Butler County plays outsized role in national election
With a population of around 195,000, Butler County is home to just 1.5% of Pennsylvania’s nearly 13 million residents, yet the county has played an outsize role in the neck-and-neck national election.
“Can Butler County have an impact? Sure we can,” said Jim Hulings, chairman of the Butler County Republican Committee. “We’re not just walking to the polls; we’re getting out, voting early. And our election bureau is taking steps to be sure every vote is valid.”
The importance of each Butler County vote is a point of agreement between the parties.
Catherine Lalonde, leader of the Butler County Democratic Committee, said that while Democratic candidates may not win a majority in the county, every vote counts in statewide and federal races.
“Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 election by five votes per precinct, and we have 96 precincts in the county,” she said. “We know this will be another close election.”
Hulings and Lalonde also agree that the election is drawing new voters to the polls.
“We’re seeing a lot of enthusiasm for Kamala Harris, even among people who haven’t been involved before,” Lalonde said, “though, of course, there is enthusiasm for Donald Trump also.”
Even candidates are aware of the importance of the county’s voters and their votes.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick has visited the county multiple times this year.
A combat veteran, McCormick acknowledged the tradition of military service and patriotism of many people in Butler County.
“Every Pennsylvanian in Butler County should get out and vote,” he said, “and Butler County’s vote can help get this country back on track.”
His opponent, Sen. Bob Casey, also visited the county Friday alongside Gov. Josh Shapiro in Harmony.
But the impact of Butler County on the national election is about more than just the number of local voters.
U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, who represents the 16th District of Pennsylvania in Congress, said the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump drew the county into the national spotlight, where it has taken on a symbolic role.
“That has galvanized local voters, who understand what’s on the line in 2024,” Kelly said, asserting that the event built support for the former president.
“Time after time, the people of Butler County have demonstrated their passion and resilience in support of President Trump,” he said. “I believe we will see a huge turnout on Election Day in support of Donald Trump once again.”
Hulings said the symbolic impact of July 13 is not limited to the county’s voters.
“Pennsylvania is the epicenter of the election, and we’re the epicenter of the epicenter,” he said. “The world is watching.”
That claim is not just metaphor.
The attempted assassination at the Butler Farm Show grounds drew an onslaught of media attention from around the world.
Hulings has been interviewed by the New York Times, Associated Press and BBC, as well as media from Japan, Germany, Colombia, Switzerland and more.
All the attention can be a mixed blessing, according to Butler County Commissioner Kevin Boozel.
“Before July 13, people in other parts of the country hadn’t heard of Butler,” the Democrat said. “Now, we’re on the map.”
But perhaps not for the right reasons.
“What happened here was a crime,” he said. “Butler County is now part of the history of an era of political change and issues like gun violence.”
Sen. Bob Casey’s campaign and the 16th U.S. House District candidate Preston Nouri did not respond to multiple requests for comments for this story.
