Bake Oven Knob, a famous lookout on the Appalachian Trail in Germansville, Pa. (Charlie Creitz)
That has resulted in northeastern Pennsylvania turning purple. The once-Republican-friendly region has given way to narrow U.S. House races in the Lehigh Valley and Poconos.
As Billy Joel’s "Allentown" foretold, the region has been undergoing change for decades, shifting away from now-defunct Bethlehem Steel and other industry and becoming a hub for warehousing and technology, as residential and commercial real estate costs rise but not to the height of New Jersey and New York City.
Nearly 50,000 New York residents moved to Pennsylvania in 2022 alone, while 40,000 New Jerseyans did the same that year.
During his race, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli praised Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro for the state’s more favorable climate compared to his own.
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That led Shapiro to remind voters he was supporting Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill.
Fox News Digital reached out to Shapiro for comment on the continued westward exodus.
State Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Gettysburg, a top member of the majority’s caucus and potential 2026 gubernatorial candidate, told Fox News Digital he would welcome more Americans wishing to "escape the high taxes, soft-on-crime policies and heavy-handed government mandates" that have made New Jersey and other blue states "unaffordable and unsafe."
"Pennsylvania is a beautiful, free and opportunity-rich state. We know that many of the folks coming here share our values: faith, family, freedom and fiscal sanity," he said.
"They want safe neighborhoods, good schools and leaders who put citizens first — not ideology. And we welcome them with open arms."
However, he offered a warning to any new residents bringing their home-state policies with them.
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"I gently urge those arriving from failed blue states to leave behind the politics that caused them to leave in the first place," the retired Army colonel said.
"Pennsylvania doesn't need to become the next New Jersey or Northern Virginia. What we have here is worth protecting."
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rsvp-neighboring-states-invite-disaffected-ny-nj-va-voters-move-after-dems-election-sweep