How Latinos Have Made Allentown, PA, The 'Center of the Universe' Ahead of November Elections

With less than a month to go until Election Day, Republicans and Democrats alike are turning their efforts to Pennsylvania, one of the most consequential battleground states this cycle up and down the ballot. Democrats particularly are keeping their eye on a small town in Eastern Pennsylvania, which they deem will be "the center of the universe."

Allentown, Pennsylvania is often regarded as a microcosm for the rest of the country. It is a blend of suburban and rural areas, and in recent years, it's become increasingly vibrant and diverse, particularly due to the fast-growing Latino community.

From Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Guatemala and Venezuela, as well as other, more expensive, states of the U.S. like New York and New Jersey, Latinos from all corners are descending to Allentown to enjoy the up-and-coming city. In fact, the once-proud iron and steel manufacturing hub is now 55% Latino, up from nearly 43% in the 2010 U.S. Census.

"People know the Billy Joel song. They think of Allentown as a post-industrial city. But the reality is that this is a city that's continued to grow since the '80s— like, our low point was probably around that Billy Joel song— and we've mostly grown on the strength of a growing Latino community," said MatthewTuerk, who made history in 2022 as Allentown's first Latino and Spanish-speaking mayor, referring to the song "Allentown" by the New Jersey singer, which details the decline of the steel industry in the Lehigh Valley.

The fast-growing community of the quiet and small town has caught the eye of local and nationally-recognized politicians, who have started descending into the community to make their case to Latino voters.

On Wednesday, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, D-Calif, joined Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa. on a tour of Latino-owned small businesses in Allentown. The pair visited several small businesses, speaking with the owners and patrons about the stakes of the upcoming election.

The gathering was a celebration of different cultures across Latin America. Aguilar and Wild first stopped at El Tablazo, a Dominican restaurant, where they ordered specialty empanadas. They also stopped by El Mercadito, a small neighborhood grocery store that sells a wide assortment of Latino treats.

The tour ended at La Cocina el Abuelo for lunch, where the lawmakers, along with members of the community, sat down to discuss what House Democrats could do to continue advancing the community. At the Mexican restaurant, the roundtable touched on topics such as Vice President Kamala Harris' long-term care proposal, cutting prescription drug prices and red tape for small businesses.

The event, and Aguilar's appearance, underscored the importance of Latinos in Allentown— and the rest of Pennsylvania— in deciding the fate of Congress, and even the White House. The following Thursday, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., showed his support for Wild's opponent, state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in Hellertown, a neighboring suburban town. At the same time, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., participated in a voting rights discussion with Wild in nearby Easton.

"You have the ability to be the single most powerful voting bloc, and the votes are what drives what gets done," Wild said of the Latino community, also arguing that the group is making Allentown "the center of the universe" this cycle.

Wild's battleground district is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. Based on the updated congressional lines, President Joe Biden narrowly edged out former President Donald Trump in 2020, at 49.7% to 49.1%.

The fight for PA-7, Wild's Congressional District, is also among the most contested in the country. A poll from the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion and The Morning Call, conducted between Sept. 30- Oct. 3 showed Wild with a comfortable lead at 51% to Mackenzie's 45%.

Ahead of November, Aguilar also discussed what Democrats in Congress could do to continue making inroads with Latinos. Historically, the group has voted blue, but over recent years, that support has declined exponentially. A recent NBC News/Telemundo/CNBC poll found that support for Harris among Latino voters is at 54%, the lowest level in the past four presidential election cycles.

"We gotta speak to issues that the Latino community cares about," Aguilar said at a press conference after the event. "And understanding this community is a focal point. Over 70% of students in K-12 are Latino here in Allentown, and that number is increasingly growing in this country."

"So speaking to the issues that the community cares about, better schools, quality education, clean air, clean water, economic opportunity, housing affordability. These are issues that Susan Wild and House Democrats are talking about everyday, and we're going to continue to do that, and that's going to be our recipe for success," he continued.