Pa. primary election: Sean Dougherty defeats incumbent in state House race; Eugene DePasquale and Dave Sunday win attorney general nominations

Cass Green, the progressive Democrat who was one of two candidates hoping to unseat Amen Brown in the 10th state House District primary, addressed the couple dozen supporters left at the Painted Bride shortly after 11:30 p.m.: The race was too close to call.

Still, she was optimistic.

Preliminary primary voting results from the state’s largest Democratic counties showed a higher percentage of write-in votes on the Democratic presidential party line than in the 2020 presidential primary, a possible sign of protest votes cast against President Joe Biden.

Progressive organizers mounted a campaign urging voters to write in “uncommitted” as a protest vote over Biden’s ongoing support to Israel in its monthslong war against Hamas that has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives. The group known as Uncommitted PA hoped to send a message to Biden in a critical swing state he’ll need in November.

Shortly before midnight, supporters of U.S. Rep. Summer Lee continued to hang out at the extravagant Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel, which can be seen from the Roberto Clemente Bridge.

“Summer Lee for Congress” was projected in the middle of a split stairwell that led to her party, and a black, white, and gold step-and-repeat donned the same message upstairs.

The Democratic primary for the West Philadelphia-based 10th District of the Pennsylvania House was too close to call late Tuesday night, with State Rep. Amen Brown holding a narrow lead over progressive challenger Cass Green.

The three-way primary was a rematch between Brown, 36; Green, 64, a community organizer; and radio personality Sajda “Purple” Blackwell, 47, who was a distant third. The Democratic district includes Mantua, Powelton, and parts of University City and Logan Square.

For years, neighborhood groups in Philadelphia have urged local officials to provide them with legal protections due to their city-sanctioned involvement in zoning matters, which could place them at odds with monied business owners.

Now Mayor Cherelle L. Parker will have to figure out how to indemnify Registered Community Organizations (RCOs), after Philadelphia voters approved a ballot question Tuesday requiring the city to do so.

Sean Dougherty unseated seven-term incumbent State Rep. Kevin Boyle in Tuesday’s Democratic primary Tuesday in a Northeast Philadelphia district and will advance to the general election in a critical race that could help determine which party controls the state House.

House Democrats poured more than $300,000 into Dougherty’s campaign in Northeast Philadelphia in recent weeks, hoping to unseat Boyle – who sought reelection without the party’s support as his family said he’s struggling with a serious mental health condition.

In her victory speech Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Summer Lee framed her win as proof of the strength of progressive politics.

“Our movement is stronger than every GOP billionaire that exists,” she said. “Our movement is stronger than any wedge issue, is stronger than any opportunist.”

Erin McClelland, the Democratic nominee for state treasurer, said she was stunned by her upset over the party-backed candidate State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D., Erie). But she knew she had the right policy-focused message for voters.

Bizzarro had outraised McClelland 5-to-1 and received dozens of endorsements from advocacy organizations across the state.

For much of the night, attorney general candidate Joe Khan trailed in the polls at around 15% of the vote; just after 10 p.m., the Associated Press called the race for Eugeune DePasquale, one of Khan's five competitors.

"As much as I wanted me to be the nominee, as much as you wanted me to be the nominee, It doesn't look like that's going to happen," Khan told his supporters, saying he had just gotten off the phone with DePasquale, telling the candidate he had his support.

Janelle Stelson, a former WGAL television news anchor, who won a tough six-way primary Democratic race Tuesday to face Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry in the fall, said she’s ready for another fight to win the 10th District.

In a social media post Tuesday night, Stelson, 63, called Perry an “insurrectionist.”

Erin McClelland defeated State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro on Tuesday, despite key endorsements Bizzarro secured from the state Democratic party and the last Democrat to hold the office.

A resident of the Pittsburgh suburbs, McClelland has worked in mental health and substance abuse treatment, most recently for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. She argued that experience prepared her to manage Pennsylvania’s finances and pledged not to invest the state’s pension funds in foreign holdings.

State Rep. Jared Solomon, who was one of five Democrats seeking the nomination for attorney general, had not officially conceded as of 10 p.m. but thanked supporters and said he would back the winning Democrat in November.

