There is less than a few weeks until Election Day, Nov. 5 — and political fever burns higher than ever. With the spotlight on former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris vying for the presidency, another key battleground lies just within the borough of Pottstown, the 4th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, and the state as a whole.
In Pottstown, voters will vote for either Democrat Madeline Dean or Republican David Winkler to represent Pennslyvania’s 4th congressional district this November. Dean has served as the district’s representative since Jan. 3, 2019. Dean has focused on issues such as healthcare, infrastructure and economic development. Winkler, on the other hand, focuses more on social security, energy, climate and education. Their job as representative allows them to not only contribute to local policy but also advocate for local beliefs at the congressional level in the House.
Another important battleground lies in the 2024 U.S. Senate elections. Though there are two spots in the Senate for the state of Pennsylvania, one is available this election season: Democratic senator Bob Casey, having held this seat in Senate since 2007 faces Republican candidate David McCormick for the seat.
One of Casey’s campaign targets is so-called “greedflation” or corporate greed. He promises that he will fight increasing living costs for families through corporate regulation. On the contrary, McCormick’s campaign states that he will curb inflation and ease the financial burden on working class families through fiscal conservatism and reduced taxes.
McCormick’s campaign is particularly focusing on pointing out how Casey has fallen short of representing Pennsylvania. Casey has focused on persuading voters that he continues to fight for the state, leveraging his experience as a reason to vote for him.
State-level elections are also another key battleground that will determine Pennsylvanian policy. The GOP currently controls the Pennsylvanian Senate with a margin of 28-22, while Democrats continue to cement control over the House and Governorship.
The Democratic party hopes to reach a legislative “trifecta,” controlling the House, Senate, and the Governor. If this were to happen, the Democratic party would be able to further advance its agenda on advancing abortion rights, establishing a higher minimum wage, and enforcing stricter gun laws. Republicans will have to either hold the Senate or take back the House (held by a margin of 101-100) to maintain an influential hold in the Pennsylvania legislature. This would allow them to protect their agenda on pushing lower taxes, slowing down inflation, and suppressing crime.
Pennsylvania Attorney General is another position being elected this November. The Attorney General is the “top law-enforcement official” in the state with a variety of responsibilities ranging from criminal cases to civil law. Dem. Eugene DiPasquale will run against Rep. Dave Sunday. Both seek to validate their parties’ legislative agendas through the courts and specify the applications of laws enacted by legislators.
Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5th to elect officials for these positions and those in the federal government. While many will be laser-focused on the presidential race, those who stay informed on their community and understand their local races can have a large impact on their community.