Pennsylvania Race Highlights Democrats’ Struggle with Democracy Messaging

In the highly contested Pennsylvania congressional race, Democratic candidate Janelle Stelson is facing challenges in leveraging democracy messaging to sway voters against her Republican opponent, Scott Perry. Stelson has been vocal about Perry’s involvement in efforts to subvert the 2020 election results, including his role in pushing for a leadership change at the Justice Department to promote false claims of voter fraud. In a recent ad, Stelson criticized Perry for spreading conspiracy theories about Italian satellites rigging the last election and accused him of seeking a pardon, which Perry has denied.

Despite these efforts, many voters in the district do not see democracy as a top issue. Conversations with voters revealed that concerns such as abortion and the cost of living are more pressing. Supporters of Perry have also shown little interest in the democracy messaging, with some expressing fatigue over discussions about the January 6th events. This divide underscores the difficulty in using democracy as a primary motivator for swing voters, especially when Perry has not been charged with any crime related to these issues.

The broader context of the election highlights the critical role Pennsylvania plays in national politics. Historically, Pennsylvania has been a crucial state for Democratic presidential victories, with the last Democrat to win the White House without carrying Pennsylvania being Harry S. Truman. The current election dynamics, including turnout trends, suggest that urban turnout is down significantly compared to 2020, which could impact Democratic chances.

The Democratic Party’s platform, led by Vice-President Kamala Harris in the presidential race, emphasizes issues such as women’s access to abortion, climate change initiatives, and gun safety laws. However, these messages may not be resonating as strongly with voters in districts like Perry’s, where economic and social issues take precedence.