Education Shift: How Pennsylvania's Centre County is Turning More Democratic

In the world of politics, education often plays a big role in how people vote. College-educated folks tend to lean Democratic, while those without degrees usually support Republicans. To dive into this topic, let's head to Centre County, Pennsylvania, home to Pennsylvania State University. This area is like a blue dot in a sea of red. Centre County has about 160, 000 residents and has been a swing county for years. But lately, it's been tilting more Democratic. The presidential candidates from the Democratic Party have been winning here, and the county's board of commissioners is also controlled by Democrats. Why the shift? Education levels have been climbing. A decade ago, around 39% of residents had a four-year college degree. Last year, that number jumped to nearly 48%. County leaders are trying to grow the economy beyond just the university. They're bringing in new attractions like an iron man triathlon and expanding healthcare facilities. People are moving back to Centre County after leaving for bigger cities. They're drawn by the lower cost of living. This "boomerang" effect is spreading the university's influence throughout the county. Even small towns are changing. Bellefonte, with 6, 000 residents, switched from supporting Trump in 2016 to Biden in 2020. It's seen a surge of investment and new, more liberal residents. Not all towns are changing at the same pace. Philipsburg, with less than 3, 000 residents, is still struggling. The decline of coal mining has hit the town hard. Local barber shop owner Brittney Tekely said, "It's a cute little town. It just needs help. " Both parties are fighting hard for votes in Centre County. Democrats are trying to get the large, left-leaning student population more involved. Republicans aren't ignoring the students either. They're trying to energize right-leaning students at college football events. The Trump campaign's Pennsylvania spokesman, Kush Desai, said they're seeing some success.