Allentown, Pennsylvania — Todd Harder voted for Donald Trump hoping the former president’s promises would bring a revival to American manufacturing. But four months into Trump’s second term, Harder remains skeptical that those promises will pay off anytime soon.
“My generation, it’s not going to impact positively. It is going to hurt us,” said Harder, who runs ProDart, a small dart and dartboard manufacturer in Allentown. “In the future, maybe it helps the next generation. But for us right now, it’s not good.”
His frustration reflects a broader sense of economic unease in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, a politically crucial swing region. Trump narrowly won the district in 2024, flipping it along with the local House seat to Republican control. But discontent is already simmering, making the district a major Democratic target in 2026.
The Lehigh Valley, once a powerhouse of U.S. manufacturing, still carries the legacy of giants like Bethlehem Steel and Western Electric. Today, firms like Mack Trucks and Martin Guitars keep the tradition alive, while Crayola remains a local icon. Yet the industrial job base has never fully recovered. In 1990, the region had more than 66,000 factory jobs. That number dipped to around 35,000 in 2011 before rebounding to 41,000 by the end of 2024. Since Trump’s return, job growth has stalled.
Harder’s company once employed 14 people. Now it’s down to five, including his parents.
“We’re kind of slow right now,” he said. “Money is tight. Rent is high. Businesses just don’t have the cash flow. So people are getting more conservative with spending.”
Though ProDart doesn’t rely heavily on foreign suppliers, Harder says the confusion around tariffs and trade policy has dampened consumer confidence across the board.
He gives Trump a grade of “six to a seven” so far. “He just got into it. Let’s see how it pans out.”
Harder is 55 but cast his first-ever vote in 2024, motivated more by cultural and social issues than economics.
“There’s no law and order anymore. The marijuana stuff is out of hand. You watch TV and see men kissing, all the transgender stuff,” Harder said. “You didn’t have that before. I’m Catholic. I believe there is a God.”
He also expressed frustration over cultural changes, including schools no longer emphasizing cursive or the Pledge of Allegiance, and what he sees as a growing number of Puerto Rican flags in his area.
“I was just so disgusted. Everything’s going to crap.”
Harder was one of many irregular voters targeted by Trump’s campaign through messaging focused on immigration, gender issues, and attacks on progressive values. His vote also helped Republican Ryan Mackenzie narrowly unseat the Democratic incumbent in Congress by just over 4,000 votes.
Still, Harder isn’t sure if he’ll vote again in 2026. “If I feel things are running properly, yes. If I don’t see any change, then it doesn’t matter.”
Michelle Rios, who works in a diversity and inclusion office at a local college, offers a stark contrast. Rios said she remembers feeling constantly on edge during Trump’s first term. Now she’s focused on helping her students navigate rumors about immigration policy and potential cuts to grant programs that support minority communities.
“It just instills fear. That’s what the last few months have done,” she said. “So I focus on the action. Like, this happened, now what can we do?”
Rios said her focus now is on reaching out to Latino voters who supported Trump. “Sometimes it’s cultural. Sometimes we don’t want to see women in certain positions,” she said. She also believes social media has played a role in reshaping perceptions and spreading misinformation.
Gerard Babb, an assembly line worker at Mack Trucks, would use his one minute with Trump to plead for his job. The company recently announced plans to cut 250 to 350 jobs, citing decreased demand partly due to tariffs.
“I believe they played a part,” Babb said. “Trump could have had more finesse instead of a blanket policy.”
Though he’s likely to be laid off, Babb still gives Trump a B+ rating. A father of three, he spends his days checking seniority charts to see if turnover might spare his job.
“I was at 171 when they announced. Now I’m at 218. If I get past 250, I have a chance.”
Babb said he voted for Mackenzie but isn’t committed for 2026. His top priority is economic policy, and he’s open to Democrats if they deliver stronger proposals.
“I haven’t seen anything yet,” he said. “I’d love to see more manufacturing jobs in the area.”
For now, Babb is focused on providing for his family while bracing for what’s next.
“It’s stressful knowing I’m likely going to be out of work. It’s the uncertainty that really gets to me.”
1 comment
Save the universe, eradicate Republicans.