Statistics released Monday by the Pennsylvania Department of State showed that the Democratic stronghold flipped to the Republican Party for the first time in 52 years.
As a result of Republican efforts to contact voters and persuade them to register, local officials announced that 87,415 people had registered in Luzerne County. Already registered There were 87,332 registered as Republicans and 87,332 registered as Democrats.
“Our message was received by the good people of Luzerne County.”
Republicans had just 83 more registered voters than Democrats.
Although the gap between Republicans and Democrats is very small, Republicans were able to erase a significant advantage of 47,669 registered voters that Democrats had gained by 2011.
“We are excited and relieved that our message was received by the good people of Luzerne County,” said Luzerne County Republican Party Chair Gene Ziemba.
Democrats say young voters support their policies but are registering as independents because they reject party labels.
The last time registered Republicans outnumbered registered Democrats in Luzerne County was in 1972, when Richard Nixon defeated George McGovern in a landslide victory. By 1976, the numbers had risen to Flipped In the aftermath of the Watergate scandal that culminated with President Nixon's resignation, Luzerne had 101,000 registered Democrats and only 64,000 registered Republicans in that election.
The city of Luzerne was recently in the headlines when officials decided to remove four mail-in ballot drop boxes due to concerns about election integrity and fiscal responsibility.
Democrats have until Oct. 21 to try to close the registration gap ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.
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