a state Biden is losing, cut the president loose?

“The relationship that Sen. Casey and the president enjoy transcends politics,” says longtime Democratic strategist TJ Rooney. “The president has enjoyed exceptionally close relationships with both Sen. Casey and Gov. Casey [Sen. Casey’s father]. Bob Casey is a faithful servant who believes his word is his bond. I don’t see his support for President Biden changing anytime soon.”

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Republican Dave McCormick, a successful businessman running against Sen. Bob Casey Jr., called out the three-term senator for his votes on illegal immigration.

“Last night, while most were asleep, Bob Casey voted to allow Pennsylvania’s taxpayer dollars to fund illegal aliens’ flights into our country. This disaster is leading to the fentanyl deaths of 4,000 Pennsylvanians a year. A failure of leadership of disastrous proportions,” McCormick posted to social media after Casey voted for the $1.2 trillion omnibus spending bill.

Pennsylvania has been the destination for “ghost flights,” bringing hundreds of illegal immigrants here, often in the dead of night. And President Joe Biden’s policy of flying “paroled” illegals from Venezuela and Haiti into the U.S. is also under fire.

Casey also voted against the Laken Riley Act amendment to that spending bill. Riley, a young Georgia college student, was brutally killed while out on a run across campus, allegedly by an illegal immigrant. The bill would require that any illegal immigrant who committed burglary, larceny, shoplifting, or theft be detained.

McCormick also criticized his Democratic opponent for that vote.

“Laken Riley would still be alive if Jose Ibarra — an illegal immigrant — was deported after breaking our laws in the first place. Bob Casey just voted against making it easier to deport criminals like Ibarra. PA needs a senator who will fight evil, not enable it,” McCormick posted to X.

In September, Danelo Cavalcante, an illegal immigrant who escaped from the Chester County prison, kept police, state police and the U.S. Border Patrol busy as he evaded capture for 14 days. Cavalcante had been convicted of murder for the stabbing death of his girlfriend in August and was awaiting sentencing when he crab-walked between two walls to a roof and fled the jail. The manhunt led to fear and inconvenience for Delaware Valley residents, especially after he stole a rifle.

Casey also voted to give undocumented immigrants federal benefits, opposed border security measures, and voted to keep counting illegal immigrants in the U.S. Census.

He voted three times to keep giving federal money to sanctuary cities and opposed an executive order from former President Donald Trump to rein in sanctuary cities. Sanctuary cities, including Philadelphia, don’t cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Casey also voted against Kate’s Law, which would have set mandatory minimums for deported felons who reenter the U.S. illegally.

Some illegal immigrants who’ve been flooding across the southern border are believed to be drug mules, bringing deadly fentanyl and other drugs into the U.S. The number of overdose deaths in Pennsylvania grew by 19.5 percent from 2019 (4,479) to 2021 (5,356). And 78.4 percent of all overdose deaths in Pennsylvania involved fentanyl in 2022.

The Casey campaign did not respond to requests for comment. However, a Casey spokesperson told another news outlet he opposes sanctuary  cities.  

But a new Cygnal poll commissioned by the Republican State Leadership Committee showed Pennsylvania voters are most concerned about inflation (32 percent) and immigration/border security (28 percent). The poll was taken March 10 through 12.

National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Philip Letsou said, “Just one month after Laken Riley was murdered, Bob Casey voted to allow illegal immigrants to be released into the country, fund flights for illegals throughout the country, and continue funding sanctuary cities. Casey refuses to stand up to his party, and the Democrats’ radical agenda is making our country less safe.”

“Putting every Pennsylvanian at risk, Bob Casey is in lockstep with Joe Biden’s deadly, pro-criminal agenda. Casey has recklessly prioritized sanctuary cities and illegal immigrants over the safety of Keystone State families, who will reject his failures and vote Republican this November,” added Rachel Lee, Republican National Committee spokesperson.

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