Registered Republicans overtake Dems in Bucks County
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Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
Bucks County has more registered Republicans than Democrats for the first time in more than 15 years.
Why it matters: Bucks and its neighboring purple counties in Philadelphia's suburbs are among the most-watched in the battleground swing state that could determine the presidency this fall.
Driving the news: State voting registration data from last week shows Republicans now outnumber Democrats by more than 260 registered voters in Bucks County.
The big picture: It's the only county in Philly's suburbs with more registered Republicans.
Catch up quick: The GOP has been closing the gap for years.
- In 2020, Bucks had about 10,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans. That year, President Biden carried the county. The election before, Hillary Clinton did.
- During the 2022 municipal election, Bucks was swept by a red wave with the GOP winning five of nine county row office seats.
What they're saying: Bucks County GOP Chair Pat Poprik attributed the flip to growing dissatisfaction with Democratic leadership and renewed energy after the Republican National Convention, where former President Trump accepted his party's nomination days after an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler.
Reality check: It can take time for counties to process voter registration data, and there can often be lags, the Inquirer reports. So it's unclear whether the increase in registered voters can be attributed to recent events.
Berwood Yost, director of the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin and Marshall College, told USA Today that Bucks County is still "going to be a toss-up" in the upcoming election.
By the numbers: There are more than 60,000 unaffiliated voters in the county, and another 21,000 registered with a third party, per WHYY.
- The number of registered voters there dropped from 451,000 to 444,000 over the last four years, per USA Today.
What we're watching: Some Democrats say they're working to retake Bucks — bolstered by excitement around Vice President Kamala Harris' new presidential campaign.