You have likely heard about the Democratic policies that have been running residents out of Democrat-run states such as California, New York, and Illinois. But you may not have heard that Pennsylvania is going through the same process.
Penn State University is closing seven of its 20 campuses in the state, citing Pennsylvania’s declining population. According to a report commissioned by the university, “Forty-one of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties are facing significant population decline.” The state is noticeably losing much of its youth population: Residents 19 years old and younger are expected to decrease nearly 7% from 2020 to 2050, the state is losing K-12 enrollment, and Pennsylvania is one of the five states responsible for three-fourths of the national decline in high school graduates.
In 2023, Pennsylvania was one of eight states suffering from a “large population loss” based on census data, joining California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, and Massachusetts. (The only Republican-run state on that list was Louisiana). Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal Office projects the state’s working-age population will continue to decline through at least 2030. The top issues cited by residents for leaving are the cost of living, taxes, and lack of job opportunities compared to other states.
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Pennsylvania’s population decline means that the swing state is among the eight states projected to lose congressional seats in the next census. All eight states are run by Democrats. While Pennsylvania residents give Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro high marks, 57% polled last year think the state has “gotten off on the wrong track,” and 57% said the state’s economy was “not good.” Residents are also worried about the effects of national Democratic policies on their state, with 60% opposing a ban on gas cars and 78% worried about affordable energy being available in the future after their energy prices rose over the past two years.
Pennsylvania has been governed by Democrats for the last ten years and 18 of the last 22. It has become increasingly unaffordable, particularly for families, and finds itself on the same population decline lists as the most prominent failed Democratic states. Pennsylvania may not be in as bad a position as California, New York, or Illinois, but it has put itself in their company, and it will stay there so long as state Democrats let the cost of living chase out families.