Pennsylvania Democrats set for leadership shakeup
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The Pennsylvania Democratic Party is undergoing a leadership shakeup as members struggle to rebound from last year's sweeping electoral losses.
Why it matters: The party's new head will face an uphill battle to reverse voter registration declines and slumping turnout amid surging Republican popularity in the state.
The big picture: Pennsylvania is a top prize in national politics — the swingiest of swing states that can determine presidential elections.
- So the next leader of the Democratic Party here could sway the party's national agenda.
State of play: Pennsylvania Democrats will vote to appoint a new chairperson during a committee meeting in Lancaster on Sept. 6.
- State Sen. Sharif Street, who has led the state party since 2022, is stepping down as he runs for Philly's 3rd Congressional District.
The intrigue: Eugene DePasquale, a former auditor general who lives in Pittsburgh, tells Axios that Street is backing him for chairperson of the party. Street declined to comment.
- Appointing a successor could avoid a bruising intraparty leadership battle at a vulnerable time for Democrats.
- DePasquale says that if elected, he would re-engage with disaffected voters and focus on improving registration numbers.
What they're saying: "The state of the Democratic Party right now in Pennsylvania is not desperate or dire, but it's certainly needing leadership, energy, direction," Randall Miller, St. Joe's professor emeritus of history and political commentator, tells Axios.
- Pennsylvania lobbyist Kyle Darby tells Axios that the next state party leader needs to offer authentic, plainspoken and practical solutions that reenergize voters.
- "They can't just recycle the same playbook and get different results," Darby says.
Context: 2024 exposed deep problems for Pennsylvania's Democrats.
- All three statewide row offices went to Republicans.
- The GOP flipped Pennsylvania in the presidential election, helping Donald Trump reclaim the White House.
- Plus: Philly Democrats underperformed, failing to show up in enough numbers to counter Republican gains elsewhere.
Yes, but: It's not all bad for Dems.
- The party won the state's top prize in 2022 — electing Josh Shapiro governor.
- And that same year, Democrats flipped the state House for the first time in more than a decade.
🧮 By the numbers: Active Democratic voter registration shrunk by roughly 251,000 between 2016 and this August, per data from the Pennsylvania Department of State.
- Meanwhile, active GOP voters surged by more than 422,000 during that span.
- The result: Democrats' active voter advantage over Republicans stands at roughly 53,500.
🐤 1 canary in the coal mine: Bucks County flipped to majority Republican in registration in 2024 for the first time in more than 15 years.
What we're watching: This November's off-year election (when turnout is typically lower) will be a litmus test for the new Democratic leadership, especially when it comes to statewide judgeship races.