Election category, Page 93
GOP field in Pennsylvania’s Senate race heads for reshuffle
HARRISBURG — The Republican field of candidates aiming to capture Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat in next year’s election is churning anew, with the candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump out and intriguing new candidates possibly in. Out is Sean Parnell — a favorite of Donald Trump Jr. —...
Process of pending Pennsylvania election audit remains shrouded in secrecy
An Iowa-based firm that has never conducted an election review will delve into a forensic audit of Pennsylvania’s contentious 2020 general election results and this year’s May primary. How it intends to determine election integrity remains shrouded in secrecy. Steve Lahr, president of Envoy Sage LLC, on Tuesday declined to...
Senate GOP hires firm to review Pennsylvania’s 2020 election
HARRISBURG — Republicans in the Pennsylvania Senate said Friday they will pay up to $270,000 over the next six months to have an Iowa consulting firm examine the 2020 election with an eye toward developing changes to state election law. The “forensic investigation” is being launched in response to pressure...
Police search 4 Colorado locations in election security probe
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — An FBI-led law enforcement task force searched four western Colorado locations, including the home of an elections clerk, amid an investigation into allegations that the clerk was involved in a security breach of elections equipment earlier this year, a district attorney said. The FBI, the Colorado...
Ties in 39 races to be broken Friday in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County election officials said 39 races on the Nov. 2 ballot ended in ties that will be broken Friday through a casting of lots, including one open seat for Jeannette city controller where 30 candidates each received one write-in vote. The county’s elections board on Wednesday issued a precertification...
Vermont Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy won’t seek reelection
MONTPELIER, Vt. — Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the longest-serving member of the Senate, said Monday he will not seek reelection in 2022 to the seat he has held for eight terms. Leahy, 81, said he and his wife, Marcelle, have concluded that “it is time to pass the...
Democrat Beto O’Rourke running for Texas governor in 2022
AUSTIN, Texas — Democrat Beto O’Rourke is running for governor of Texas, pursuing a blue breakthrough in America’s biggest red state after his star-making U.S. Senate campaign in 2018 put him closer than anyone else in decades. O’Rourke’s announcement Monday kicks off a third run for office in as many...
State recount forces Westmoreland commissioners to relocate public meetings
Westmoreland commissioners are likely to relocate two scheduled public meetings next week to accommodate a state-ordered recount in the race to fill one of two seats on the state’s Commonwealth Court. Democrat Lori Dumas held a small lead over Republican Drew Crompton, by just 16,804 votes as of earlier this...
Voter turnout at 36% in Westmoreland County; elections board reviews problem ballots
More than 88,000 registered voters in Westmoreland County cast ballots in last week’s general election as turnout for the municipal races neared 36%, officials said. That figure exceeded the predicted turnout of 30% and represented 22,000 more ballots than were cast during a similar election cycle in 2017. This fall’s...
Democrat appears poised to snare state Commonwealth Court seat as tight race flips
Pennsylvania Democrats appear poised to pick up a seat on the state’s Commonwealth Court. As provisional and mail-in ballots were tallied late last week, preliminary returns showed Democrat Lori Dumas, a Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge, slightly ahead of Drew Crompton, a Republican judge who was running for a full...
Red wave in Western Pennsylvania ring counties leaves Allegheny a blue island
A red wave that has been building in Southwestern Pennsylvania for a decade broke loose, washing over the region with a vengeance Tuesday, leaving only Allegheny County reliably blue when the votes were counted. In statewide judicial races that topped the ballot, Republican candidates who carried the day outpolled Democrats...
Newcomers oust incumbents for pair of Springdale Township commissioners’ seats
Two new faces will replace two incumbents on the Springdale Township board of commissioners after winning Tuesday’s election. Republicans Tim Basilone and Bradley Stanzione won the two open seats, replacing incumbents Tim Sweet and Shirley Redman, both Democrats. Basilone led in votes and received 31.9%, according to unofficial results. Stanzione...
Diverse group of new Allegheny Co. judges to be ‘gravitational force,’ legal expert says
Candidates elected Tuesday to the Allegheny County Common Pleas bench will not only change the makeup of the court, but also could change the community’s perception of it and influence already sitting judges, observers of the race say. The group of 10 elected judges includes six women and four people...
