The field is set for Pennsylvania’s primary, with a slew of Democratic presidential candidates hoping to continue momentum — or finally find some — in the Keystone State’s late April election.

One of those who might still be looking for a spark, or to fan one that should have long since started smoldering, is former Vice President Joe Biden, the candidate U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, jumped out early to support in Pennsylvania.

“I endorsed him early for four reasons,” Casey told the Tribune-Review about the fellow Scranton native who often was referred to as Pennsylvania’s third senator (even though Biden represented Delaware.) “The three big issues are his character and integrity… his experience… and, three, his ideas, which aren’t getting as much attention and I hope they do. He’s got a good plan to protect the Affordable Care Act and bring down costs.

“And four, a very practical consideration, he can carry Pennsylvania in the general election. That’s just not important for a Democrat, it’s essential. If a Democrat does not carry Pennsylvania in 2020, it’s lights out and the president will be re-elected.”

Bloomberg | Michelle Gustafson Joe Biden  

Writing off Biden after poor showing in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary would be a mistake, Casey said.

“I think it’s still really early,” Casey said. “(Biden) does best among those broad electorates. I think he’s got a great opportunity in Nevada (caucuses are Saturday) and South Carolina (primary is Feb. 29), as well.”

And then, of course, is Super Tuesday, Casey said. On March 3, voters in 14 states will head to the polls to participate in primaries — and further decide the fate of Democratic presidential candidates before Pennsylvania comes into play.

The Pennsylvania primary is April 28.

Casey said he believes there are a couple Democratic candidates other than Biden who he believes could win Pennsylvania in the general election, though he isn’t ready to name them yet. Biden is still his guy, he said.

Candidates had until 5 p.m. Tuesday to file nominating petitions in Harrisburg. Below is the unofficial list in the state as well as Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.

Presidential primary candidates

Democrat:

Joe Biden; former U.S. vice president and U.S. senator, Delaware Mike Bloomberg; former mayor of New York City, billionaire businessman Pete Buttigieg; former mayor of South Bend, Ind. Tulsi Gabbard; U.S. representative, Hawaii Amy Klobuchar; U.S. senator, Minnesota Bernie Sanders; U.S. senator, Vermont Tom Steyer; billionaire businessman Elizabeth Warren; U.S. senator, Massachusetts

Republican:

Donald Trump, (incumbent) William Weld, former governor of Massachusetts Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente, California businessman

Statewide

Auditor General:

Democrat

Nina Ahmad, Philadelphia H. Scott Conklin, Centre County Rose (Rosie) Marie Davis, Monroe County Tracie Fountain, Dauphin County Christina Hartman, Lancaster County Michael Lamb, Allegheny County

Republican

Timothy Defoor, Dauphin County

Attorney General:

Democrat

Josh Shapiro, Philadelphia (incumbent)

Republican

Heather Heidelbaugh, Mt. Lebanon

Treasurer:

Democrat

Joe Torsella, Montgomery County (incumbent)

Republican

Stacy L. Garrity, Bradford County

Local races of note

U.S. Congress:

13th District

Democrat

Todd Rowley, Donegal

Republican

John Joyce, Blair County (incumbent)

14th District

Democrat

Bill Marx, Delmont

Republican

Guy Reschenthaler, Peters (incumbent)

17th District

Democrat

Conor Lamb, Mt. Lebanon (incumbent)

Republican

Sean Parnell, Ohio Township Jesse James Vodvarka, Robinson

18th District

Democrat

Janis C. Brooks, North Versailles Jerry S. Dickinson, Swissvale Mike Doyle, Forest Hills (incumbent)

Republican

Luke Edison Negron, Bethel Park

State Senate:

37th District

Democrat

Pam Iovino, Mt. Lebanon (incumbent)

Republican

Jeff Neff, Sewickley Delvin Robinson, Bridgeville

39th District

Democrat

Tay Waltenbaugh, Hempfield

Republican

Kim Ward, Hempfield (incumbent)

41st District

Democrat

Anthony J. Deloreto, White (Indiana Co.)

