Registered Democrats switching to Republican party in big numbers

63% of those who switched in Pennsylvania registered Republican

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

 Kate Landis / WITF

Voters wait in line at the Palmyra East precinct in Lebanon County on November 3, 2020.

Airdate: Monday, July 11, 2022

Many political observers are predicting Republicans will do well in this fall’s election. Traditionally, in the first mid-term after a presidential election, the party not in the White House picks up seats in Congress and sometimes even dominates. President Biden has low approval ratings right now, which also could help Republicans.

But there’s something else going on around the country and in Pennsylvania – registered Democrats who are switching their party affiliation to Republican.

About 430,000 voters have switched from Democrat to Republican compared to 240,000 who changed from Republican to Democrat over the past year. 63% of the party changers in Pennsylvania went from Democrat to Republican.

Why and what are the issues driving the registration changes?

Appearing  on Monday is Smart Talk is Dr. G. Terry Madonna, political analyst and Senior Fellow in Residence for Political Affairs at Millersville University with analysis.