As the election year creeps up, residents in Erie County prepare. Chairman of the Erie County Democratic Party says although Erie voted Republican in 2016, things look a little different for this election.

“A lot of folks who thought they would give Trump a try in 2016 have looked around and seen the chaos and have seen the disruptions in the economy,” Wertz says.

He says he has talked to some Republicans who do not think President Trump is representing Republican values.

“They are much happier to go out and to support and vote for Vice President Biden,” Wertz says.

Bruce and Kate Arkbright are two Erie residents who support Biden.

“He has been in politics for a long time,” Kate Arkbright says. “He knows where his holes are and fills those with cabinet members who are experts. Trump I don’t even think has a full cabinet of people.”

Bruce Arkbright says he does not want to see Trump back in office.

“Everything he has done has been terrible,” Bruce Arkbright says. “I don’t like the racist comments. I have two black neighbors and I hate the way Trump talks about race.”

He says that in his 72 years of life he has never heard a president talk like Trump does.

“I have never heard a President talk the way he does about the people of this nation,” Arkbright says.

Chairman Jim Wertz says Erie County is a bellwether county, meaning that what they vote is often a representation of the entire state.

“Candidates that are successful here in Erie Pennsylvania tend to be successful statewide,” Wertz says.

He says Erie County accurately represents Pennsylvania because of the large rural area, large urban area, and diverse urban and less diverse rural areas.

Wertz says Biden has not been actively engaging in large rallies, but rather in small meetings where people can socially distance themselves. He does believe that Biden will come to Erie County.

“I think that when that happens it will be done safely and much more responsibly than Trump rallies which clearly have little regard for public health.”