Republican

Joe Pittman, Indiana Borough (incumbent)

43rd District

Democrat

Bill Brittain, Forest Hills Jay Costa Jr., Forest Hills (incumbent)

45th District

Democrat

Jim Brewster, McKeesport (incumbent)

Republican

Nicole Ziccarelli, Lower Burrell

State House:

19th District

Democrat

Aerion Andrew Abney, Pittsburgh Jake Wheatley, Pittsburgh (incumbent)

20th District

Democrat

Emily Kinkead, Pittsburgh Adam Ravenstahl, Ross (incumbent)

21st District

Democrat

Sara Innamorato, Pittsburgh (incumbent)

Republican

John Waugh, Ross

23rd District

Democrat

Dan Frankel, Pittsburgh (incumbent)

24th District

Democrat

William Anderson, Pittsburgh Ed Gainey, Pittsburgh (incumbent)

25th District

Democrat

Brandon Markosek, Monroeville (incumbent)

Republican

John Ritter, Monroeville

27th District

Democrat

Dan Deasy, Pittsburgh (incumbent)

28th District

Democrat

Emily Skopov, Marshall

Republican

Libby Blackburn, McCandless Mike Heckmann, McCandless Rob Mercuri, Pine

30th District

Democrat

Marco Attisano, O’Hara Lissa Geiger Shulman, Hampton

Republican

Lori Mizgorski, Shaler (incumbent)

32nd District

Democrat

Tony DeLuca, Penn Hills (incumbent) Erin Vecchio, Penn Hills

33rd District

Democrat

Frank Dermody, Oakmont (incumbent)

Republican

Carrie DelRosso, Oakmont

34th District

Democrat

Summer Lee, Swissvale (incumbent) Chris Roland, North Braddock

35th District

Democrat

Austin Davis, McKeesport (incumbent)

36th District

Democrat

Jessica Bentham, Pittsburgh Mark Johnson, Pittsburgh Heather Kass, Pittsburgh Ed Moeller, Baldwin Jacob Nixon, Baldwin

Republican

AJ Doyle, Brentwood

38th District

Democrat

Tony DiCenzo, West Mifflin Nick Pisciottano, West Mifflin Victoria Schmotzer, Whitehall

39th District

Democrat

Sara-Summer Oliphant, South Park

Republican

Tom Kirsch, Bethel Park Mike Puskaric, Union (Washington Co.)

40th District

Democrat

Sharon Guidi, Peters (Washington Co.)

Republican

Natalie Mihalek, Upper St. Clair (incumbent)

42nd District

Democrat

Dan Miller, Mt. Lebanon (incumbent)

44th District

Democrat

Michele Knoll, Ohio Township

Republican

Bob Doodato, North Fayette Valerie Gaydos, Aleppo (incumbent)

45th District

Democrat

Anita Astorino Kulik, Kennedy (incumbent)

Republican

M. Francis, Robinson Danny DeVito, Carnegie

46th District

Democrat

Bryon Timmons, Cecil

Republican

Jason Ortitay, Cecil (incumbent)

52nd District

Democrat

Harry Young Cochran, Connellsville (Fayette Co.)

Republican

Ryan Warner, Perryopolis (Fayette Co.) (incumbent)

54th District

Republican

Bob Brooks, Murrysville (incumbent)

55th District

Democrat

Joseph Petrarca, Washington Township (incumbent)

Republican

Jason Silvis, Washington Township

56th District

Republican

George Dunbar, Penn Township (incumbent)

57th District

Republican

Eric Nelson, Hempfield (incumbent)

58th District

Democrat

Robert Prah Jr., Rostraver

Republican

Eric Davanzo, South Huntingdon

59th District

Republican

Mike Reese, Mt. Pleasant Township (incumbent)

Rich Cholodofsky and Deb Erdley are Tribune-Review staff writers. You can contact Rich at 724-830-6293, rcholodofsky@tribweb.com or via Twitter @RichCholodofsky. You can contact Deb at 724-850-1209, derdley@tribweb.com or via Twitter @deberdley_trib.

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