Pennsylvania is slated to be a primary battleground state as the 2024 general election continues to heat up. Quite a lot has changed over the summer, transforming the race into one that would have been unrecognizable a few months ago. 

President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump faced off in a debate hosted by CNN on June 27. Biden’s poor performance in the debate reignited concerns over his viability as a candidate, sparking a month-long effort to oust him as the Democratic Party’s nominee. 

That effort culminated in Biden dropping out of the race July 21 and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris later that day. That endorsement began a dramatic shift in the energy of the race that has disrupted any notions of an easy path to a Trump victory come November. 

At a July 13 Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a gunman made an attempt on the former president’s life. The would-be assassin, later identified as a registered Republican, nicked Trump’s ear before he was shot by law enforcement. 

Later in the month, Republicans confirmed Trump at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The first day of the convention saw Trump’s announcement of Ohio senator J.D. Vance as his running mate. 

Likewise, as the new Democratic Party candidate, Harris announced on Aug. 6 that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was her choice for the vice-presidential slot on the ticket. The Democratic National Convention was held from August 19 to 22, making the duo officially the party’s nominees. 

Before Biden’s withdrawal from the race, Trump had a lead of 3.1 percentage points, according to RealClearPolitics. Since then, polling has swung the other way, giving Harris a 1.5% lead. Prior to Aug. 3, Trump held on to a lead in polling since Sept. 2023. 

Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral college votes are key to both campaigns’ strategy to win in November. With just 70 days until election day on Nov. 5, the keystone state will likely be inundated with political messaging and campaign events for this race’s home stretch. 

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