October 10, 2020

In the wake of the 2016 election, a little-known county in northeastern Pennsylvania emerged as a national symbol of Donald Trump’s unexpected victory, seeming to epitomize the political forces that explained the stunning outcome.

“Why Did Donald Trump Win? Just Visit Luzerne County, Pennsylvania” read one headline. The Wall Street Journal reported that “a decline in manufacturing, shrinking populations, a fraying of social cohesion and a rise in immigration” made the area a perfect fit for Trump’s message. Journalist Ben Bradlee, Jr. wrote a whole book about the county of 317,000.

Four years later, Trump is the underdog in his reelection campaign. And his ability to repeat — or expand on — his performance in Luzerne County is essential to his hopes of achieving an upset victory in this critical battleground state.

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