The last time Republicans had a voter registration edge in Bucks County, George W. Bush was president and Barack Obama was campaigning for the job.
That’s why a development this week was considered “major” by Bucks County Republican Committee Chairperson Pat Poprik.
For the first time since 2007, there were more registered Republicans in Bucks County than Democrats.
The Republicans had a 264 advantage over the Democrats, according to Pennsylvania Department of State data.
The most recent numbers showed there were 198,045 Republican voters and 197,781 Democratic voters. Continuing the trend seen in recent years, unaffiliated voters have grown to more than 82,000 in the county.
Poprik said there was a “huge” effort by the party and grassroots activists to flip the county’s voter registration.
“It was so hard to move it, but then we saw it starting to happen,” she said. “There was so much work, and it paid off with everyone rowing in the same direction.”
Local Republicans and committee people worked with campaigns and the county party to push for a change.
Republicans reached out to voters and potential voters to get them to register under the GOP banner at events, through phone calls, online, door-to-door, and by sending personalized postcards.
Poprik also credited conservative activist Scott Presler for his work.
Presler and his Early Vote Action put effort into assisting in changing the registration totals in Bucks County.
“It’s done – this major Philadelphia suburban county, which voted for Hillary and Biden, is now red. This is huge, monumental, monstrous, and earth-shattering news. We did it!” Presler posted to X.
State Sen. Frank Farry, a Republican who represents part of the lower and central parts of the county, reacted that the registration lead is good, but the November election will tell the real story.
“Being one of the purpliest counties in the country, there are ebbs and flows, but I think it highlights dissatisfaction with Democratic policies,” he said.
According to state data, Democrats had an advantage of more than 4,000 voters near the end of last year.
Poprik said Republicans really started to see a change at the start of 2024. From there, the goal to flip the registration lead seemed attainable.
Poprik noted that the Republican surge began at the start of 2024, making the goal of flipping the registration lead seem attainable. She attributed the shift to various factors, including excitement from the recent Republican National Convention, increasing dissatisfaction with Democratic officials and policies, and the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, as well as his conviction on felony criminal offenses.
Voter registration is one thing, but Democrats have had electoral successes in Bucks County since 2017. However, the county is still seen as moderate and is nationally considered a swing county.
Kunal Atit, who worked the successful reelection campaign for Democratic Bucks County commissioners Diane Ellis-Marseglia and Bob Harvie, posted on social media in reaction to the news: “Look at election results, not registration numbers. Democrats have won Bucks County in 2020, 2022, 2023 and we will win it again in 2024.”
Poprik stated that she believes the new lead in Republican voters will help in November, including with down-ballot races.
“We expect this to really bode well for us in November,” Poprik said.
The Republicans plan to keep in touch with new voters.
“We’re going to reach out and make sure they go to vote. We’re also going to reach out to our regular voters,” the county GOP head stated.
Poprik added, “Our people are really pumped and they’re going to get out.”
The Bucks County Democratic Committee didn’t respond to a request for comment on the voter registration data.
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