Moments later, the Associated Press called the race for his opponent, Eugene DePasquale. He will take on Republican nominee Dave Sunday, the York County District Attorney, in November.

In his victory speech, State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta thanked the 100 of so people who gathered to wait out his win.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he said, excited but seemingly not surprised about a triumph that had been widely predicted.

Former Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale won Tuesday night’s Democratic primary election for attorney general in a crowded field and will face York County District Attorney Dave Sunday, who handily won the Republican primary, in the November general election.

DePasquale, 52, was one of five Democratic candidates vying to become the state’s next top prosecutor. He was the only Democrat in the field who has previously held statewide elected office and the only one from Western Pennsylvania, with the rest hailing from the southeast.

Shortly after the Republican attorney general primary was called in his favor, York County district attorney Dave Sunday walked down from the makeshift campaign headquarters at his election party to applause.

"It's a great night in York County," said State Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill before introducing Sunday.

The energy was contagious as countless supporters crowded the upstairs of Mario’s East Side Saloon in Pittsburgh chanting “Dave! Dave! Dave!” as he stood in front of an American flag backdrop, clapping along with his wife Dina, to accept the Republican nomination. He said he and Dina just got off their bus, which he’s using to tour across the state as part of his campaign. He jokingly said he likes to refer to the tour as their “second honeymoon.

McCormick started his speech by praising Dina, and the crowd also chanted her name.

Longtime Republican State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie will take on Democrat U.S. Rep Susan Wild in November as she seeks to defend the Lehigh Valley swing district.

The Associated Press declared Mackenzie the winner of the three-way race that also featured Maria Montero and Kevin Dellicker.

Former President Donald Trump did a one-on-one interview with Philadelphia ABC affiliate Action News via satellite from New York, where he’s sitting through a hush-money criminal trial.

Trump talked to Action News Tuesday morning as Pennsylvanians headed to the polls on primary day.

Malcolm Kenyatta, a Democratic state representative who represents North Philadelphia, defeated Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley Tuesday. He advances to the November general election, and will take on Republican incumbent Timothy DeFoor.

The auditor general serves as the state’s fiscal watchdog and reviews government departments and agencies. DeFoor was elected in 2020 and did not face a GOP primary opponent this year.

Janelle Stelson, a former WGAL television news anchor, won the Democratic primary to face U.S. Rep. Scott Perry in the fall in a central Pennsylvania congressional race that’ll be closely watched.

Stelson, 63, previously asked Perry, a six-term Republican incumbent, questions as a nonpartisan journalist. Now, she’ll answer questions herself, in competition with him. The 10th Congressional District includes Dauphin County and parts of York and Cumberland Counties.

Sean Dougherty arrived around 9 p.m. and entered the bar to claps from supporters. He shook hands and hugged those gathered at the bar making his way around the room which was filled with around 40 people.

Asked how he felt about the voter turnout today he said, “I don’t know the numbers. I understand that it’s a very low turnout, which is disappointing, but I understand it’s a primary. But I’m still waiting on the final returns,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, a progressive Democrat, staved off a moderate challenger to retain her Pittsburgh-area seat Tuesday.

Lee defeated Bhavini Patel, overcoming criticism that she was too far to the left for the district and too critical of President Joe Biden. Lee will likely face Republican business executive James Hayes in November.

York County District Attorney Dave Sunday won the Republican primary for attorney general.

Sunday, 48, rode the state Republican Party’s endorsement and his record as a prosecutor to the Republican nomination over State Rep. Craig Williams (R., Delaware).

An hour after polls closed, about 100 people waited inside the Central Market House in downtown York, hoping for news of Dave Sunday's victory in the Republican primary for attorney general.

Sunday, the York County district attorney, is backed by the state Republican Party. Prominent Republicans, such as Commonwealth Partners head Matt Brouillette, State Rep. Seth Grove, and State Rep. Dawn Keefer, mingled with Sunday's supporters next to the market's food stalls and coffee shops, which were closed for the night.

