President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have effectively sealed the party’s 2024 White House nomination. But Pennsylvania voters on Tuesday will still be looking ahead to a slew of contentious and potentially decisive congressional and state races that are sure to cause a stir as the campaign heats up heading into November. I’ll be voting.
The key results in this crucial battleground state are sure to reveal insights into the key issues that will shape the general election: abortion and the Israeli-Hamas war.
All 17 members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation are running for re-election in 2024, with three incumbents facing significant challengers in primaries. Several others are also keeping an eye on who their opponents will be in the fall. And in some cases, the results of Tuesday’s races could determine the fate of seats on Election Day.
Although that is a very remote possibility, which party controls the majority of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation could have a big impact on the presidential election. If the 2024 White House election is contested or tied, each state’s congressional delegation will have one vote in determining the winner. He currently has a 9-8 edge with Democrats. So his one race in the November general election could make all the difference.
At the state level, Democrats hope to maintain a majority in the state House of Representatives and control the state Senate. Republicans currently hold a 28-22 majority in the Senate, and Democrats hope to flip at least three seats to make it 25-25 and gain a majority with Democratic Lt. Gov. Austin Davis’ tie-breaking vote.
Preparing to vote: See who’s running for president and compare their positions on important issues with our voter guide
Five Democrats and two Republicans are vying for the open state attorney general seat previously held by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro. Since Shapiro was elected governor in 2022, Michelle Henry, who will serve out the remainder of his term, has not run.
These biracial candidates are running on some of the biggest issues facing this country, from abortion to the war in Gaza to election integrity. And the candidates Democratic and Republican voters choose on Tuesday could provide greater insight into their views on the issues likely to be central to this fall’s general election.
Let’s take a look at what to expect in Tuesday’s primary.
Abortion becomes a hot topic at Pennsylvania horse racing
Abortion is disrupting voting races across the country, and Pennsylvania is no exception. Reproductive rights were a major issue in the attorney general election and the 1999 Republican primary.cent Congressional district.
All five Democratic candidates for attorney general have pledged to protect abortion rights and access to FDA-approved drugs such as mifepristone. Meanwhile, Republican candidates said they did not believe the state constitution guaranteed the right to abortion. As attorneys general, they intend to leave the issue to the state Legislature to decide.
in pennsylvania 1cent In the House district, longtime Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick is being challenged on the right by a candidate who believes abortion should be banned in almost all circumstances, including rape and incest.
Fitzpatrick’s opponent, Mark Hawk, was acquitted of criminal charges stemming from an altercation at an abortion clinic. This incident reportedly inspired him to run for public office. Mr Hawke, a devout Catholic, co-founded the men’s religious group King’s Men. He has worked as an author, motivational speaker, and human resources manager.
Mr. Fitzpatrick is a moderate Republican. He is one of the few Republicans serving in a district won by Biden in 2020.
The primaries could show how important the abortion issue is to the Republican base.
Pennsylvania Democrats clash over Israel-Hamas war
12 in Pennsylvaniath In a district that includes Pittsburgh and parts of its suburbs, first-term progressive Congresswoman Summer Lee faces a major challenge over her opposition to the Israel-Hamas war. Babini Patel, a more moderate Democratic House candidate, is seeking to work closely with President Joe Biden.
Lee, a member of the Squad, was one of the early advocates in Congress for a ceasefire in Gaza. She has been an outspoken opponent of the United States providing military aid to Israel.
Patel is a 29-year-old City Council member who describes herself as a progressive. She argued that the incumbent’s criticism of Israel was detrimental to Biden’s re-election efforts and that she did not represent the district, which is home to a large Jewish community.
Tuesday’s election could reveal just how important the war issue is to Democratic voters, especially in the nation’s battleground states. It could also predict how other progressives facing similar challenges from moderate Democrats will fare in the race.
What are the key Pennsylvania House races to watch?
There are several other notable House primaries in Pennsylvania.
Six Democrats are vying for the chance to challenge Republican Rep. Scott Perry in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District, which includes Harrisburg and Hershey.
Perry is a former chairman of the Freedom Caucus, one of the most conservative factions of the Republican Party, whose members include Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Perry was also a central figure in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
The region is heavily Republican, but Democrats say they can win support from independents and moderate conservatives in the region with a message centered on protecting democracy. They plan to link Perry to Trump and conservative extremists.
Of the six Democratic candidates running to unseat Perry, news anchor Janelle Stelson and former “Top Gun” fighter pilot Mike O’Brien have the best chances. It seems there is. Other candidates include Harrisburg City Council member Shamaine Daniels, progressive businessman John Broadhurst and former radio executive Black Lynch.
In the Lehigh Valley, northeast of Harrisburg, three Republicans are vying to face Democratic U.S. Rep. Susan Wilde. Her seat in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District is a top target for Republicans in November.
Wilde narrowly won in 2022 against his Republican opponent, Lisa Scherer. She won 51-49.
The Pennsylvania state legislature is in a delicate situation.
If Pennsylvania Democrats maintain a narrow majority in the state House of Representatives and win the state Senate in November, Shapiro will have tremendous power to pass legislation during the remaining two years of his term.
It will also be the first time in 30 years that the party has controlled the state Senate. Tuesday’s election may decide whether that is possible.
Because local constituencies tend to be Democratic or Republican, the results of the primary elections could have a significant impact on the race.
Democrats currently hold a two-seat majority in the state House of Representatives, and Republicans hold a five-seat majority in the state Senate.
