In communities across America, voters are still trying to find their political homes after a tumultuous five years when many questioned long-standing party loyalties or became active in elections for the first time. And they have a long list of challenges in their areas that they’re counting on leaders to address.
That’s why NBC News is launching its County to County series, which will embed reporters in seven bellwether counties throughout the 2022 cycle for regular stories about the changing face of American politics.
From big cities to sprawling suburbs to small rural towns, County to County will check in regularly on what voters are talking about and how politicians in both parties hope to win their votes in November 2022. “Meet the Press Reports” features the series this week on Peacock with on-the-ground reports from five of the counties.
For almost 30 years, Luzerne County could be counted on to deliver votes for Democratic presidential candidates. Former President Barack Obama actively courted voters in the area, a blue-collar bastion in northeastern Pennsylvania, which he carried twice.