Presler Discusses Next Step During Interview
Scott Presler, a prominent conservative activist and founder of Early Vote Action, is turning his attention to New Jersey after helping President-elect Donald Trump secure a critical win in Pennsylvania during the 2024 election. In a state where Vice President Kamala Harris edged out Trump by just under six points, Presler sees fertile ground for flipping the Garden State red in upcoming elections.
While New Jersey has long been considered a Democratic stronghold, recent election results reveal a tightening gap. In 2020, President Joe Biden carried the state by a decisive 16 points. Fast forward to 2024, and Harris's margin of victory shrank significantly, fueling speculation among analysts that New Jersey might be transitioning from blue to swing state status.
Presler plans to bring his Pennsylvania playbook to New Jersey, building on strategies that bolstered Republican infrastructure and voter outreach efforts in the Keystone State. His efforts in Pennsylvania focused on three core areas: voter education, ground game, and aggressive voter registration drives.
Presler credits these efforts with narrowing the Democrats' registration advantage in Pennsylvania by nearly 300,000 voters since 2020—a key factor in Trump’s victory there.
"We are going to use the Pennsylvania model of voter registration and not reinvent the wheel," Presler explained in an interview with Fox News Digital. He emphasized working smarter, not harder, and adapting successful tactics to New Jersey's political landscape.
Presler’s grassroots strategy focuses on engaging overlooked but potentially influential demographics, such as veterans, hunters, and rural communities. “We went to the truck stops to talk about mail-in voting. We visited farmers markets in Lancaster, VFW halls, and gun ranges,” he shared, pointing to his unconventional outreach as a key to boosting turnout in areas that lean Republican.
Looking ahead, Presler is targeting Sussex County, New Jersey, which shares a border with Pike County, Pennsylvania—a reliably red area. His team plans to register voters along New Jersey’s Wildwood boardwalk throughout the spring and summer, tapping into both New Jersey voters and Pennsylvanians who frequent the area.
Trump’s 2024 campaign rally in Wildwood, initially mocked by critics, has taken on new significance in Presler’s strategy. “Wildwood is where Philly goes to the beach,” he noted, suggesting the area serves as a political crossroads with strategic potential for Republicans.
Presler’s ambitions extend beyond just New Jersey. He hopes to create a reciprocal relationship between New Jersey and Pennsylvania Republican efforts, asking New Jersey voters to assist with Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race in 2026.