Tuesday was a “relatively calm and successful primary election” Pennsylvania Secretary Al Schmidt told reporters during a briefing Tuesday night.

Over the course of the day, Schmidt said, his office’s voter hotline received about 600 calls. By comparison, he said the hotline received around 3,600 calls during the 2020 primary election and 1,100 calls during the 2022 primary election.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, who likely secured a fifth term by fending off a Democratic challenger Tuesday, took to social media shortly after the primary election to say he’s ready to “fight like crazy” for the 3rd Congressional District.

“Thank you to all of the voters of the 3rd Congressional District for voting for me. I do not take your support lightly and I'm ready to fight like crazy to make sure our Democratic slate wins in November. Tonight we celebrate and tomorrow let's get to work!”

Supporters of State Rep. Amen Brown (D., Phila.) gathered at Cafe Breezes in Parkside on Tuesday night and broke into applause when the initial results were posted online.

In the first batch of votes, which were all mail-in ballots, Brown had a lead over progressive community organizer Cass Green and radio personality Sajda “Purple” Blackwell.

At The Red Rooster Inn, green tinsel was hung up on the wall and at least 10 televisions were playing a Phillies vs. the Cincinnati Reds game, as people trickled into the bar around 8:30 p.m., where some 35 people had gathered for Sean Dougherty’s election party.

Supporters, some dawning T-shirts that said “Sean Dougherty for State Representative” sat at tables drinking beers or mingling on the high top chairs at the bar. A rendition of “Fast Car” by Luke Combs played over the speakers. A buffet with trays of pork, roast beef and pasta, was set up.

A few dozen supporters of Democratic candidate for attorney general Jared Solomon gathered in the back of BUCCANN, a Dominican restaurant in Northeast Philadelphia, to watch returns roll in as dance music blared.

His voice hoarse after months of campaigning, Solomon — a state representative — said he felt confident he'd prevail and reflected on what was his first statewide campaign.

After his victory in Tuesday’s primary election, incumbent U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a moderate Republican, said his district was “not far-left or far-right, we are centrist and pragmatic.”

Fitzpatrick, a former FBI agent, defeated challenger and anti-abortion activist Mark Houck in the GOP primary for the 1st Congressional District.

Nearly every Philadelphia election, authorities receive complaints about political operatives flouting election law by trying to campaign inside polling places — and Tuesday was no exception.

The District Attorney’s Office received 11 reports of illegal electioneering throughout the day. While the office does not confirm individual investigations, The Inquirer identified a target of at least one complaint: State Rep. Amen Brown.

Supporters and volunteers for Cass Green, the community organizer running to unseat Amen Brown in the 10th state House District, filled the Painted Bride in West Philadelphia.

The room was abuzz as dozens of people trickled in to the tunes of disco, hip-hop, and pop.

The fate of Democrat Joe Khan's candidacy for attorney general could be decided steps from where he elevated his profile as Bucks County's solicitor.

Around 8:30 p.m. at Chambers 19 Bistro & Bar in Doylestown, the county seat, the grooves of MGMT's "Electric Feel" soundtracked a somber room full of patrons - most of them unaffiliated with the campaign - downing beers as they watched the Phillies struggle on the road.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans has likely secured a fifth term in Congress, fending off a Democratic challenger Tuesday.

Evans defeated former Philadelphia Register of Wills Tracey Gordon Tuesday. No Republican is seeking to challenge him in November.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a moderate Republican, staved off a challenge from the right to win his party's nomination to retain his suburban district.

Fitzpatrick, a former FBI agent who has represented Bucks County in the U.S. House since 2017, beat anti-abortion activist Mark Houck Tuesday in the GOP primary for the 1st Congressional District.

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump officially won Pennsylvania’s presidential primary Tuesday as the campaigns prepare for a November rematch pitting two vastly different leadership styles and political visions for the nation against each other.

Their primary victories were a foregone conclusion, but the closely contested general election will hinge on which of the deeply unpopular candidates is able to build a coalition in swing states like Pennsylvania.

Democratic Sen. Bob Casey and Republican Dave McCormick won uncontested primaries in Pennsylvania Tuesday, launching what is expected to be one of the most expensive and politically consequential Senate contests in state history.

