From data center development, to affordability, to immigration, Pennsylvania voters have no shortage of issues to consider ahead of Election Day.
So with the midterms approaching, we asked our newsletter readers:
What issues are driving your vote this year?
Here’s what they had to say (answers have been edited for length and clarity):
“Any candidate I vote for must be committed to making government work for everyday people and to shifting the burden of government financing towards the super wealthy, who should pay a significant share of the tax burden. Nothing trickles down in today’s world.” — Jeannette Carter, Lycoming County
“Reduction of government debt. Deportation of illegal entrants. Reduction in legal immigration. Ending sanctuary jurisdictions. Respect for law enforcement. A Supreme Court that interprets law by adhering to the Constitution. The right of citizens to join or not join a labor union.” — Robert Martin, Dauphin County
“The decline of morals. I’m not pushing religious values, but common decency. We have a convicted criminal in our highest office. He needs to be controlled and ousted. I would like serious criminal illegal aliens ousted, but not those escaping terror in their own countries. I am ashamed of our current government, federal and state.” — Barbara, Columbia County
“Getting rid of (President Trump’s) Big Beautiful Bill would be a good starting point!” — Jackie Deeken, Warrington
“The return of our democracy. The present administration is focused on vanity projects; making Washington, DC look like Mar-a-Lago. People can’t afford groceries, housing, gas, or healthcare. (Trump) has alienated our allies. I fear it will take years to undo all the damage he has done.” — Sandy L., Lester
“Taking back control of the Congress and Senate in order to control the out of control president and his administration!” — Sally, Lebanon
“I would like to see someone pull our country together again. This idea of ‘us and them’ is tearing this great nation apart. If we could go back to the art of compromise then we would have a much better place to raise our children. If we could do that, then many of our problems would be solved. May not solve all problems, but it’s a great place to start.” — Tom Poynton, Wilson
“Elimination of government fraud; deportation of illegals; fiscal accountability; bringing back conservative and biblical values!” — Vickie Johnson, Perry County
“The economy, the latest forever war in the Middle East, climate change, the fact that the Supreme Court of the United States is bought and paid for by billionaires, the housing market, and the fact that corporations and billionaires can now buy our elections and no one seems to even care.” — Robert Graham, Bushkill
“The biggest issues for me are taking back control of Congress and getting some control over the atrocities that are occurring in Washington. The Epstein files need to be released, more humane immigration laws are needed, and we are stuck in a war that nobody wants and is unnecessary! We have become the laughingstock of the world.” — Doris Butler, Mifflin County
“Controlling Donald Trump is my main election goal, ultimately impeaching and imprisoning him for war crimes. But that may be a pipe dream.” — Laura, Bucks County
“The economy is at the top of my list. Gas, groceries, heating oil, and many other household necessities have risen drastically.” — Lindsay, Berks County
“Affordability of healthcare; ending the war in Iraq; stopping ICE; protecting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP.” — Cindy Bigler, Mifflinburg
“Saving our democracy, banning data centers, reducing the impact of climate change, removing corruption in the federal government, restoring a government that works for the people, conserving our places of natural beauty, getting Congress to pass legislation that enshrines Roe v. Wade, and eliminating the cap on Social Security.” — Christa Warda, Lehigh County
“In no particular order, the key issues I would like to see addressed include: Border security and immigration; a judicial and political system that is too soft on violent crime; widespread government fraud, waste, and welfare abuse, and land development regarding the construction of data centers and warehouses—development should avoid clean and green areas, farmland, and golf courses.” — Ron Evanousky, Schuylkill County
“Data centers are high on my list for state and local elections. Also, I want local police not to aid ICE.” — Maia Simon, Northampton
“Removing every MAGA Congressman up for election. They have all proven to be worthless minions of Trump.” — Wayne W., Berks County
“The overwhelming need to reclaim our democracy and get rid of the fascist ‘Christian’ nationalists currently destroying the country and all it stands for.” — Pat Uribe-Lichty, Berks County
“My biggest concern is the preservation of the Democratic republic form of government that was envisioned, perhaps imperfectly, by our founding fathers.” — Alan Markovitz, Northampton
“To stop the insanity of our current government. Impeach Trump and get his crooked billionaire buddies out of our government. To stop our corrupt Supreme Court. Stop ICE! Release the Epstein files and convict ALL the guilty! To me it’s the first time in our country’s history that we are going backwards and losing rights.” — Michelle, Erie
“To get enough Democrats into office to stop the Republican dismantling of what’s left of our government, and to investigate and prosecute officials who broke laws in the past two years, and to restore support for Americans who can barely pay for food, housing, and health insurance.” — Pat Hartigan, Allegheny County
