Eric Trump Hits Hatboro Bakery, Cookie Vote Goes National (ICYMI)

HATBORO, PA — A Pennsylvania bakery's election-themed cookie competition has gone nationwide.

Since September, Lochel's Bakery, in Hatboro, has been holding a "cookie poll," in which customers may purchase red-and-white Trump cookies or blue-and-white Biden cookies to show their support. It's the same contest the family bakery has run in every presidential election year since 2008.

But this year, the shop's light-hearted contest has drawn some big-time attention. Eric Trump, the president's son, stopped in for some cookies on Friday. That came after the contest got national coverage, including segments on Fox News and Good Morning America.

"Yes, things have gone crazy," said owner Kathleen Lochel.

The flood of attention has seen the bakery sell thousands more election cookies than in any previous year. They've struggled to keep up with demand, which has included customers driving from other states to buy cookies and ordering them delivered all over the country.

"People are coming from all over for them," Lochel said. "Literally states away, driving into town."

Eric Trump's visit, at about 6:15 p.m. Friday, was a surprise, Lochel said. On his Instagram account, Trump wrote that he decided to stop by the "incredible" bakery after a campaign stop in Philadelphia.

"He just showed up to buy cookies unannounced," she said, saying that her husband gave Trump a tour of the bakery. "He was most respectful and we welcome everyone regardless of political affiliation."

Another big difference this year is that the "vote" has become pretty lopsided at Lochel's. At the end of last week, the bakery had sold 7,874 Trump cookies compared to 2,317 Biden cookies.

That tally has included a single order of 1,000 cookies for Trump and other mass orders. To keep up with demand, Lochel's has stopped taking shipping orders for a few days and now limits in-store customers to no more than six cookies.

Trump backers are hoping the results are a good sign. In 2008, 2012, and 2016, the winner of the Lochel's poll went on to win the election.

In an earlier interview with Patch, Lochel said she almost didn't continue the cookie-election tradition this year because politics has gotten so nasty in some quarters. But, in the end, she decided it would be a good way to help the shop rebound from hard times during this year's coronavirus pandemic.

"This isn't just about us. It's about all those fantastic people who stood in line who went to breakfast or lunch in our town, who found shops in Hatboro," she said on the shop's Facebook page. "They discovered our town, not just us. It's more than a cookie!"

This article originally appeared on the Hatboro-Horsham Patch