Megaphones, television commercials, and canvassers overlapping: The Pennsylvania race approaches its climax
In the concluding days of the campaign, we traveled across the state to explore the impact of Trump and Harris on voters.
TroibNews 
**PHILADELPHIA** — Voters in Pennsylvania often find themselves at the center of attention during presidential elections, but this year, many feel overwhelmed by the spotlight.
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have invested more in TV advertisements in Pennsylvania than in any other swing state, coupled with a relentless campaign schedule. The state is pivotal, offering 19 electoral votes that could determine the outcome for either candidate, as recent polls indicate a tight race. Trump narrowly secured the state in 2016, while Joe Biden won it by just a point four years later.
Pennsylvania exemplifies the polarization present across the nation, more than any of the other six battleground states. It comprises diverse, liberal urban centers; small, predominantly white, rural towns; and both agricultural lands and affluent suburbs.
As the final days of the campaign unfolded, we explored how Trump and Harris were connecting with voters who could tip the balance. We spoke with suburban women in southeastern Pennsylvania eager to boost Harris' turnout, young white men in central regions proudly supporting Trump, Puerto Rican voters in the Lehigh Valley who felt torn between the candidates following a contentious rally, and Black voters in Philadelphia rallying support for Harris in their communities.
One sentiment echoed throughout the state: Pennsylvanians are ready for the election to conclude.
— Holly Otterbein
**He was leaning towards Trump … until the ‘garbage’ controversy erupted**
**ALLENTOWN** — Just a week before Election Day, Jose Sierra was still uncertain about his vote but was leaning toward Trump.
“I mean, all the bad stuff that they’re talking about him,” Sierra said, “he did great stuff while he was a president. He helped people, Spanish people, and that stuff. So that's what I like.”
Sierra, a 36-year-old car mechanic originally from Puerto Rico, was busy and not aware of recent headlines. When informed that a comedian at Trump’s rally had called Puerto Rico a “floating pile of garbage in the middle of the ocean,” his expression shifted dramatically.
“Agh. I didn’t see that,” Sierra said as he exited a grocery store with a container of Puerto Rican food.
His demeanor changed. “Well, with that, what he did, absolutely he's not going to get any vote for that.”
“Nobody’s going to say my isla, my beautiful isla, is going to be trash,” he added. “I don’t like that.”
While he had not researched Harris much and was unimpressed with Biden, he and his wife had recently looked up information about the vice president.
“I'm just gonna try to go to the other way, then,” Sierra affirmed, indicating he would likely vote for Harris. “I’m just trying to see a better president for the United States.”
— Natalie Allison
**She’s going door to door in the suburbs, where Harris needs to run up the score**
**FALLS TOWNSHIP** — Donna Petrecco, a former Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader, was rallying a group of women in her home.
“We're in the swingiest county in the swingiest state. It all may come down to Bucks County,” she said, adding, “No pressure, no pressure!”
The 50-year-old real estate agent has become a dedicated Democratic activist during the Trump era, particularly among college-educated suburban white women disenchanted with the GOP. The neighborhoods she is targeting are crucial for Harris, who needs to maximize her support in the Philadelphia suburbs, aiming to win over moderate Republicans and independents.
On the last days of the campaign, Petrecco set out armed with campaign materials. The responses varied. At one of her first stops, she encountered Brenda Whitecraft, a retired pharmacy technician supporting Harris, while her mother, Barbara Zimmerman, planned to switch to Trump after voting for Biden in 2020.
Gas prices were a concern for Zimmerman, but when Whitecraft mentioned the Capitol riot, noting, “Trump caused nothing but chaos,” her mother conceded, “I agree on that point.”
As Petrecco left, she was hopeful she could sway Zimmerman at the polls.
Her optimism persisted despite mixed encounters. Meeting another voter who expressed dissatisfaction with both candidates, Petrecco discovered a man complaining about immigration who was surprised by the choices available.
“Who else is there? … Daffy Duck is not presidential. He didn’t do a goddamned thing his first term,” he remarked.
— Holly Otterbein
**On a college campus, Trump finds some young men — and turns off others**
**SHIPPENSBURG** — Thomas Hoopes, a recent Shippensburg University graduate, found yet another political mailer in his mailbox.
