Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will converge on Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state, with campaign events at opposite ends of the state. Harris will address voters in Erie, while Trump will hold a town hall near Philadelphia, reflecting their ongoing efforts to sway Pennsylvania’s decisive electorate ahead of the 2024 election.
Harris’ appearance in Erie, a traditionally Democratic stronghold in the state’s northwest corner, will mark her tenth visit to Pennsylvania this campaign season. Trump, who continues to rally his Republican base, has also made Pennsylvania a key focus, visiting Scranton and Reading just last week. Both figures are vying for the attention of the state’s few remaining undecided voters in what promises to be another closely contested race.
Pennsylvania, which boasts 19 electoral votes—the most of any swing state—has seen a steady stream of visits from both Democratic and Republican candidates. Monday’s events will bring the total to 46 campaign stops in the state, underscoring its strategic importance. With mail-in voting already underway and millions of ballots expected to be cast, the race to secure Pennsylvania’s electoral votes has intensified.
Energy policy, particularly around natural gas fracking, is expected to be a central topic as Harris and Trump address Pennsylvania voters. The state, rich in natural resources and home to a robust energy industry, is deeply divided on issues surrounding fracking and environmental regulation. Harris, representing the Biden administration’s climate-conscious agenda, will likely emphasize renewable energy and economic opportunities for transitioning workers. Trump, on the other hand, is expected to highlight his support for the fossil fuel industry and the jobs it provides, positioning himself as a defender of the state’s energy sector.
Erie, where Harris will hold her rally, is a Democratic-leaning city surrounded by more conservative rural areas. Erie County has long been viewed as a bellwether region in Pennsylvania, reflecting the state’s moderate and often unpredictable voting tendencies. Trump himself visited Erie on September 29, acknowledging the city’s pivotal role in deciding the state’s outcome.
Harris will use the rally to promote early voting and energize key constituencies, including Black voters. In a bid to bolster support, she plans to visit a Black-owned small business before the rally, underscoring the Biden administration’s initiatives aimed at expanding economic opportunities for Black men. This outreach is part of a broader Democratic strategy to galvanize a key voting bloc that will be essential for victory in November.
Meanwhile, Trump will host a town hall at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, a suburb of the state’s largest city. The former president hopes to mobilize his supporters in the populous southeastern part of the state, which has traditionally leaned Democratic in presidential elections but remains crucial to Republican turnout efforts. Trump’s 2016 victory in Pennsylvania, where he edged out Hillary Clinton by just over 40,000 votes, was fueled in part by high turnout in rural and suburban areas. In contrast, his loss to Joe Biden in 2020 by around 80,000 votes demonstrated the challenge of holding onto that coalition amid shifting demographics.
With Pennsylvania often deciding the outcome of national elections, both Harris and Trump are banking on the state’s swing voters. While Democrats have won the last three gubernatorial elections and both U.S. Senate seats are held by Democrats, the state’s legislature remains closely divided, reflecting the polarized nature of its electorate.
As the 2024 election approaches, Pennsylvania remains the most contested prize, outpacing Michigan and Wisconsin in candidate visits. Both campaigns are pouring resources into the state, hoping to break what was once considered the Democrats’ “blue wall” that Trump managed to dismantle in 2016. With millions of Pennsylvanians already voting, the battle for the state’s 19 electoral votes is set to be fierce, with the potential to decide the direction of the country for years to come.
