On April 23 (Tuesday), Pennsylvania held its primary elections. This year’s presidential primaries for both the Republican and Democratic parties were more of a formality, as the U.S. presidential race has already been set with President Biden securing most of the Democratic votes and former President Trump garnering support from the Republican party.
Independents were not allowed to vote in the Pennsylvania primaries. Efforts have been made in the past to change this through legislation, but currently, voters must be registered with a particular party to vote for that party’s candidates.
Candidates are vying to win the support of Pennsylvania’s 1,326,386 non-affiliated voters. According to the latest data from the Department of State, there are 3,894,977 registered Democrats and 3,498,954 registered Republicans in the state, with only a 396,023-voter difference between the two major parties. This is why Pennsylvania is considered a swing state that can be pivotal for candidates who can convince enough non-affiliated voters.
In the congressional elections, each state elects two federal senators at different times. John Fetterman was elected in 2022 and will face re-election until 2028. This year, incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Casey is seeking a fourth term and will face off against Republican Dave McCormick in November. Both candidates won their primaries unopposed.
Pennsylvania currently has 17 U.S. representatives, with all districts up for re-election every two years. However, most primaries this year were uncontested, with only 6 out of 34 races having more than one candidate.
In Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District, incumbent Republican Rep. Scott Perry faced no challengers, but there were six Democrats competing for the opportunity to represent their party in the general election, with former central Pennsylvania TV news anchor Janelle Stelson emerging as the victor.
In the 7th District, incumbent Democratic Rep. Susan Wild will compete against Republican State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie for the seat.
Pennsylvania senators serve four-year terms, with elections rotating between even and odd-numbered districts. This year, elections are taking place in the odd-numbered districts. Currently, Republicans hold a majority in the House with a 28-22 advantage.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is made up of 203 members, including 102 Democrats, 100 Republicans, and 1 vacant seat in the 139th District of Wayne County.
In a notable upset in the Democratic primary in the Northeast Philadelphia district, Sean Dougherty defeated seven-term incumbent State Rep. Kevin Boyle. House Democrats had invested over $300,000 in recent weeks in support of Dougherty’s campaign to unseat Boyle, who is battling severe mental health issues.
Apart from the legislative branches, Pennsylvania also had important statewide elections. When Democratic Governor Shapiro won the governorship, he stepped down from the position of Pennsylvania Attorney General. The state’s Attorney General is responsible for enforcing the state’s laws, investigating corrupt politicians, protecting consumers, and prosecuting federal policies they disagree with. In the primaries, Republican Dave Sunday from York County won over his opponent, while Democrat Eugene DePasquale from Allegheny County emerged victorious among five candidates.
The State Auditor General in Pennsylvania is the chief financial oversight body, ensuring legal and correct use of state funds through audits of institutions and departments. Democratic candidate Malcolm Kenyatta from Philadelphia County won the primary and is seeking to replace Republican Timothy DeFoor from Dauphin County.
The Pennsylvania Treasurer is responsible for investing billions of dollars on behalf of the state, paying all state bills, and distributing funds to school districts, state agencies, and more. Incumbent Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity will be challenged by Democrat Erin McClelland from Allegheny County.
Primary Election Turnout Concerns:
On the day of the primary elections, the weather was pleasant, but voters seemed to lack enthusiasm for the primaries. According to reports from polling stations, Lauren Cristella, Chair and CEO of the Philadelphia Seventy Committee, stated that she expected the final data to show a “very low turnout.” A voter survey by the Sixty-Six Districts Voter Turnout Tracker estimated that out of 900,000 eligible voters in Philadelphia, around 210,000 cast their votes, with one-third opting for mail-in voting. The final numbers may be significantly lower than the voter turnout in 2020 and 2016.