Republican registrations surge in Pennsylvania in warning sign for Democrats

Republican registrations surge in Pennsylvania in warning sign for Democrats
The exterior of the recently opened RNC Community Center is pictured in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 5, 2022. Picture taken April 5, 2022. REUTERS/Hannah Beier

By Nathan Layne and Jason Lange

Republicans are registering formerly Democratic voters at four times the rate that Democrats are making the reverse conversion in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, a warning sign for Democrats as they try to keep control of the U.S. Congress.

The Republican gains in Pennsylvania, home to a critical U.S. Senate race, follow a pattern seen in other states that could have competitive contests in November’s elections, as high levels of disapproval with President Joe Biden’s handling of his job are helping narrow the long-held advantage held by Democrats in numbers of registered voters.