How 2026 could turn out differently for the GOP than 2025 did

Bucks County Republicans are still feeling the fallout from the disastrous 2025 election, a sweeping victory for county Democrats who captured the courthouse, meaning every row office and many county judge seats.

It was a “perfect storm,” agreed the chairperson of the Bucks County Republican Committee, Pat Poprik, whose position is up for reelection this year, along with GOP committee posts across the county. 

There are many opinions about the crushing loss in “purple” Bucks County. Poprik believes the Republican Party had great candidates with strong issues and worked very hard knocking on doors and executing other campaign tasks. The party, however, was up against a national wildfire that cost Republicans seats across the nation, not just here, she said. 

And another thought: In the lingering words of the late Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, “Republicans are better at governance; Democrats are better at politics.” 

Meanwhile, there are several analyses making the rounds in political circles about the unforeseen defeat that seems to point to the Democratic strategy of linking every Republican to President Donald Trump, while ramping up rabid anti-Trump rhetoric in the months before the November election. And, perhaps, the GOP’s inability to get its message across or energize its base. 

Poprik is certain the candidates and the local committees worked very hard but couldn’t overcome the higher turnout among Democrats who also came out of the gate with 47,000 mail-in ballots, surpassing the Republican count. Poprik, however, said the Bucks County GOP delivered the highest number of Republican mail-in ballots in the state last November.   

Again, why were the Republicans trounced here, with an approximate 10,000-voter registration lead in the county and a roster of experienced incumbents with good records and great teammates? Bucks County is a purple county with many independent and swing voters who can be persuaded and were not. Other critics simply cite voter apathy — too many Republicans, including Trump supporters, stayed home; and many Republicans still resist mail-in voting. And more Democrats went to the polls! 

Obviously, the Republicans could not overcome the anti-Trump messaging of the opposition, but Poprik cites another damper on the local races: the national issues and questions being pushed on the ballot, such as abortion, which had nothing to do with the county campaign, but which affected the retention of three Democratic state Supreme Court judges and diverted attention from the county candidates.    

Hindsight is terrific knowing national, nasty politics sidetracked the county Republicans from making a case on their strengths – good fiscal management, low taxes, and public safety. Instead, the anti-Trump, anti-GOP rhetoric was the core of Democratic strategy and they took the anti-Trump “No Kings” rallies to every state and town possible.   

“No Kings” rallies were held in the few weeks before the election in Bucks County featuring Democratic candidates, party chairman and State Senator Steve Santarsiero, and Commissioner Bob Harvie who is gearing up for a congressional campaign this year against incumbent Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. 

And anti-ICE rhetoric was aimed at Republican former Sheriff Fred Harran, who earlier entered into an agreement to assist the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in its mission to capture illegal, criminal immigrants. The cooperative agreement available to law enforcement agencies was opposed by the Democratic Bucks County commissioners immediately and later criticized by Harran’s opponent Danny Ceisler, who won the November election.   

Democratic officials and nameless crowds of people on the street continue to oppose ICE but Poprik believes that issue will not be relevant in this year’s state and congressional races. Trump’s policies will be working, she said, and people will be “happier” as prices come down.  

Poprik, with years of experience at the helm, finds no fault with her party’s campaign and reiterates that November’s elections were a nationwide phenomenon and that this year should be very different. Trump won’t be in the race and his policies will be working.  

Pat Wandling hosts Speak Your Piece weekdays at noon on WBCB 1490.