Staff Reports
Steve Kornacki’s analysis of the recent election results showcased an unexpected twist in the political landscape: Donald Trump reignited support in key swing states that favored Joe Biden in 2020, effectively flipping the script. According to Kornacki, Trump’s strategy to woo black and Hispanic voters—predominantly through discussions surrounding the economy and immigration—was not only successful but fundamentally altered the expected outcome, landing him the 270 electoral votes needed for victory.
The analysis points to a “diverse blue-collar coalition” that Trump assembled, a coalition that managed to give the Democrats a serious headache in counties that have long been blue havens. Pennsylvania, for instance, became the poster child for this new voter alignment. As Trump made strides among traditionally Democratic demographics, it became clear that the Democrats were feeling the heat. With tight races in various regions, the expected blue wave fizzled out, leaving many in the Democratic Party scratching their heads.
In suburban areas, previously viewed as shifting more to the Democrats, Trump was able to keep margins from ballooning. Once considered a bright spot for the blue team, Montgomery County, for example, saw a significant drop in Democratic margins from a staggering 26-point win for Biden to just a 22-point margin for Harris. Rather than continuing the trend of ever-deepening blue, these suburbs saw a much more balanced situation than the Democrats had hoped for. Kornacki’s insights clearly articulated how Trump’s influence prevented the typical electoral erosion that was anticipated by the opposition.
‘The Margin Comes Down’: Steve Kornacki Outlines How Trump Flipped Swing States https://t.co/cjeOFgDDZi
— ConservativeLibrarian (@ConserLibrarian) November 6, 2024
In addition, Trump’s ability to capture previously loyal Democratic support was nowhere more apparent than in Texas, where he clinched a victory in a county that had been comfortably Democratic for over a century. With a Hispanic population that spanned over 97%, the Democrats must have been utterly bewildered to find Trump emerging with a staggering 57% of the vote. Talk about a wake-up call! It’s clear that while Kamala Harris may have regained some footing among Hispanic voters since taking the helm from Biden, she simply could not compare to his previous numbers.
The battle lines in the Democratic stronghold of Pennsylvania presented a striking narrative. As Kornacki pointed out, Luzerne County—home to cities like Hazelton which has seen astronomical growth in its Hispanic community—showed a massive shift. Once a city almost devoid of Hispanic residents, the population surged to 70% Hispanic, and yet, Trump managed to win Hazelton convincingly. This revelation underscores the possibility that the Republican message resonates across demographics, and that a diverse coalition is not just about color, but about shared economic interests and values that the Democrats seem to have ignored at their peril.
In a climate where political currents are constantly shifting, Trump’s ability to peel away Democratic support in swing states isn’t just noteworthy; it’s a potential sign of a lasting transformation in the political landscape. Democrats may want to rethink their strategy if they hope to avoid the repeat of such unexpected outcomes in future elections.
