Frank Agovino: Things in Delco were better when Trump was in the White House

In 2016, Donald Trump shocked the world. Even though he never led in the polls, he pulled off a historic victory. What followed were years of economic growth, international peace, and a renewed sense of global respect for the United States. 

Not bad for a guy the media kept writing off. 

Meanwhile, back home in Delaware County, just a year later in 2017, we had a big political shift of our own. For the first time since the Civil War, Democrats took control of the county government. The gap in voter registrations finally caught up to local Republicans, and what followed was a dramatic and, some say, bloody descent into minority party status. There was a clear disconnect between the Party and the Trump faithful — which created uncertainty and hard feelings among the rank-and-file. 

We all remember what happened next: the 2020 election and everything that came with it. In just six months, the new administration wrecked our booming economy, threw open the southern border, and wiped out America’s energy independence. It was a complete reversal of everything we’d worked for. 

Now, Donald Trump is back, and Delco Republicans have jumped on the Trump train at full throttle. 

Under new leadership, the party has embraced Trump’s return with full force. The Delco GOP headquarters now proudly hosts the Trump 47 campaign office — one of the most active and successful Trump campaign offices in the state. Volunteers are turning out in numbers not seen since Ronald Reagan’s first run for office. The surge in supporters picking up signs and attending training sessions is truly a sight to behold. 

The teamwork between Delco GOP and Trump’s campaign is seamless, and everyone knows just how important this election is—not just for the country, but especially for Pennsylvania, the ultimate swing state. 

With 165,000 registered Republicans and 55,000 Independents, Delco could very well determine the outcome of the most important presidential election in our lifetime. Many voters, looking back, are viewing Trump’s presidency more favorably than ever, appreciating what those years brought in terms of growth and security. Republican voter gains have started to bounce back, and the stakes have never been higher. We are working as if everything depends on it — because it does. 

When Donald Trump was president, Delco residents had more money in their pockets and felt more secure. Now, under Biden and Harris, we are struggling in an economy that seems designed to fail us. And locally, things aren’t any better. The Democrats who control our county are driving it into the ground with out-of-control tax hikes, rising crime, and wasteful spending that even Kamala Harris would have a hard time justifying. Delco stands more prepared than it ever has to mobilize and help deliver the victory for Trump this time around. 

We want to bring back the values that made our community and our country strong. We need an economy that grows, not shrinks. We need a secure border, not an open one. We need global peace, not chaos. We need elections we can trust. 

Delaware County needs Donald Trump again. 

Frank Agovino is the Chairman of the Delaware County Republican Party.