Election 2018 Vs. 2016: Phoenixville's GOP Vote Drops Notably

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — On Tuesday night, Democrats in Chester County and Phoenixville delivered sweeping victories across the region, including flipping the 6th District in U.S. Congress. Phoenixville played no small part in Chrissy Houlahan's convincing win over Republican Greg McCauley.

Though Phoenixville voted blue overall in 2016, there were wards that leaned red, and Republican Ryan Costello won the 6th. Things were very different in 2018.

Voter turnout increased in every ward from the last midterms, in 2014. The numbers Tuesday were comparable to 2016, a Presidential election year which typically sees increased voter turnout.

On Tuesday, Houlahan actually received about the same amount of support in Phoenixville that Democrat Mike Parrish did when he ran for this seat two years ago. The bigger discrepancy between 2016 and 2018: Costello was vastly more popular in 2016 than 2018 Republican, Greg McCauley.

>>How Montco, Chesco Dems Made History In Long-Red PA Districts

Costello's 2016 performance outpaced McCauley significantly in nearly every district. He nearly doubled McCauley's vote in North-3, East-1, and West-3. Why did Republicans turn away from McCauley? At least one person on the right has an idea: Costello.

"A lot of people are going to polls saying, I used to vote Republican, but I'm outraged by what the President says and does, so I'm not going to vote Republican," Costello the outgoing 6th District Congressman said in an appearance on MSNBC Thursday morning, pointing to a "very tough political environment that was created by the President."

The remarks were in response from President Trump's allegations that Republicans who lost on Tuesday did so because they had not pledged their support to him.

In part thanks to a strong showing in blue parts of Phoenixville, Costello won re-election in 2016 in the 6th District, despite the fact that the District voted for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump.

Below is a look at each ward, with 2018 results first and 2016 results in parenthesis and italics.

Phoenixville North-1

• Chrissy Houlahan: 391 (Parrish 2016: 311)
• Greg McCauley: 253 (Costello 2016: 383)

Phoenixville North-2

• Houlahan: 373 (Parrish 2016: 362)
• McCauley: 138 (Costello 2016: 204)

Phoenixville North-3

• Houlahan: 648 (Parrish 2016: 577)
• McCauley: 248 (Costello 2016: 436)

Phoenixville Middle-1

• Houlahan: 588 (Parrish 2016: 441)
• McCauley: 178 (Costello 2016: 227)

Phoenixville Middle-2

• Houlahan: 481 (Parrish 2016: 490)
• McCauley: 123 (Costello 2016: 206)

Phoenixville Middle-3

• Houlahan: 448 (Parrish 2016: 420)
• McCauley: 149 (Costello 2016: 239)

Phoenixville East-1

• Houlahan: 446 (Parrish 2016: 385)
• McCauley: 177 (Costello 2016: 290)

Phoenixville East-2

• Houlahan: 428 (Parrish 2016: 361)
• McCauley: 188 (Costello 2016: 331)

Phoenixville East-3

• Houlahan: 425 (Parrish 2016: 328)
• McCauley: 148 (Costello 2016: 231)

Phoenixville West-1

• Houlahan: 288 (Parrish 2016: 272)
• McCauley: 145 (Costello 2016: 210)

Phoenixville West-2

• Houlahan: 499 (Parrish 2016: 481)
• McCauley: 249 (Costello 2016: 378)

Phoenixville West-3

• Houlahan: 368 (Parrish 2016: 342)
• McCauley: 158 (Costello 2016: 285)

Patch file photo