Polish Pennsylvanians endorse Kamala Harris over Putin, Ukraine concerns

Leaders of Pennsylvania’s Polish community endorsed Kamala Harris following her debate shoutout. There are 800,000 Polish-Americans in the commonwealth, which Democrats won by 80,000 votes in 2020. 

Members of Pennsylvania’s Polish community penned a letter endorsing Kamala Harris after Harris, at the debate earlier this month, warned that Donald Trump would allow Russia to invade Poland once the war in Ukraine is finished under a Trump administration. 

“Vice President Harris has a long, strong track record of protecting our democracy here at home and standing up for our brothers, sisters, parents and grandparents in Poland – the same people Vladimir Putin hopes to attack next if Ukraine were to fall,” the letter read.

“Polish people in the US and around the world know that our future is tied to Ukraine’s because if Putin is allowed to trample Ukraine, we know his next target could be Poland. Trump bowed to dictators like Putin before and he will do it again if he is reelected.”

Its signatories include veterans, social workers, small business owners and several elected officials, including US Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester) and State Reps. Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny), Eddie Day Pashinski (Luzerne County) and Melissa Cerrato (D-Montgomery County).

There are roughly 800,000 Polish-Americans living in Pennsylvania, with large communities in Western and Northeastern Pennsylvania. The letter’s co-signers hope this outreach to the Polish community can help secure a Harris victory in Pennsylvania, which Democrats carried by less than 80,000 in the 2020 presidential election. 

During the debate, Harris ripped Trump for his cozy relationship with Putin.   

“If Donald Trump were president, [Vladimir] Putin would be sitting in Kiev right now, and understand what that would mean because Putin’s agenda is not just about Ukraine,” Harris said. 

“Why don’t you tell the 800,000 Polish Americans in Pennsylvania, how quickly you would give up for the sake of favor and what you think is a friendship with what is known to be a dictator, who would eat you for lunch.” 

In the days following the debate, Harris returned to Pennsylvania and rallied over 5,000 supporters at Wilkes University in Luzerne County, which has one of the highest concentrations of Polish Americans in Pennsylvania and is the only county in the country with a Polish plurality among its residents. 

“We sincerely believe the freedoms and livelihoods of our families at home and abroad rest upon rejecting Donald Trump and turning the page with Kamala Harris this fall,” the Pennsylvanians wrote.

“The last presidential election in Pennsylvania was decided by just 80,000 votes, which is why we are calling on our friends and neighbors to cast their votes for the leaders who will maintain alliances that make our world safer, expand our freedoms here at home, and protect the American dream for us all.”

Read the full letter below: 

​​We, Pennsylvania Polonia, unite today to voice our strong support for Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz. 

We the undersigned believe it is in our best interests and the best interests of the over 800,000 Polish Americans across Pennsylvania to vote for leaders who will fight to defend our freedoms and stand up for democracy at home and abroad. Last week’s debate made clear once again that those  leaders are Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz.

Vice President Harris has a long, strong track record of protecting our democracy here at home and standing up for our brothers, sisters, parents and grandparents in Poland – the same people Vladimir Putin hopes to attack next if Ukraine were to fall. 

In stark contrast, earlier this year, Trump said he would encourage Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to our NATO allies, and during the debate last week, he twice refused to answer a question about whether he wanted Ukraine to win their war against Russian aggression. 

Polish people in the U.S. and around the world know that our future is tied to Ukraine’s because if Putin is allowed to trample Ukraine, we know his next target could be Poland. Trump bowed to dictators like Putin before and he will do it again if he is reelected. Trump’s Project 2025 agenda would be even worse for our national security and military readiness, including remaking the Department of Defense and reducing the number of generals in our armed forces.

Thankfully, this November, we can elect a true leader who will stand up to autocrats and stand up for us. Vice President Harris will lead us forward on a different path — one where we stand with allies, stand for democracy, and stand against those who oppose it. She is a proven leader on the world stage and will use her expertise to ensure America’s security and defeat our adversaries. 

We sincerely believe the freedoms and livelihoods of our families at home and abroad rest upon rejecting Donald Trump and turning the page with Kamala Harris this fall. The last presidential election in Pennsylvania was decided by just 80,000 votes, which is why we are calling on our friends and neighbors to cast their votes for the leaders who will maintain alliances that make our world safer, expand our freedoms here at home, and protect the American dream for us all.