Although the attorney general race took main stage in Pennsylvania’s primary election yesterday, the races for state treasurer and legislative seats in the Commonwealth are worthy of attention as well. Pennsylvania has a closed primary system, meaning only registered Democrats and Republicans participated in yesterday’s election, with 1.3 million unaffiliated voters unable to cast a ballot.
ATTORNEY GENERAL RESULTS
Current Attorney General Michelle Henry, a Democrat appointed by Governor Josh Shapiro (D) after his election in 2022, announced she would not be running in 2024. As a result, several contenders competed to be their party’s candidate in November. The Commonwealth’s top legal officer has often been seen as a launchpad to running for governor.
Five Democrats were on the ballot including attorney Keir Bradford-Grey, former Auditor General and Representative Eugene DePasquale, former prosecutor and Bucks County solicitor Joe Khan, Representative Jared Solomon, and Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer. At the end of the night, DePasquale advanced from the primary with approximately 36% of the votes.
Eugene DePasquale is former three-term state lawmaker and two-term Auditor General. He is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh. His top issues on the campaign trail are reproductive rights, voting rights, expanding consumer protections, combating climate change, and student loans. When asked about addressing violent crime during a March debate, DePasquale answered that he supports universal background checks, and that the Commonwealth needs to focus on mental health. At the end of the most recent five-week cycle, he reported having $94,000 cash on hand.
DePasquale will face York County District Attorney Dave Sunday (R), who finished out day with approximately 70% of the votes to defeat State Representative Craig Williams (R).
Sunday has been a prosecutor with the York County District Attorney’s Office for 15 years and previously served as the Chief Deputy Prosecutor of Litigation. He is running a tough on crime campaign and has noted public safety and addressing the opioid epidemic as his top priorities for office. Sunday received endorsements from the Pennsylvania Republican Party and the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA). At the end of the most recent five-week period, he reported having almost $273,000 on hand.
TREASUER RESULTS
Republican Treasurer Stacy Garrity is seeking a second term in office and ran unopposed in yesterday’s primary. Garrity was first elected to the post in 2020, defeating then Democratic incumbent Joe Torsella. Garrity’s campaign has focused on accomplishments from her first term including advocating for the state’s PA 529 College and Career Savings Program and the return of nearly $274 million worth of unclaimed property in 2023. She is also touting her record on transparency, pointing to upgrades to the Treasury’s transparency portal and enhancement of public access to state budget and spending information.
Garrity will face Erin McClelland (D) in November. McClelland's victory comes as a surprise: Her opponent, Representative Dave Bizzarro (D), was endorsed by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and had the fundraising edge. McClelland is a former substance abuse counselor and project manager for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. She is pledging to address supply chain standards through an environmental and human rights lens, to protect public sector pensions, and to rejoin the Investors for Opiate and Pharmaceutical Accountability (IOPA).
STATE LEGISLATURE
This year, all 203 seats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are up for election while 25 of the 50 seats in the senate will be on the ballot.
Since Democrats flipped the house in 2022, there have been a handful of resignations that have kept the control of the chamber in question. After a special election victory for Democrats in February, the party has maintained a 102-101 majority. However, given reports of a possible expulsion of Representative Kevin Boyle (D), the party’s narrow majority may be temporarily eliminated, again. The race for Boyle’s district made headlines in the days leading up to the primary after the House Democratic Campaign Committee contributed $72,000 into the campaign of Sean Doughterty (D), who challenged Boyle for the 172nd District seat. And Doughterty will be the new face to represent the residents of Northeast Philadelphia after closing out the day with 73% of the vote. House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler (R) also faced a significant challenge from political newcomer Dave Nissley (R) this election cycle, but ultimately will continue to serve the 100th legislative district after securing 54% of the vote.
Twenty-nine (29) of the house seats on the ballot are expected to be competitive this year.
On the senate side, Republicans hold a 28-22 majority, and Democrats would need to flip at least three seats for Democratic Lt. Governor Austin Davis’s tie breaking vote to give them control.