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Prof. John Kincaid speaks to The New York Times about Lehigh Valley's economic renaissance and its impact on politics
John Kincaid, Robert B. and Helen S. Meyner Professor of Government and Public Service, is quoted in a New York Times article that discusses how the Lehigh Valley’s economic revival may influence voters in the next presidential election.
The story describes how the region has attracted new industries and job opportunities. Trump supporters credit the president for the boom and their financial security. And working-class voters who have not benefited from the economic growth tend to support the conservative policies that Trump champions.
Although Democrats far outnumber Republicans in Northampton and Lehigh Counties, many supported President Trump in the 2016 election, helping him win Pennsylvania by less than one percentage point. Some voters told the paper they often split their tickets. Recent polling by The New York Times/Siena College found that in Pennsylvania and five other battleground states, nearly two-thirds of voters who supported Trump in 2016 and a Democrat in the midterms, said they planned to vote for Trump again in November.
“If Warren or Sanders is the candidate, it’s going to be harder to bring those Democrats who voted for Trump over,” Kincaid shared with the paper.