Why the AP Called Pennsylvania for Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — While it wasn’t quite a red wave in the nation’s key battleground, Pennsylvania saw a notable shift toward red.
Donald Trump reclaimed Pennsylvania by narrowing Democratic President Joe Biden’s 2020 win margin in Philadelphia, strengthening his dominance in rural areas, and — by the time the Associated Press called the race at 2:24 a.m. ET — flipping key suburban counties to the GOP side.
At the time of the call, Trump was leading by approximately 175,000 votes. Even if Vice President Kamala Harris managed to win the remaining outstanding votes — including ballots from counties where she was already trailing — by a 20-point margin over Trump, it wouldn’t be enough to close the gap.
Trump’s success was evident across Pennsylvania. In populous Bucks and Northampton Counties, considered bellwethers in suburban Philadelphia, he held a lead. These were areas Biden had won four years prior. Trump also showed stronger support in Chester and Delaware, suburban areas around Philadelphia, and was winning in Erie County, which Biden narrowly took in 2020. In Philadelphia, a Democratic stronghold, Trump was performing 3 percentage points better than in his previous campaign.
Candidates:
- President: Harris (D) vs. Trump (R) vs. Chase Oliver (Libertarian) vs. Jill Stein (Green).
- Winner: Trump
- Poll Closing Time: 8 p.m. ET
About the Race:
Pennsylvania, the most contested prize of this election, drew dozens of visits from Harris and Trump alike. The state witnessed intense campaigning, including a dramatic event where Trump survived an attempted assassination in Butler over the summer. Trump made several appearances at rallies, visited local spots, and even put on an apron at a McDonald’s in suburban Philadelphia to connect with voters.
Harris sought to appeal to moderates and disillusioned Republicans, holding an event at the historic site of George Washington’s Delaware River crossing. She also organized a get-out-the-vote rally in Philadelphia, a major Democratic base, in the final days of the campaign.
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