The Trump campaign appears to be unraveling as early voting numbers surge in Pennsylvania and across critical battleground states, raising concerns for the former president’s chances as Election Day approaches.
A Surge of New Voters and a Gender Gap
In Pennsylvania, a pivotal swing state, over 100,000 new voters have cast ballots ahead of the November 5 election, significantly surpassing Joe Biden’s 2020 margin of victory over Trump in the state, which stood at around 80,000 votes. This increase in early turnout has heightened anxieties within Trump’s camp, with NBC News reporting that these new voters are largely female registered Democrats—a demographic likely to favor Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate.
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Across the nation, early voting has already surpassed 62 million ballots, with women representing 54 percent of those voters, compared to 44 percent for men, as reported by Newsweek. In Pennsylvania, these trends appear to be holding steady, with a pronounced gender gap emerging. This divide aligns with historical data, where women have consistently outnumbered men in voter turnout since 1980. As several battleground states report similar 10-point gender gaps in early voting, this pattern could spell trouble for Trump, particularly in states like Pennsylvania where polls show a tight race.
Trump Campaign’s Response and Allegations of Voter Suppression
With Pennsylvania’s crucial role in the election, Trump’s campaign is reportedly in a state of alarm. According to insider sources shared by Puck News, campaign officials are “going so crazy” over the early voting results, with the high turnout among female voters adding to the unease. “Anyone who hears how rabid they are about this issue can’t walk away and think they feel comfortable about where they’re at in PA,” one source remarked.
Reports indicate that the Trump team is not only worried but has escalated their response, scrutinizing poll-watching efforts and discussing potential “criminal referrals” for those they claim are engaging in voter suppression tactics. Campaign sources have suggested they intend to pursue criminal actions against poll watchers whom they believe are discouraging voters from casting ballots.
Accusations Against Election Officials in Pennsylvania
The Trump campaign has already begun targeting Pennsylvania election officials. Earlier this week, Trump’s team and Republican National Committee Co-Chair Michael Whatley accused Delaware County officials of suppressing voters. This accusation followed an incident in which a Trump supporter was arrested at a polling station for allegedly disrupting voters and attempting to sway their choices. County officials reported that the individual in question had been “belligerent and disruptive” and had lingered in the polling area for hours, attempting to engage multiple people, which led to numerous complaints.
The arrested woman later defended her actions in a video with Whatley, claiming her First Amendment rights were violated as she tried to “get the vote out.” The Trump campaign has continued to emphasize claims of voter suppression across Pennsylvania, extending their grievances to Bucks County. Here, Trump and Senate candidate David McCormick filed a lawsuit against the county, alleging that long lines had prevented people from registering for mail-in voting. A judge has since extended the registration deadline for mail-in ballots in the county, though both Delaware and Bucks counties were strong Biden supporters in 2020.
Early Voting Data Reflects a Shift in Momentum
As early voting continues, Trump’s campaign appears increasingly fraught with frustration over surging numbers in key demographics that historically lean Democratic. With Pennsylvania standing as a must-win state for Trump, the campaign’s aggressive tactics and voter suppression claims underscore the heightened stakes. For Harris and Biden, high turnout among women and new voters across battleground states could prove decisive, shifting the momentum and potentially impacting the election outcome.
