GOP Targets Amish Voters in Pennsylvania Battleground

Republicans are making a concerted effort to court a largely untapped voting bloc: the Amish. With Pennsylvania poised to play a crucial role in the 2024 presidential election, conservative activists are working to mobilize Amish voters, who tend to lean Republican but traditionally stay out of mainstream politics.

Conservative grassroots leader Scott Presler is leading the charge, seeking to turn the Amish community into a decisive force in Pennsylvania, where approximately 87,000 Amish reside. Speaking at a recent political conference, Presler declared the importance of mobilizing this group, saying, “The Amish, if they are mobilized, could literally save Western civilization.”

Presler’s strategy includes leveraging mail-in ballots, a method historically favored by Democrats, but one he sees as a game-changer for Amish voters. “When I go to the Amish and I tell them that they can have a private secret ballot sent to their homes, and they don’t have to drive their buggy to town… they love the idea of mail-in ballots,” Presler said. His plan is to capitalize on this convenience and boost Amish voter turnout significantly.

Key Elements of the GOP’s Amish Outreach:

• Mail-in Ballots: The GOP is encouraging Amish voters to use mail-in ballots to participate without leaving their homes, a key concern for a community that values privacy and shuns political exposure.

• Farming Regulations: Many Amish voters are farmers, and conservatives are highlighting government overreach in Pennsylvania. The Amos Miller case, in which an Amish farmer was raided and banned from selling raw milk products, has become a rallying cry for the GOP. Both Donald Trump Jr. and RFK Jr. have spoken in support of Miller, framing it as an example of big government stifling traditional ways of life.

• Grassroots Mobilization: Presler’s team has been on the ground in Pennsylvania for weeks, working tirelessly to register new voters, especially in Lancaster County, home to the largest Amish community in the U.S.

The GOP’s efforts aren’t limited to the Amish. Presler’s voter registration work has also contributed to flipping Luzerne County Red, a former Democratic stronghold. Thanks to ongoing grassroots campaigns, Republicans now hold a slim lead of just 83 registered voters over Democrats in the county. This shift is part of a broader Republican resurgence in Pennsylvania, where the GOP has narrowed the Democratic lead in statewide voter registration to its smallest margin in decades.

In the 2016 presidential election, only about 1,000 Amish voted in Lancaster County. By 2020, that number had tripled to 3,000, still a small fraction of the eligible voting population but a promising sign for Republicans seeking to boost turnout further. Presler’s team, operating through his Early Vote Action PAC, aims to build on this momentum. With weeks left in Pennsylvania, their goal is to ensure that Amish voters play a significant role in the 2024 election.

While Presler isn’t working directly with the Republican National Committee (RNC), he has received praise from Lara Trump, who credited him with registering more voters than anyone else she knows. Donald Trump Jr. has also voiced his support, advocating for Presler’s efforts to bring the Amish vote to the GOP.

With the political landscape in Pennsylvania growing increasingly competitive, the GOP’s outreach to the Amish could be a critical factor in determining the state’s outcome. As the 2024 election approaches, the question remains: will this conservative religious community help tip the balance in Trump’s favor?

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