But he was firm in his support for Trump.
“Prices have gone up in the last four years,” Hoopes noted. “It’s harder — housing prices have gone up, gas has gone up. It affects every American. And immigrants coming across the Southern border. I don’t have any issue with people coming here legally, but when it comes to illegal immigration it seems like a public safety issue.”
Trump, trying to rally young men like Hoopes to offset his lack of support from women, is counting on this demographic to bolster his campaign.
On that Friday afternoon before the election, Hoopes was joined by Carter Ritz, an 18-year-old high school senior who also intends to vote for Trump. Ritz attended a Trump event, energized by promises of economic improvement and immigration reform.
“I thought Trump’s McDonald’s visit and driving the garbage truck was ‘very cool,’” Ritz said.
However, dissent is present among young Republicans this year. Drew Williams, a sophomore from Fairfield, Pennsylvania, plans to vote for Harris despite his Republican registration.
Trump’s legal issues and controversial remarks have deterred Williams. “I didn't really support that,” he said, acknowledging the influence of strong women in his life.
Additionally, there's uncertainty about whether young voters like the men hooting for Trump will actually make it to the polls.
Outside the Kappa Sigma fraternity house, Brody Belluch, a 21-year-old finance major, expressed a lack of urgency about voting. “I’m pretty busy, and the election is just kind of not one of my priorities right now.”
— Meridith McGraw
**A frenetic race to turn out Democrats in Philadelphia**
**PHILADELPHIA** — Albert Singleton Jr. was driving around north Philadelphia, megaphone in hand, shouting reminders about the impending election.
“Trump is an asshole,” Singleton told PMG. “He only likes rich people and dictators.”
In Philadelphia, a Democratic stronghold, the message resonates with many who are already committed to Harris. The megaphone served to rally voters to ensure they participate.
In the Francisville neighborhood, 16-year-old Azriel Pennick was attaching signs for Harris, Sen. Bob Casey, and state Sen. Sharif Street. Although he can’t vote yet, he is already invested in discussions about border security and the country's leadership in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup.
“We need a president that respects all cultures,” Pennick remarked.
Democrats are mobilizing heavily in the city to guarantee turnout, often running into one another while canvassing.
“Any decision is to vote or not vote, not which candidate,” stated Mitchell Swann after a morning event designed to promote voter turnout.
Democrats need significant numbers from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to counterbalance the GOP's influence throughout the state. In 2020, Biden secured about 470,000 votes from Philadelphia, and while turnout surged, city residents still voted at lower rates than elsewhere in Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia turnout is seen as a proxy for Black voter turnout, and Black leaders are aware of the stakes. Rep. Jasmine Crockett underscored this, saying post-election discussions would focus on Philadelphia's engagement.
“They’re not going to say, did Harrisburg show up?” Crockett posed. “They’re going to say: did Philly show up?”
— Jessica Piper
**In Erie, anxiety about late-arriving ballots**
**ERIE** — Lyle Sanders, a 67-year-old Republican from Girard, decided to try voting by mail for the first time but faced delays.
“I heard on TV they were saying: ‘Vote early, vote early, vote early,’” said Sanders, who planned to vote for Trump.
Four days before Election Day, his ballot still hadn’t arrived, prompting him to join others in line at the elections department to request a ballot last minute.
But the situation turned chaotic for him. “It’s a ‘shitshow,’” he declared as he vowed never to use mail voting again.
Sanders is one of many voters in Erie County whose mail ballots were delayed, with estimates suggesting that 10,000 to 20,000 might have been affected, according to state Democrats who have taken legal action over the matter.
Local activists believe the numbers are smaller, yet it adds to the worries among voters in this crucial swing county. Discussions around the town focus on the challenges faced by voters feeling uncertain about their voting options.
People in this predominantly white, working-class region that swung from Trump in 2016 to Biden in 2020 express frustration regarding trust in past promises from politicians.
Among them, a Republican restaurant owner switching to Harris said it was due to his doubts about Trump's ability to lower taxes, while a barber leaning towards Harris stressed the importance of supporting the middle class.
Ultimately, turnout will play a critical role in determining the election outcome.
