Counties to Watch on Election Night in Key States

Election night is all about watching the swing states, and within those states, certain counties hold the power to sway the presidential race. We'll start with Georgia, where Chattooga catches attention for its rural and evangelical communities. Cherokee and Forsyth, suburbs around Marietta, have seen a shift in voter preference away from the Republicans. Atlanta suburbs like Gwinnett and Cobb have been turning blue, and Democrats need them to stay that way. In North Carolina, Anson County has a significant Black voter population that Democrats need to motivate. Henderson, hit by Hurricane Helene, saw a drop in Trump's votes between 2016 and 2020. Nash County, near Raleigh, has seen very close races in recent years. Wake County is home to a competitive congressional race and has been growing Democrat strongholds. Pennsylvania’s collar counties, like Bucks, will be important to watch. Erie, a blue-collar county, has been a swing area, and Lackawanna County, where Biden has roots, will be crucial. Northampton is known for being a reliable predictor of the winner. In Arizona, Maricopa County is always a focus due to its large population. Democrats have been picking up Republican voters here, flipping the county in 2020. Michigan's Kent County, home to Grand Rapids, has been moving towards the Democrats. Wayne County, home to Detroit, is vital for voter turnout among Black and Arab American voters. Grand Traverse County has been trending Democratic. Wisconsin's Dane County, home to Madison, is all about highly educated voters. Ozaukee County, part of the "WOW" counties known for their Republican roots, has seen some Democrat gains. And Washington County is fighting to stay firm with Trump's vote share.