Pennsylvania election results included a loss by Philadelphia state representative Rep. Kevin Boyle in the Democratic primary. This loss came one day after prosecutors mistakenly issued a warrant accusing him of violating a protective order, which was later withdrawn due to errors. Boyle, seeking his eighth term, was defeated by Sean Dougherty, whose father is a state Supreme Court Justice. In a separate district, Rep. Jim Gregory also lost in the GOP primary to Scott Barger, a former pastor and radio station operator, who focused on Gregory’s role in dealmaking with Democratic Rep. Mark Rozzi.
Counting of votes continues in various races across Pennsylvania, with election officials yet to tabulate overseas and provisional ballots before certifying the winners. One close race involves first-term state Rep. Mike Cabell trailing challenger Jamie Walsh by just eight votes in the Republican primary for a seat in southern Luzerne County. Another undecided race is state Rep. Amen Brown’s three-way Democratic primary in a Philadelphia district, where he holds a lead of over 100 votes. State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro lost the Democratic nomination for treasurer to Erin McClelland but remains on the fall ballot for reelection in his Erie seat.
In a Pittsburgh state Senate seat left open by the pending retirement of a Democrat senator, state Rep. Nick Pisciottano will face Republican Jen Dintini in November. Republicans are hopeful to flip this seat, while Democrats aim to retain it for a chance at gaining a majority in the chamber. The three-candidate Democratic primary to succeed Pisciottano remains close, with the top two candidates separated by less than 50 votes. Democrats also see a potential pickup in the Harrisburg state Senate district where Republican Sen. John DiSanto is retiring, as Rep. Patty Kim won the contested primary.
The lone state legislative vacancy was filled on Tuesday when Republican Jeff Olsommer won the seat, beating Democrat Robin Schooley Skibber by nearly 17 percentage points. This special election win keeps the House margin at 102 Democrats and 101 Republicans. There were other incumbent state lawmakers defeated in the primary, such as Rep. Ryan Bizzarro losing the Democratic nomination for treasurer, although he remains on the fall ballot for reelection. In the Altoona area, Rep. Jim Gregory also lost in the GOP primary, highlighting some of the key races in Pennsylvania’s recent elections.
