Luzerne County, a long-standing Democratic stronghold in Pennsylvania, has flipped to the Republican Party for the first time in over 40 years, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of State. Republicans now hold a slim voter registration lead of just 83 voters, with 87,415 registered Republicans compared to 87,332 Democrats out of 203,321 total voters.

This shift reflects a growing trend seen in recent elections, as former President Trump carried Luzerne in both 2016 and 2020, making it a key stronghold. The last time Republicans held a majority in Luzerne was in 1972, when voters overwhelmingly supported Richard Nixon. By 1976, following Nixon’s resignation, Democrats regained the majority. Trump’s narrow victory in Pennsylvania in 2016, by just 44,292 votes, marked the first time the state voted Republican in a presidential election since 1988. Luzerne County played a crucial role in Trump’s success, swinging 25% toward him compared to 2012. As the 2024 election approaches, Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are focusing heavily on Pennsylvania, where recent polls show a tight race.