“I don't think either party is going to swing votes from one to the other,” said Democrat Armando Reyes. “It’s more about getting their own folks out to vote.”
— Lisa Kashinsky
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have invested more in TV advertisements in Pennsylvania than in any other swing state, coupled with a relentless campaign schedule. The state is pivotal, offering 19 electoral votes that could determine the outcome for either candidate, as recent polls indicate a tight race. Trump narrowly secured the state in 2016, while Joe Biden won it by just a point four years later.
Pennsylvania exemplifies the polarization present across the nation, more than any of the other six battleground states. It comprises diverse, liberal urban centers; small, predominantly white, rural towns; and both agricultural lands and affluent suburbs.
As the final days of the campaign unfolded, we explored how Trump and Harris were connecting with voters who could tip the balance. We spoke with suburban women in southeastern Pennsylvania eager to boost Harris' turnout, young white men in central regions proudly supporting Trump, Puerto Rican voters in the Lehigh Valley who felt torn between the candidates following a contentious rally, and Black voters in Philadelphia rallying support for Harris in their communities.
One sentiment echoed throughout the state: Pennsylvanians are ready for the election to conclude.
— Holly Otterbein
**He was leaning towards Trump … until the ‘garbage’ controversy erupted**
**ALLENTOWN** — Just a week before Election Day, Jose Sierra was still uncertain about his vote but was leaning toward Trump.
“I mean, all the bad stuff that they’re talking about him,” Sierra said, “he did great stuff while he was a president. He helped people, Spanish people, and that stuff. So that's what I like.”
Sierra, a 36-year-old car mechanic originally from Puerto Rico, was busy and not aware of recent headlines. When informed that a comedian at Trump’s rally had called Puerto Rico a “floating pile of garbage in the middle of the ocean,” his expression shifted dramatically.
“Agh. I didn’t see that,” Sierra said as he exited a grocery store with a container of Puerto Rican food.
His demeanor changed. “Well, with that, what he did, absolutely he's not going to get any vote for that.”
“Nobody’s going to say my isla, my beautiful isla, is going to be trash,” he added. “I don’t like that.”
While he had not researched Harris much and was unimpressed with Biden, he and his wife had recently looked up information about the vice president.
“I'm just gonna try to go to the other way, then,” Sierra affirmed, indicating he would likely vote for Harris. “I’m just trying to see a better president for the United States.”
— Natalie Allison
**She’s going door to door in the suburbs, where Harris needs to run up the score**
**FALLS TOWNSHIP** — Donna Petrecco, a former Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader, was rallying a group of women in her home.
“We're in the swingiest county in the swingiest state. It all may come down to Bucks County,” she said, adding, “No pressure, no pressure!”
The 50-year-old real estate agent has become a dedicated Democratic activist during the Trump era, particularly among college-educated suburban white women disenchanted with the GOP. The neighborhoods she is targeting are crucial for Harris, who needs to maximize her support in the Philadelphia suburbs, aiming to win over moderate Republicans and independents.
On the last days of the campaign, Petrecco set out armed with campaign materials. The responses varied. At one of her first stops, she encountered Brenda Whitecraft, a retired pharmacy technician supporting Harris, while her mother, Barbara Zimmerman, planned to switch to Trump after voting for Biden in 2020.
Gas prices were a concern for Zimmerman, but when Whitecraft mentioned the Capitol riot, noting, “Trump caused nothing but chaos,” her mother conceded, “I agree on that point.”
As Petrecco left, she was hopeful she could sway Zimmerman at the polls.
Her optimism persisted despite mixed encounters. Meeting another voter who expressed dissatisfaction with both candidates, Petrecco discovered a man complaining about immigration who was surprised by the choices available.
“Who else is there? … Daffy Duck is not presidential. He didn’t do a goddamned thing his first term,” he remarked.
— Holly Otterbein
**On a college campus, Trump finds some young men — and turns off others**
**SHIPPENSBURG** — Thomas Hoopes, a recent Shippensburg University graduate, found yet another political mailer in his mailbox.
But he was firm in his support for Trump.
