Montco GOP opens new office in Democratic stronghold Jenkintown – DV Journal

Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by a 53-point margin (76-22 percent) in Jenkintown four years ago. But the Montgomery County Republican Committee last week opened a satellite office on Old York Road in the heart of this Democratic-dominated community.

It’s a sign of how optimistic Republicans are about voters’ chances of returning former President Trump to the White House, and they’re bullish about Dave McCormick, who is running for U.S. Senate against 18-term incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D). Democrats’ dropping Biden from their ticket and replacing him with Vice President Kamala Harris hasn’t dampened their enthusiasm.

“There’s a reason why we want to do this. We need to plant the flag in the ground and show that Montgomery County is not a one-party state. And so this isn’t just to win in November. This is to win in the future,” said Christian Nascimento, chairman of the Montgomery County GOP.

“The Montgomery County Republican Party is back!”

Two other auxiliary offices are planned for Pottstown and Harleysville, with the GOP headquarters in Blue Bell.

The office is filled with yard signs and literature for Trump, McCormick and other candidates, including state representatives, the treasury secretary, the auditor general and the attorney general.

The speakers praised Robert Asher, a businessman and Republican National Committeeman, who helped finance the additional locations.

(From left) Robert Asher, Joanne Ayer, Christian Nascimento, Commissioner Tom DiBello

“The tide is turning,” Asher said. “For the first time in 15 years, this week, Bucks County went back and had more Republican voters than Democratic voters. So that’s huge.”

“And we’re going to make sure that all Republicans, from state representatives to the next president of the United States, deliver a collective victory for the Republican Party,” Asher said.

The numbers appear to support Asher’s claim of a turning tide. Pennsylvania Department of State data showed that in April, registered Democrats outnumbered Republicans by 395,699. That advantage fell to 360,982 this month. Republicans gained nearly 30,000 registered votes, while Democrats lost more than 4,800 voters, according to state officials.

And while Bucks remains the only county in the DelVal region with a GOP lead, the party has also narrowed the gap with Democrats in Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

Scott Presler of Early Vote Action is actively registering GOP voters in Pennsylvania. He says Bucks is just the beginning.

“We flipped Beaver County 🔵🔜🔴. We flipped Bucks County 🔵🔜🔴. Now we turn our attention to Luzerne County. After Luzerne flips — because it will — we’ll focus on Centre, Chester, Erie and Monroe,” Preslser posted on X.

Montgomery County Commissioner Tom DiBello said he attends events across the county and sees the same enthusiasm.

“Wherever I go, the Republican and GOP energy is strong, vibrant and ready to win,” DiBello said. “We’re seeing a shift where communities are starting to look the other way, back to our side. For 150 years in Montgomery County, we’ve had Republican leadership, and Montgomery County has been very successfully run. In the last eight years, the leadership has shifted, and people are seeing what’s going on. . . And they’re not happy. High taxes. High crime. And all of this is happening in our communities and neighborhoods. . . People are starting to stand up, and they’re starting to fight back.”

Congressional candidate David Winkler said, “Montgomery County is in play… I’ve talked to so many different groups that are all going to be in Montgomery County because they see it as a win.”

“Guess what? Jenkintown and Abington, we’re here right now, and we’re making the announcement that Montgomery County matters,” said Joe Rooney, chairman of the Abington Township Republican Organization (ATRO), who is running for state representative. “And we’re going to do everything we can, and there’s a lot of people here who support that statement. … We’re fighting. Just like Trump said last Saturday. We’re fighting for every GOP vote. And the vote of people who love America.”

“This shouldn’t end at the end of the election,” said ATRO member Bob Jasionowski. “We’re working together with data and mail-in ballots. We’re firing on all cylinders here. We’re bringing in the fuel for turbocharging.”

Ron Holt, an Abington resident and former registrar of wills, is volunteering for McCormick’s campaign.

McCormick “is a little behind in the polls, but on Election Day he’s going to win,” Holt said. “He’s a military man. He’s a family man.”

“I support all Republicans,” said Jenkintown resident Suzanne Hunter. “I think our country is going to the brink.”

Also from Jenkintown, Susan Krol added: “Everybody complains about the illegal immigrants. (Democrats) want to change the demographics… They want to control this country.”

About 75 people came to the opening last week.

“I thought it might be 20 people,” said Jim Saring, a Republican state committeeman from Plymouth Meeting. “It shows how excited people are about our ticket and getting President Trump back in office.”

Christine Baik, who ran for Upper Dublin Township commissioner last year, agreed it was a “good turnout.” It shows people are willing to work to get their candidates across the finish line.

Baik added: “I’m a young woman of color who votes Republican because the Democrats don’t write their stories for me.”

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