3 newcomers elected to Burrell School Board, along with 2 incumbents
Tuesday’s election brought change to the Burrell School Board, with three newcomers joining the two incumbents who were reelected. Four at-large seats were open this year. Timothy Vinkovich, a former Tarentum councilman, received 22.6% of votes, the highest share. Newcomer Nikki Watson brought in 21.5%, incumbent Rick Kaczor attracted 20.6%...
Democrat Phil Murphy narrowly reelected governor in New Jersey
TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy narrowly won reelection Wednesday, eking out a victory that spared Democrats the loss of a second gubernatorial seat. He’s the state’s first Democratic governor to get a second straight term in 44 years, defeating Republican former Assembly member Jack Ciattarelli. Ciattarelli...
Westmoreland GOP crows over election wins as Democrats look to redefine message
Westmoreland is a Republican county. While that has been the the case for the last several years, Tuesday’s GOP victories solidifies the party’s dominance in local politics. Those wins will give Republicans control of every elected office in county government as well as every state and federal office specific to...
Ziccarelli ready for new job as Westmoreland County District Attorney
Nicole Ziccarelli knows her successful campaign that ousted six-term Democrat John Peck is only the beginning. The hard part begins in January, when she takes over as Westmoreland County District Attorney. “I’m glad I have two months to prepare,” Ziccarelli said Wednesday, hours after she received more than 57% of...
Greensburg Salem voters retain Jobe, Metrosky, add 2 new school board members
Greensburg Salem voters on Tuesday selected incumbents Lynn Jobe and Jeff Metrosky to serve new four-year terms on the school board, along with two newcomers, Emily Miller and Heather Shearer. Jobe earned both party nominations in the primary and received the most votes on Tuesday, with more than 20% of...
Victor in Tarentum mayor’s race still unclear
Tarentum mayoral candidates Carrie Fox and Bob Lang still were waiting midday Wednesday for Allegheny County to declare a winner in the borough’s top race, more than 18 hours after the polls closed. “I haven’t heard a word,” said Lang, who ran as a Republican candidate after securing a write-in...
Incumbent, newcomer secure 2 Harmar supervisors’ seats
An incumbent and newcomer will be taking seats as Harmar Township supervisors. Newcomer Sam Boak, a Democrat, came out on top with 29.18% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Allegheny County Board of Elections. He was followed by incumbent Harry Lenhart, also a Democrat, with 27.57%. First-time...
Musick, Repko earn seats on Greater Latrobe School Board, with incumbents Kozar, Palmer
Incumbent Heidi Kozar led Tuesday’s race for four seats on Greater Latrobe School Board, garnering 20.8% of the 19,421 votes cast, according to unofficial election results. Also winning terms were fellow incumbent Bill Palmer (20.6%) and newcomers Merle D. Musick (20.5%) and Andrew Repko (just under 20%). Incumbent appointee Cathy...
Republican Kevin Brobson wins seat on Pennsylvania Supreme Court as GOP appears poised to sweep appellate races
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Republican Kevin Brobson edged out Democrat Maria McLaughlin to win a spot on Pennsylvania’s highest court, ending a contentious...
Kelley retains Latrobe Council seat by slim margin, joined by 2 newcomers
Latrobe voters on Tuesday selected two newcomers to join a returning incumbent on city council. Ann Amatucci topped the polling, with about 28% of the 3,380 votes cast, followed by Bridget DiVittis, with 25.5%, according to unofficial election results. Jim Kelley, the sole incumbent, appears to have retained his council...
3 newcomers, 1 incumbent win seats on Trafford council
Trafford voters added three new faces to borough council in Tuesday’s general election and bid adieu to a 20-plus year council veteran, according to unofficial results. Casey L. Shoub Sr., 70, a Democrat, who was seeking his sixth elected, four-year term, finished fifth for four, four-year slots open, according to...
Republican sweep in Irwin mayor, council races
Irwin voters opted for experience in Tuesday’s election when they voted for members of council, but not for mayor, according to unofficial results. In the mayoral race, retired state prison guard Jeff Clem, 62, running on the Republican ballot, topped four-term council member Gail Macioce, 68, a Republican who won...
