Trump and Vance visit 

The year’s highest-profile political stops carried familiar themes – tariffs, tax relief, and economic messaging – paired with a clear signal that Pennsylvania remains central to the national map.

In late May, President Donald Trump took a victory lap in West Mifflin to celebrate Pittsburgh Steel’s partnership with Japanese-owned Nippon Steel. 

Speaking in a warehouse surrounded by mill workers, labor unions and state and congressional lawmakers, Trump called it the most significant investment in the history of the American steel industry – a deal he previously opposed.

The president took the opportunity to emphasize how increasing steel tariffs from 25% to 50% would protect the American steel industry. 

Takahiro Mori, executive vice president and vice chairman for Nippon, told the crowd the company will begin making massive investments that will transform U.S. Steel on the world stage. “You have placed your trust in us, and we will work hard in the years ahead to keep earning that trust,” he said.

“The Golden Age of America has only just begun,” Trump said, “and together, we are going to make America great again, greater than ever before.”

Vice President J.D. Vance followed up with a visit to Luzerne County in July, where he addressed a group at a machine shop in West Pittston. He spoke about the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act – framing the administration’s efforts as part of a broader mission to create opportunities for the next generation. 

Vance touched on key issues, including the economy, energy policy, and border security. He then outlined the bill’s economic benefits, including blue-collar workers’ wages outpacing inflation, no tax on overtime or tips, cuts in government spending, tax breaks for businesses investing in America, and tariffs on companies that choose to manufacture their goods overseas.

The optimism in the room contrasted with criticism of the budget resolution – especially the changes to the public safety net and the reinstatement of work requirements for able-bodied adults with no dependents, which would shift coverage for millions across the country.

Both Trump and Vance again made stops in Pennsylvania in December to shore up support for down-ballot races in advance of the midterms.

Trump focused on tariffs and “no tax on tips” during a Dec. 9 stop at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County.

The swing district is represented by U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, a freshman Republican who spoke at the rally. Democrats have targeted his seat as a potential pickup in 2026, as they rail against higher prices they blame on the administration’s tariffs. 

“My favorite word is tariff,” Trump said several times, describing how they raise large revenues from foreign countries that he said have aided farmers, will protect the steel industry, and drive investment and reshoring of manufacturing.

But those same tariffs have sparked uncertainty among Americans, according to The Center Square’s Voters Voice Poll conducted by Noble Predictive Insights. 

The poll found that 15% of registered voters cited price increases and inflation as their top issues, followed by government corruption (13%), the economy/jobs (11%), health care (9%), illegal immigration (8%), and crime/violence (7%).

Better-than-expected inflation levels, however, ushered in a third cut in the federal rate on Dec. 10.

One week later, the vice president addressed a crowd in the Allentown area, underscoring their efforts to keep the state’s scales tipped in the red. 

At a rally held at Uline Shipping Supplies in Alburtis, Vance touted Trump’s economic policies and highlighted several Republican hopefuls. 

While the city of Allentown is a Democratic stronghold, the surrounding areas in the county – and the broader Lehigh Valley – contain more conservative suburbs and rural areas, making the overall region a crucial swing area for both major parties. 

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity praised the administration’s policies – such as no tax on tips and the expanded child tax credit – before taking swipes at Gov. Josh Shapiro, alleging he’s more focused on his rumored presidential ambitions, and casting him as an adversary who fights the administration in court instead of working with it. 

Garrity hopes to unseat Gov. Josh Shapiro next year but faces an uphill battle.

According to a Quinnipiac University poll released in October, Shapiro’s 60% approval rating was a new record high since he took office in 2023. A hypothetical match-up with Garrity puts him ahead 55%-39%, while 7 out of 10 respondents said they don’t know enough about the treasurer to decide whether she’d get their vote.

Vance acknowledged the still-high prices and affordability issues concerning many Americans, attributing them to the previous administration’s high deficits, energy costs, and inflation. He cautioned that fixing high prices would take time, but added that progress is being made. 

