In support of rational and compassionate public policy at all levels of government which affect the residents of Newtown Township and Bucks County
"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." ~ John Adams
Democrats secure one Senate and one House seat in special elections, narrowing the Republican advantage in the Senate and preserving a slim majority in the Houses.
“Danny is a battle-tested patriot who represents the best of his generation. Bucks County will be safer with him as our Sheriff,” said former Bucks County Congressman Patrick Murphy.
The 25.9% voter turnout in Bucks County consists of party faithful. At this stage, more Democratic loyalists than Republican loyalists are energized. It's a long way to November.
In turnout, Democrats eclipsed Republicans 54K to 40K, despite the small Republican edge in voter registration.
While candidates for nonpartisan offices, such as judge and school director, file on both Democratic and Republican ballots, Pennsylvania has closed primaries. Independents cannot vote for party candidates. In light of the closed primary format, and a general lack of voter interest in the state, county, and municipal offices being contested in off-year primaries, these primaries reveal little but the degree of voter engagement among each party's most dedicated voters.
The Bucks County sheriff's contest, with Danny Ceisler (D) challenging incumbent Fred Harran (R), has received much media attention due to Harran's application to work with ICE under the 287(g) program, and subsequent pushback from Democrats.
Newtown Democratic Club chair Joel Raab had this to say about the outcome:
Tuesday was a good day for Democrats in Newtown and across Bucks County. Democrats saw strong turnout (20%+ over Republicans) in Newtown and Bucks County on Tuesday, a positive sign for the Fall. In Newtown Township, Supervisor candidates Ed Merriman and Melissa Merk nearly doubled their opponents' votes. In Newtown Borough, nearly three times as many Democrats voted for our candidates than did the Republicans for theirs. Future efforts are key to boost turnout and highlight local politics.
Joel is right. It was indeed a good day for Democrats, with indicators (both blunt and subtle) of work left to be done in the run-up to November.
One blunt indicator is low turnout. Unenthused citizens, comprising the bulk of the electorate, remained silent in this election. Polls notwithstanding, uncertainty remains about whether and how these folks will vote in November. And it's no surprise Democratic voters outnumbered Republicans, given that losers in the previous election are motivated while the winners slack off.
A deeper dive into the numbers yields a more subtle concern for Democrats. Note the drop off in votes for District Attorney vs. Sheriff. Despite having taken the time to show up in person or mail in their ballots, and despite the relative importance of the office of District Attorney, thousands opted to vote for no one at all.
Democratic challenger Joe Khan will face Republican incumbent Jennifer Schorn for Bucks County DA in November.
The pattern was repeated in Newtown, with 2349 votes for Ceisler vs. 2170 votes for Joe Khan.
In 2023, Democrats pulled off a near clean sweep in Bucks County. Most notably, in response to far-right Moms for Liberty candidates, several school boards long in the hands of Republicans were flipped to Democratic control. Bucks County voters made clear their low tolerance for book bans and for bullying marginalized students and their teachers. Is the 2025 race for Sheriff following a similar pattern, with disgust over ICE tactics prevailing over the general sense that a crackdown on illegal immigration is necessary? If so, Democrats may be able to count on strong turnout in their favor, and should encourage voters to complete the entire ballot.
That being said, outcomes in 2024 bore no resemblance to those in 2023, and much will happen between now and November to change the electoral landscape. Anti-Trump anger and fear is too thin a thread to weave the fabric of a campaign. Democrats need to seize hold of the agenda with their own sound ideas to promote economic and social wellbeing, ideas which resonate with everyday Americans.
Trump 2.0 has prompted much performative outrage, and little traditional campaign activity, from Democrats here and around the country. Their local candidates are at risk in this year's election.
Harvie's early campaign announcement suggests a confidence in victory not seen among Bucks County Democrats since 2018. And his single issue opening statement, focused solely on kitchen-table economics, banks on Trump-induced economic strain reaching most people's kitchen tables sometime in the next 18 months.
Whatever you might think of the New York Times, their analysis of what was at stake in this election is dead on. No election has ever been more consequential in determining the path of our country in the decades ahead.
Democrats faced an uphill climb to victory in 2024. Shifting gender politics made the climb steeper.
Check out the full blog:
Fact: Climate change is real. Promoting clean energy is an urgent matter of national security.
Fact: Transgender persons exist, and cannot be legislated out of existence.
Fact: Students need a factual account of our history, including slavery and its residual effects on the rights and freedoms of all Americans.
Me Imperturbe
Me imperturbe, standing at ease in Nature, Master of all, or mistress of all—aplomb in the midst of irrational things, Imbued as they—passive, receptive, silent as they, Finding my occupation, poverty, notoriety, foibles, crimes, less important than I thought;
Me private, or public, or menial, or solitary—all these subordinate, (I am eternally equal with the best—I am not subordinate;) Me toward the Mexican Sea, or in the Mannahatta, or the Tennessee, or far north, or inland, A river-man, or a man of the woods, or of any farm-life of These States, or of the coast, or the lakes, or Kanada,
Me, wherever my life is lived, O to be self-balanced for contingencies!
O to confront night, storms, hunger, ridicule, accidents, rebuffs, as the trees and animals do.
~ Walt Whitman
Tired
I am so tired of waiting, Aren’t you, For the world to become good And beautiful and kind? Let us take a knife And cut the world in two – And see what worms are eating At the rind.
