Pennsylvanians feel unsafe – could the unease flip pivotal elections in 2024?
A recent Gallup poll found that 58% of Americans believe the criminal justice system is not tough enough, up 17 points since 2020. At the local level in Pennsylvania, midterm polling conducted by the nonpartisan advocacy group A Greater Philadelphia found that 54.6% of Philadelphia Democrat voters thought Philadelphia was on the wrong track, with police and public safety as their top two issues.
While FBI statistics show violent crime has fallen to pre-pandemic levels in the past few years, other crimes are becoming more prevalent. In Pennsylvania last year, property crimes rose by 18.46% and hate crimes rose by 24.8%. Pennsylvanians might not have these statistics handy, but they notice the rampant break-ins, car thefts, and general disarray.
When voters don’t see these crimes firsthand, they are surely reminded when they turn on their TVs. Recent local incidents like the Falls Township rampage in Bucks, the live YouTube stream of a man beheading his father in Levittown, the Philadelphia officer getting hurt during an attempted ATV stop, and an end-of-Ramadan shooting keep crime as a top concern in our communities.
Gun violence is so common in Philadelphia that local citizens are creating entire social media accounts committed to memorializing the victims.
With crime top of mind for many voters across Pennsylvania, politicians running for election in 2024 have made it a central tenet of their campaigns.
Businessman Dave McCormick lists ‘violent crime’ as one of his top issues and his endorsements from police unions, as well as his support for law enforcement, are a fixture on his social media feed.
“Defunding the police, which Bob Casey supported, and declining respect for our law enforcement is diminishing the ability to keep communities safe” reads a quote on his website’s issues page.
Senator Casey has tried to emphasize personal safety in his campaign but has taken a different tactic to his pro-police challenger, instead focusing on laws he’s passed.
“From legislation to crack down on terrorists’ financing, to a law that makes it easier for small businesses to expand, Senator Casey has passed into law a wide range of measures to keep Americans safe and financially secure,” reads an excerpt from the Senator’s website.
Recently, Senator Casey found himself in hot water after meeting with Indivisible Philadelphia, an anti-police group claiming “We won’t stop until they #DefundThePolice” on their website. The Senator’s appearance before this group earned him national attention and condemnation from the Delaware County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 27.
Americans’ fear for their personal safety is at a three-decade high, and crime in Pennsylvania is a top issue for voters to consider this election.
