Local GOP excited about Trump’s odds

The excitement in the ballroom of the Altoona Grand Hotel was palpable as local Republicans gathered to watch election results during a late-night watch party on Tuesday.

More than 150 people filled an array of tables laid out between three flat screen TVs — all featuring Fox News programming — positioned strategically around the room as elected officials thanked the crowd for their continued support.

Newly elected 80th District Republican state Rep. Scott Barger thanked the audience for their support, saying that he appreciates members of the Blair County Republican Committee, who organized the event, for putting their trust in a "new face."

In a small-district primary, there "are going to be good Republicans on both sides," Barger said, noting that his campaign made a point to not burn bridges with colleagues while still being competitive.

"It was important to us to run in such a way that we don't have to mend relationships," he said.

Although advancing any legislative agenda would require the Republicans to win a majority in the House in Harrisburg, Barger said, he would work toward a "serious overhaul" of the public education system that disadvantages certain districts across the state, including in Blair County.

Barger said that while Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro understands that the state education system needs work, they may not see eye-to-eye on the best way to address this issue.

According to Barger, he liked Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's odds of winning a second term.

"I do not mean in any way to disrespect Vice President Kamala Harris, I do not think she presented herself as a clear alternative to Donald Trump, so I think the only issue on the ballot is Donald Trump — do you want him (as president) or not," Barger said.

State Sen. Judy Ward, R-30th, said that there is value in supporting Republicans across the region, even while she was not on the ballot this election.

"We're all a team here, we work together very well," Ward said. "I'm very excited about the addition of Representative Barger ... Representative Schmitt, we all work on issues together, local and federal issues."

Ward represented the 80th House district from 2015 to 2018, when she won her seat representing the 30th State Senate District.

Blair County Republican Committee chairman Jim Foreman said that immigration and the economy were the two issues that had the most traction with area voters.

"People are very anxious, very nervous, very upset at the stories they hear about the open borders as it relates to safety and to everything," Foreman said.

Economic issues like inflation were especially salient because "it was very easy for people to feel" in the grocery store or when taking out a loan for a new car or home.

This allowed county Republicans to run a very issues-focused outreach campaign, connecting to voters on a personal level, he said.

While Blair County has been a reliable stronghold of Republican support, particularly for former President Trump in 2016 and 2020, Foreman said that voter engagement and election-day turnout have been encouraging.

"From the other people I talk to, I feel good about Pennsylvania presently. I think (Trump) wins by 1to 1.5%, obviously he said that if he wins Pennsylvania he wins the election," Foreman said.

Evangelical Lutheran pastor Roy Steward said that he supports the former president because he stands on "good Christian foundations," and that he appreciates Trump's vocal support for Christian faith.

Steward said that the 2024 Trump campaign was bolstered by a team of qualified people with diverse skill sets, such as tech entrepreneur Elon Musk and "lifelong Democrat" Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Local educator and caretaker Rhonda Wallace said that she supports Trump because she no longer sees the difference between the Democrat and Republican parties strictly along policy lines, but as a matter of "good versus evil."

According to Wallace, it feels like we are living in an "upside-down version" of reality, where some aspects of society are not the "normal way they are done."

This includes transgender representation in high school sports, which Trump opposes on grounds of "protecting women and girls," she said.

Wallace said that she is very encouraged by strong turnout at her local polling place and hopes that this will lead to the electoral success of the Republican Party, who would address the problems she perceives in society.

Antis Township supervisor Ben Hornberger said that his No. 1 issue this election was foreign policy, and as a four-year marine veteran, he supports Trump because of his vocal support for ending costly conflicts like the war in Ukraine.

Mirror Staff Writer Conner Goetz is at 814-946-7535.