“We inherited a mess, but I think that in 11 months, we have made great progress to making this a safer, a more secure and a more prosperous nation,” he said. “Let’s work for the next three years to do even more great work for the American people, and let’s rebuild this country together.”

Alternative parties making headway

Meanwhile, following the November 2024 election, as Democrats and Republicans strategize their next moves, one alternative party believes its long-term strategy is beginning to pay off. 

The Forward Party, founded by former Democratic 2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang, stepped into the gap created by a polarized America to offer more choices to dissatisfied voters.

In January, Craig Snyder, Forward’s Pennsylvania political director, told The Center Square that while they had hoped to reach Pennsylvania’s threshold for minor party status in November, they accomplished a lot of building. 

Had their two statewide office candidates secured 2% of the vote in the general election, it would have opened the door for official party status in the state. Eric Settle, Forward’s candidate for attorney general, received 17,320 votes – or 0.3%. Chris Foster, their candidate for treasurer, received 0.4% with 25,512 votes.

Snyder said it was tough to compete with the hundreds of millions of dollars thrown into political communications targeted at Pennsylvania, and they didn’t have a boat big enough to swim against the red wave.

But he was encouraged by the infrastructure they built with volunteers. 

“It shows that if you can’t compete on the level of paid political communication, it is grassroots that make a difference in building the infrastructure and growing supporters,” he said.

The party continued to build its infrastructure in 2025 with around one dozen endorsed candidates running for a variety of local offices across the bottom half of the state. 

Forward endorsed Judge Pat Dugan in the race for Philadelphia’s District Attorney against two-term incumbent Larry Krasner. Dugan was defeated in the May primary by a 64% to 36% margin. He fought for the seat again in November as the Republican nominee, with Krasner taking 73.1% of the city’s votes to Dugan’s 23.6%.

According to a Forward update, they endorsed 70 candidates with 26 wins nationally, and they now have ballot access in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, South Carolina, Utah, and Minnesota. 

Pennsylvania is listed as one of Forward’s strongest “turbo-charged” states – with robust leadership and organizing – along with Maryland, Minnesota, and Virginia. 

They also endorsed Democrat Danny Ceisler, who defeated Republican Fred Harran in the Bucks County Sheriff’s race after receiving more than 55% of the vote. 

“Forward candidates and supporters showed that Americans don’t want more chaos or culture wars, they want leaders who take governing seriously and are willing to work with anyone to get results,” Forward said.

Independent voters want more voice

As the number of independent voters grows, there is broad bipartisan support in Pennsylvania for allowing the state’s 1.4 million independents to participate in primary elections, according to a poll by Unite America.

A poll of 800 voters from across the commonwealth found that of those surveyed, 43% were registered Republicans, 45% Democrats, and 12% Independents. When asked which party’s primary they would choose to vote in if allowed, 22% said Republican, 25% said Democrat, 17% said neither, and 36% were unsure. Additionally, 69% support new laws allowing more voters to participate in primary elections – something lawmakers in Harrisburg are currently considering. 

Pennsylvania is one of only eight states with closed primaries. 

House Bill 280, introduced by Rep. Jared Solomon (D-Philadelphia) calls for open primaries. It passed the House State Government Committee by a narrow margin of 14-12 in May and awaits further action in that chamber.

Sens. Daniel Laughlin (R-Erie) and Lisa Boscola (D-Bethlehem) sponsored Senate Bill 400, which proposes semi-open primaries. It was referred to the Senate State Government Committee in April.

In a semi-open primary, independent voters can choose to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary. Those registered with a specific party may only vote in their own party’s primary. This differs from a fully open primary, in which voters can select candidates from any party regardless of affiliation.

“Registering as a Democrat or Republican should not be a prerequisite to enjoy full voting rights here in Pennsylvania,” said Sen. Boscola. “It’s time we fix this. Allowing independents to vote in primary elections is not just fair – it ensures that all Pennsylvanians have the freedom to choose the leaders who represent them.”

Whether open primary legislation advances in 2026 remains an open question, but the debate itself reflects a shift in the electorate.