DEMS THE NUMBERS
DEMOCRATS HOLD 16,000-VOTER EDGE AS DELCO PREPARES TO GO TO THE POLLS
Democrats made more gains in Delaware County voter registration numbers for the upcoming election, as they continue to widen the gap over local Republicans. Both party leaders say the ultimate test will be Nov. 7 when those voters go to the polls to cast their ballots.
As of Oct. 16, Delaware County officials released voter registration totals with 393,028 total registered voters in Delaware County — 180,004 Democrats and 163,482 Republicans. Independents accounted for 4,425; 26,614 were listed as “no affiliation” and another 10,105 identified as non-partisan. The Libertarian count in the county was 1,481.
“I think (President Donald) Trump is helping keep our registration numbers up,” David Landau, chairman of the Delaware County Democratic Party, said, noting that older voters tend to be Republican and those numbers may be thinning due to deaths. “The people who moved in since are Democrats. It’s a more accurate reflection where the county’s at.”
Andrew Reilly, chairman of the Delaware County Republican Party, said it wasn’t unexpected that younger people lean liberal and that here, voters tend to register based on the larger brand association.
“People choose their party registration on national party identification,” he said, adding that local candidates continue to hold their appeal regardless of registration affiliation. “We always run common-sense, practical Republican candidates.”
Reilly said the statistics of active voters – those voters who are believed to actually be voting and whose names are not on the rolls waiting to be purged due to moves, deaths, inactivity or other reasons – are 168,610 Democrats to 155,597 Republicans with approximately 25,000 non-affiliated voters. Voter registration numbers for the past primary were similar. Then, 391,438 voters were registered in Delaware County and of those, 178,558 were Democrats and 164,208 were Republican. There were also 25,718 registered as “no affiliation”.
No matter what those numbers are what matters are the numbers who come out Election Day and which candidates they select.
“It doesn’t mean anything unless we turn out Democrats,” Landau said. “It all depends on turnouts.”
In the recent past, despite a registration lead, the Democrats have not moved a county-level candidate to office. This year, they have Kevin Madden and Brian Zidek on the ballot for county council facing GOP candidates John Perfetti and incumbent Councilman Dave White and Libertarian candidate Ed Clifford.
Also up for grabs is a county judgeship, and county controller, register of wills and sheriff.
Landau explained why Democrats haven’t won a countywide race yet despite their registration edge.
“It’s because they don’t know enough about local government to care,” he said, adding that’s about to change. “After Trump, government at all levels matter. We tried our best and hopefully more and more people are learning about how county government works and how bad it is.”
Reilly said the Democrats have had the voter registration lead for four election cycles now and yet, when Delaware Countians come to the polls, the majority continue to chose their candidates in part because of their appeal to Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike.
He said voters like that the Republican county council has steered the county to having the highest wage increases in Southeastern Pennsylvania and to creating 25,000 new jobs as well as the attractiveness of knowing candidates from the community.
Reilly said the county Democrats have launched the equivalent of a smear-type campaign due to a lack of substance.
“The Democratic Party needs to do something because their candidates locally have no record of service,” Reilly said. “Even Democrats don’t want the tax-and-spend policies of Zidek and Madden.”
Democratic candidates for county council have previously said they would not raise taxes.
Reilly, however, said it’s the GOP candidates who have the record of holding the line.
“They simply cannot compete with the county record of three years of no tax increase,” he said.
In stating that the Democrats are relying on nationalizing the local election, Reilly said, “It’s always done by people who cannot talk about issues and policies.”
For Landau, the president will drive Delco voters to the polls. “I think that Donald Trump and the county Republican Party’s unwavering support of Donald Trump are going to motivate Democrats to come out to vote,” Landau said. “Democrats are angry. Donald Trump continues to do what he’s doing and the county Republicans will not distance themselves from them ... I think people see that and the Democrats see that and I think that’s going to be a high motivational factor.”
Reilly said that won’t be the case.
“Delaware County voters know better,” Reilly said. “They know when it comes to local issues, they have good government with Republicans ... Year in and year out, ... members of their party have chosen Republican candidates.”