BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair Eugene DePasquale said Democrats are rebuilding organizational strength and voter outreach efforts following a difficult 2024 cycle, pointing to improved voter registration numbers and a sharper focus on economic messaging during an interview on Lehigh Valley Political Pulse.
DePasquale, who took over party leadership in September 2025 after Democrats lost several key statewide and federal races, said the party faced immediate structural and financial challenges.
“When I did get to gavel, though, we couldn’t even make payroll for September,” he said. “We had been losing the voter registration battle. We had only won one month in the previous five years.”
He said that trend has since shifted.
“We’ve won the voter registration battle over Republicans for now eight straight months,” DePasquale said.
He credited a combination of leadership changes, field investments and voter sentiment.
“I think part of that is certainly the unpopularity and the horrible toxic agenda of Donald Trump,” he said. “And I think it’s also some of the investments we’re making in the state party.”
“I think part of that is certainly the unpopularity and the horrible toxic agenda of Donald Trump. And I think it’s also some of the investments we’re making in the state party.”Eugene DePasquale
DePasquale said Democrats are now more directly focused on registering party voters and engaging communities on issues such as health care, wages and child care.
“My job is to register Democrats,” he said. “The more Democrats you have, the much more likely it is that people are going to vote Democrat.”
Economic concerns driving voters
He argued that economic concerns are driving voter frustration across Pennsylvania, including the Lehigh Valley.
“They don’t feel Washington, D.C. is concerned about their higher prices, what’s happening to health care, cost of food at the grocery store,” he said.
Looking ahead to upcoming elections, DePasquale said Democrats are focused on winning this year’s races rather than long-term speculation about future leadership beyond Gov. Josh Shapiro.
“We need to be focused on this November,” he said. “We’ve got to focus on winning this November for the governor, flipping the state Senate and expanding our House majority.”
He also pointed to a unified Democratic front following recent primary contests.
“We are unified going into the fall. There’s no question about it,” DePasquale said.
DePasquale added that Democrats are emphasizing a contrast with Republicans on economic policy.
“One side is for raising minimum wage,” he said. “The other side is literally trying to rip health care away from you.”
He said that message, combined with voter outreach, is central to the party’s strategy heading into November.
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