“Prices have gone up in the last four years,” Hoopes noted. “It’s harder — housing prices have gone up, gas has gone up. It affects every American. And immigrants coming across the Southern border. I don’t have any issue with people coming here legally, but when it comes to illegal immigration it seems like a public safety issue.”
Trump, trying to rally young men like Hoopes to offset his lack of support from women, is counting on this demographic to bolster his campaign.
On that Friday afternoon before the election, Hoopes was joined by Carter Ritz, an 18-year-old high school senior who also intends to vote for Trump. Ritz attended a Trump event, energized by promises of economic improvement and immigration reform.
“I thought Trump’s McDonald’s visit and driving the garbage truck was ‘very cool,’” Ritz said.
However, dissent is present among young Republicans this year. Drew Williams, a sophomore from Fairfield, Pennsylvania, plans to vote for Harris despite his Republican registration.
Trump’s legal issues and controversial remarks have deterred Williams. “I didn't really support that,” he said, acknowledging the influence of strong women in his life.
Additionally, there's uncertainty about whether young voters like the men hooting for Trump will actually make it to the polls.
Outside the Kappa Sigma fraternity house, Brody Belluch, a 21-year-old finance major, expressed a lack of urgency about voting. “I’m pretty busy, and the election is just kind of not one of my priorities right now.”
— Meridith McGraw
**A frenetic race to turn out Democrats in Philadelphia**
**PHILADELPHIA** — Albert Singleton Jr. was driving around north Philadelphia, megaphone in hand, shouting reminders about the impending election.
“Trump is an asshole,” Singleton told PMG. “He only likes rich people and dictators.”
In Philadelphia, a Democratic stronghold, the message resonates with many who are already committed to Harris. The megaphone served to rally voters to ensure they participate.
In the Francisville neighborhood, 16-year-old Azriel Pennick was attaching signs for Harris, Sen. Bob Casey, and state Sen. Sharif Street. Although he can’t vote yet, he is already invested in discussions about border security and the country's leadership in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup.
“We need a president that respects all cultures,” Pennick remarked.
Democrats are mobilizing heavily in the city to guarantee turnout, often running into one another while canvassing.
“Any decision is to vote or not vote, not which candidate,” stated Mitchell Swann after a morning event designed to promote voter turnout.
Democrats need significant numbers from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to counterbalance the GOP's influence throughout the state. In 2020, Biden secured about 470,000 votes from Philadelphia, and while turnout surged, city residents still voted at lower rates than elsewhere in Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia turnout is seen as a proxy for Black voter turnout, and Black leaders are aware of the stakes. Rep. Jasmine Crockett underscored this, saying post-election discussions would focus on Philadelphia's engagement.
“They’re not going to say, did Harrisburg show up?” Crockett posed. “They’re going to say: did Philly show up?”
— Jessica Piper
**In Erie, anxiety about late-arriving ballots**
**ERIE** — Lyle Sanders, a 67-year-old Republican from Girard, decided to try voting by mail for the first time but faced delays.
“I heard on TV they were saying: ‘Vote early, vote early, vote early,’” said Sanders, who planned to vote for Trump.
Four days before Election Day, his ballot still hadn’t arrived, prompting him to join others in line at the elections department to request a ballot last minute.
But the situation turned chaotic for him. “It’s a ‘shitshow,’” he declared as he vowed never to use mail voting again.
Sanders is one of many voters in Erie County whose mail ballots were delayed, with estimates suggesting that 10,000 to 20,000 might have been affected, according to state Democrats who have taken legal action over the matter.
Local activists believe the numbers are smaller, yet it adds to the worries among voters in this crucial swing county. Discussions around the town focus on the challenges faced by voters feeling uncertain about their voting options.
People in this predominantly white, working-class region that swung from Trump in 2016 to Biden in 2020 express frustration regarding trust in past promises from politicians.
Among them, a Republican restaurant owner switching to Harris said it was due to his doubts about Trump's ability to lower taxes, while a barber leaning towards Harris stressed the importance of supporting the middle class.
Ultimately, turnout will play a critical role in determining the election outcome.
“I don't think either party is going to swing votes from one to the other,” said Democrat Armando Reyes. “It’s more about getting their own folks out to vote.”
— Lisa Kashinsky
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