McCormick lost the 2022 Republican Senate primary to celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz by less than half a percentage point, but this time around the former hedge fund CEO and combat veteran coalesced support early to clear an easy path to the nomination.

Polls closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday for Pennsylvania primary election, marked by what appears to be low turnout throughout the region likely because of uncontested federal races, including president.

The Inquirer will be reporting results throughout the night.

At the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, a polling place official estimated that about half of their votes today had been college students.

Two of those students, Emma Gross, 21, an international studies major, and Celia Huey, 19, an education and psychology major, both who attend Bryn Mawr College, said they voted uncommitted for Biden to send a message of protest about his handling of the situation in Gaza.

Brian Newswanger, 65, has been a Republican since he was 18. Although he works in real estate, where construction costs have become a big problem, he says the economy is only one of the issues that brought him out today.

“The economy, safety, security on the streets,” said Newswanger, after leaving the Mummers Museum on Washington Avenue, where he voted.

It's election day in Pennsylvania, with voters set to decide on their nominees for attorney general and other row offices, as well as some contested races for U.S. house and state seats.

Polls will remain open in Philadelphia and across the commonwealth until 8 p.m. As long as you're in line by 8 p.m., you'll be permitted to vote.

State Sen. Nikil Saval arrived at the Arch Street Presbyterian Church polling station in the shadow of the Comcast Center around 5:30 p.m. The unopposed Democrat enthusiastically talked to voters about the Whole Home Repair program, an initiative that he championed.

Throughout the day, Saval heard voters’ concerns about the election in November and fear of former-President Donald Trump returning to the White House.

When polls close at 8 p.m. April 23, the results of primary elections for U.S. President, U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania State House and Pennsylvania Attorney General will start trickling in.

The Philadelphia Inquirer will post results live for all races during the course of the night.

Sen. Bob Casey is a household name in Pennsylvania politics. But his ballot number proved a bit more elusive in Tuesday’s election — for his friends in the Democratic party, at least.

A misprint on the Democratic City Committee’s sample ballot of endorsed candidates accidentally listed Casey as number “2” instead of his correct “3" position on the ballot.

Rachel Elfenbein voted for Biden in 2020. This year, she wrote “uncommitted” on her ballot to send the president a message on his stand on the Israel-Hamas war.

Elfenbein was inspired by how the “uncommitted’ vote won Michigan two Democratic delegates, back in February.

For Republican voters casting their ballot at Ridley High School, two of the biggest issues driving the presidential election are the economy and concerns about crime.

“I'm a senior citizen on a fixed income,” said Marion Severson, 75, a republican of about 40 years. “Every time I go to the store I have to leave something behind.”

For Wesley Wheatley, 42, of South Philadelphia’s Whitman neighborhood says that primary elections are the most important time to vote — especially on down ballot races.

A registered Democrat who has been voting since he was 18, Wheatley says that primaries and off-year elections with low voter turnout give those who do turn out more power.

Regardless of who wins Tuesday's primary, voters in Bustleton, Rockledge, Rhawnhurst, and Fox Chase are hoping the election cycle will usher in a cohort of politicians who can work together to address what they view as an uptick in crime.

“It’s been getting worse in Fox Chase,” said 63rd ward Democratic committeeperson Veronica Baruch, 73, who’s lived on and off in the area for 15 years.

Some North Philadelphia voters were given sample ballots on Tuesday suggesting the city’s Democratic party had endorsed a pastor accused of making anti-LGBT comments over State. Rep. Malcolm Kenetta, the openly gay Democratic incumbent in the 181st State House District.

One problem: the ballots were fraudulent.

As politicians from across the city made their way into South Jazz Kitchen for the luncheon sponsored by U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans every election day, so did two candidates vying for attorney general: Philly’s former chief public defender Keir Bradford-Grey and Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.

Both candidates said they were feeling confident about their chances in today’s election. The race for attorney general has been relatively sleepy, despite it being the most competitive race on today’s primary ballot.

