How Pennsylvania will help Trump win the White House

In a tight race for the White House, there are just 93 electoral votes up for grabs in key swing states that will decide the election.

Pennsylvania, with its 19 electoral votes, has been ground zero for both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. And the result of that months-long battle in the Keystone State will play out after the polls close on Tuesday.

For Trump, capturing Pennsylvania could all but guarantee his path back to the White House. Here’s why.

How many electoral votes does Trump need?

As it stands, former President Donald Trump is projected to lock up 219 electoral votes from red or red-leaning states. Vice President Kamala Harris has an edge, with 226 electoral votes projected in her column based on current forecasts.

That means Trump needs 51 more electoral votes to reach the required 270-mark, and Pennsylvania’s 19 votes would provide a significant boost toward that goal. Winning Pennsylvania would leave just 74 electoral votes on the table, from which Trump would only need 32 more, while Harris would need to capture 44 to win.

If Trump secured Pennsylvania, he could win by adding Georgia (16) and North Carolina (16) to his total, which would bring him exactly to 270.

Will Pennsylvania vote for Trump?

The polls in the battleground states have been just as back-and-forth as the name “swing state” implies, with both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris holding razor-thin margins at various times.

That uncertainty will likely play out on Election Day as votes are counted and the lead shifts back and forth.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Pennsylvania could give Trump the White House; here’s how