With Election Day quickly approaching, Republicans in Pennsylvania are bridging the gap with Democrats when it comes to mail-in voting. This shift represents a significant change for the GOP, which has historically expressed skepticism about this voting method, particularly under Donald Trump's influence. Now, however, Republicans are adopting strategies similar to those of their Democratic counterparts, pouring millions into efforts to encourage mail-in voting among their base. The New York Post highlights that these efforts seem to be making an impact.
Although Democrats still lead in the number of mail-in ballot requests—by a large margin—the GOP has made notable strides. Data from the Department of State shows that 35 days before Election Day, Republican mail-in ballot requests have reached around 373,000. While this number pales in comparison to the nearly 879,000 requests by Democrats, it marks a significant reduction in the Democratic lead from previous election cycles.
In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic when mail-in voting surged, Democrats had requested close to 846,000 more ballots than Republicans at a similar point in time. By the 2022 midterms, this advantage had shrunk to about 546,000 requests. Now, Republicans have narrowed it further to approximately 506,000 requests.
Cliff Maloney and his organization Pennsylvania Chase are at the forefront of these efforts. With a goal of flipping Pennsylvania red and securing its crucial electoral votes for Trump, Maloney has mobilized over a hundred paid field organizers across various Airbnbs in the state. Their mission is simple: ensure every requested Republican mail-in ballot is cast and counted.
However, not all has gone smoothly for Maloney and his team. A recent incident where an Airbnb host in Philadelphia canceled their reservation upon learning of their political activities underscores some of the challenges they've faced. Despite these setbacks—and considering potential legal action against what they perceive as discrimination—the group remains steadfast in its mission.
Maloney acknowledges that while Republicans may not surpass Democrats in raw numbers of mail-in votes, increasing their share is key to statewide victories. He believes achieving a certain percentage can end Democratic dominance in this domain and even secure wins for Republican candidates.
The current data reflects progress toward this goal. As per PA Chase's analysis, Republicans account for 26.5% of mail-in ballot requests so far—a notable increase from previous years and an indication that the gap between Republican and Democratic mail-in voters is indeed closing.
Jondavid Longo from Early Vote Action emphasizes that utilizing all available tools—including those previously favored by Democrats—is essential for Republican success. This sentiment echoes throughout GOP efforts as they work diligently to make up ground lost due to previous apprehensions about mail-in voting fraud—a concern significantly highlighted by Trump himself prior to his narrow loss in Pennsylvania during the last presidential election.
As both parties continue their push towards Election Day, it's clear that Republicans' newfound embrace of mail-in voting could play a pivotal role in determining who will claim victory in Pennsylvania—a battleground state with high stakes on both sides.
Although Democrats still lead in the number of mail-in ballot requests—by a large margin—the GOP has made notable strides. Data from the Department of State shows that 35 days before Election Day, Republican mail-in ballot requests have reached around 373,000. While this number pales in comparison to the nearly 879,000 requests by Democrats, it marks a significant reduction in the Democratic lead from previous election cycles.
In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic when mail-in voting surged, Democrats had requested close to 846,000 more ballots than Republicans at a similar point in time. By the 2022 midterms, this advantage had shrunk to about 546,000 requests. Now, Republicans have narrowed it further to approximately 506,000 requests.
Cliff Maloney and his organization Pennsylvania Chase are at the forefront of these efforts. With a goal of flipping Pennsylvania red and securing its crucial electoral votes for Trump, Maloney has mobilized over a hundred paid field organizers across various Airbnbs in the state. Their mission is simple: ensure every requested Republican mail-in ballot is cast and counted.
However, not all has gone smoothly for Maloney and his team. A recent incident where an Airbnb host in Philadelphia canceled their reservation upon learning of their political activities underscores some of the challenges they've faced. Despite these setbacks—and considering potential legal action against what they perceive as discrimination—the group remains steadfast in its mission.
Maloney acknowledges that while Republicans may not surpass Democrats in raw numbers of mail-in votes, increasing their share is key to statewide victories. He believes achieving a certain percentage can end Democratic dominance in this domain and even secure wins for Republican candidates.
The current data reflects progress toward this goal. As per PA Chase's analysis, Republicans account for 26.5% of mail-in ballot requests so far—a notable increase from previous years and an indication that the gap between Republican and Democratic mail-in voters is indeed closing.
Jondavid Longo from Early Vote Action emphasizes that utilizing all available tools—including those previously favored by Democrats—is essential for Republican success. This sentiment echoes throughout GOP efforts as they work diligently to make up ground lost due to previous apprehensions about mail-in voting fraud—a concern significantly highlighted by Trump himself prior to his narrow loss in Pennsylvania during the last presidential election.
As both parties continue their push towards Election Day, it's clear that Republicans' newfound embrace of mail-in voting could play a pivotal role in determining who will claim victory in Pennsylvania—a battleground state with high stakes on both sides.