At the Famous 4th Street Deli in Queen Village, many of the more than two dozen politicos and elected officials who gathered for the traditional election day lunch were worried about one thing, and it wasn’t the daunting size of the reubens.

“It’s a very low turnout,” said State Rep. Danilo Burgos (D., Phila.), who is running unopposed in Tuesday’s primary. “It’s very slow. It’s concerning.”

Candidate signs were noticeably missing at the entrance to the voting station at General George A. McCall elementary and middle school in Center City.

The only person handing out campaign fliers was Bridget O’Toole, who made a last pitch on behalf of Democratic Attorney General candidate Jared Solomon.

Peter Gill has been handing out election literature outside the Rhawnhurst School since 7 a.m. 

Why?

Around 10 a.m., Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer greeted voters and volunteers outside the Chester Senior Center.

“I’m having the time of my life,” he told a passing driver as he leaned through the car window to shake their hand. “What could be more fun?”

In Franklin Township, Chester County, one of the area’s biggest issue’s — a proposed campground at Big Elk State Park — wasn’t on the ballot, but evidence of the controversy was everywhere.

“Save Big Elk” signs were staked into the grass, among the dozens of signs for candidates outside the Cornerstone Presbyterian Church.

Voter turnout was slow at the polling station inside Lower Merion High School in Ardmore early Tuesday morning — and voters in the Main Line Democratic stronghold talked less about their excitement for President Joe Biden and more about their fear and shock over his coming rematch with former President Donald Trump.

“People can’t believe that we’re doing this again,” said Ray Courtney, commissioner for Ward 5 in Lower Merion Township, who talked with voters as he worked an information table at the high school.

Wallace Simpkins, 76, of Warrington, voted Republican — “not even a question.” He said border security was a top concern: “We want to close the borders, the whole nine yards.”

He enthusiastically voted for former president Donald Trump. A retired gas worker who supports drilling in the Marcellus Shale, Simpkins said Trump was “for ‘drill, baby, drill.’“ He said Trump was being unfairly prosecuted, and that perception would be worsened if Trump were convicted: “If they put him in jail, that’s a lock. He’s in.”

By 9 a.m., fewer than 40 voters had shown up to cast their primary ballots at the Swarthmore-Rutledge School in Delaware County.

As birdsong cut through the morning quiet, several students walked over from nearby Swarthmore College to voice their discontent with President Joe Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza by voting “uncommitted.”

Morning voting got off to a slow start at St. Thomas Cyro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church in Bustleton on Tuesday morning, where only seven people had voted by 8 a.m.

Parishioners filing in for morning Mass vastly outnumbered voters.

People trickled into Neshaminy High School in Langhorne Tuesday morning, for a primary that appeared to be drawing the type of voter who always shows up at the polls.

“If you want to speak up, you have to vote,” said Judy McGullam, 77, of Langhorne, a “strong Democrat” who voted along with her husband Dennis McGullum, 81.

Amelia Baird turned 18 in December, and on Tuesday she cast her first vote. Outside Summit Presbyterian Church in Mount Airy, Baird said her AP government class at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy had prepared her well.

“I felt very ready,” Baird said. She is a newly registered Democrat.

Philadelphia voters will see one question on their ballots Tuesday, asking:

Should the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to require the city to provide for the indemnification and defense of registered community organizations in connection with claims made against them arising directly out of their lawful participation in the city’s zoning variance process?

Pennsylvania had approved mail and absentee ballots for about 10% of the state’s registered voters as of Monday, according to election officials at the State Department.

About half of the approved ballots had been returned and submitted to the state by Monday, it said.

Democrats hold a registration lead across the state, however their numbers have dropped about 5%, compared with those for the 2020 presidential primary.

Republican registrations have increased about 5% since 2020 — and about 10% since 2016. But Democrats still hold about a 53-47 advantage — 3.9 million to 3.5 million — according to figures from the Pennsylvania State Department.

Primary day is getting off to a chilly start — the National Weather Service posted frost advisories across much of Pennsylvania — but nothing in the forecasts should discourage people from voting.

Most of the state will have sun between the times the polls open and when they close at 8 p.m., right around the times of sunset and the rising of the full moon.