Trump: ‘King’ to some in Pennsylvania, but will it help GOP?

MONONGAHELA, Pa. (AP) — The Trump-Pence sign still hangs on the older building off Main Street in this historic town, a lasting vestige of the campaign fervor that roused voters, including many who still believe the falsehood that the former president didn’t lose in 2020 and hope he’ll run in 2024.

The enthusiasm for Donald Trump’s unique brand of nationalist populism has cut into traditional Democratic strongholds like Monongahela, about 25 miles south of Pittsburgh, where brick storefronts and a Slovak fellowship hall dot Main Street and church bells mark the hours of the day. Republicans are counting on political nostalgia for the Trump era as they battle Democrats this fall in Pennsylvania in races for governor, the U.S. Senate and control of Congress.

“Trump just came along and filled the empty space,” said Matti Gruzs, who stitches old blue jeans into tote bags, place mats and other creations she sells at the weekly Farmer’s Market downtown. “He’s still the king, and the kingmaker.”

Against the backdrop of this picturesque place, House Republicans recently released their campaign agenda, hoping their “Commitment to America” can tap into the same political sentiment Trump used to attract not just Republican but independent and former Democratic voters. But it’s unclear whether the support that propelled Trump to the White House will be there on Election Day, Nov. 8.

Perhaps even more challenging for the GOP is whether Trump’s false claims of voter fraud will cost the party if people believe, as the defeated president claims without evidence, the elections are rigged. Some may just decide to sit out the election.

Michelle DeHosse poses for a photo at the farmer’s market in downtown Monongahela, Pa., Sept. 23, 2022. DeHosse runs a custom screen-print and embroidery shop on Main Street but said she has had trouble hiring employees since the COVID-19 crisis. While she said just can’t afford the $20 an hour and health care benefits many applicants demand, she understands that many workers need both. “It’s the economy that’s the biggest concern,” she said. (AP Photo/Lisa Mascaro)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Lisa Mascaro

The Monongahela River is seen in Monongahela, Pa., Sept. 23, 2022. The enthusiasm for Donald Trump’s unique brand of nationalist populism cut into traditional Democratic strongholds in places like Monongahela, where brick storefronts and a Slovak fellowship hall dot Main Street, and church bells mark the hours of the day. Republicans are counting on political nostalgia for the Trump era as they battle Democrats this fall in Pennsylvania in races for governor, the U.S. Senate and Congress.(AP Photo/Lisa Mascaro)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Lisa Mascaro

A historical marker in a park is displayed in downtown Monongahela, Pa., a battleground state in the midterm elections on Sept. 23, 2022. The enthusiasm for Donald Trump’s unique brand of nationalist populism cut into traditional Democratic strongholds in places like Monongahela, where brick storefronts and a Slovak fellowship hall dot Main Street, and church bells mark the hours of the day. Republicans are counting on political nostalgia for…