Northampton County in Pennsylvania has accurately predicted the winner of the US presidential election 25 out of the last 28 times since the sinking of the Titanic over 100 years ago. The county leans towards the ultimate winner, except for Richard Nixon in 1968 and George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004. The residents of this county play a crucial role in deciding the outcome of the election.
Denise Marshall, a lifelong Republican from Nazareth, believes in slow, logical change and a strong national defense. She appreciates Trump’s economic policies but finds his careless remarks concerning. She views Kamala Harris positively due to her age and appeal to younger voters and women.
George Ziegler, a Democrat from Bethlehem, prioritizes gun safety and public school funding. He supports Harris for her education policies and gun control measures. He criticizes Trump for favoring private schools over public schools and not addressing gun violence effectively.
Eric Zwick, a real estate investor from Lower Macungie Township, switched from voting for Democrats to Republicans due to dissatisfaction with the former’s welfare state policies. He believes Trump’s economic policies were more stable than Biden’s, which led to inflation.
Sheri Curtin from Bethlehem, a clinical research consultant, holds moderate views that don’t align completely with either party. She opposes the Republican party’s stance on abortion. Each of these voters in Northampton County feels the weight of their vote in the upcoming election.
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Sheri expressed her concerns about ongoing issues with drugs, crime, and women’s reproductive rights. She criticized the Democratic approach to drug issues, advocating for rehab programs over a “safe haven” approach. She also questioned Kamala Harris’ record as a liberal California prosecutor, doubting her ability to be tough on criminals. However, she strongly disagreed with the Republican stance on abortion and criticized Trump’s decision to appoint Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade.
Regarding abortion, Sheri emphasized a woman’s right to protect her life or spare a child from an unjust existence. She highlighted the importance of allowing people to make decisions that align with their values and comfort levels. When asked about the impact of her vote as a Northampton County voter, Sheri emphasized the importance of voting.
M.T., a 23-year-old electrical engineer from Bethlehem, emphasized the importance of the economy, immigration, and abortion in his decision-making process for the upcoming election. His Catholic faith and desire to have children influenced his views on these issues. He expressed concerns about the high cost of living for recent college graduates and the burden of student debt.
M.T. strongly opposed Harris’ pro-choice stance on abortion, finding her YouTube ads on the subject morally disturbing. He emphasized the value of unborn children and their potential to positively impact society. Despite voting for Trump in 2020, M.T. expressed disappointment in Trump’s role in the Capitol riot and vowed not to support him in the current election.
Third-party voters have decreased this election cycle since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his campaign. M.T. remains a third-party voter and expressed interest in writing in Nikki Haley if she were on the ticket. He mentioned the possibility of “throwing away” his vote by writing her in. When asked about the Democrats, M.T. mentioned that he would consider voting for them if Harris were replaced with a more moderate candidate like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
