Western Pa. 2022 primary day election guide: Information on races, candidates and issues

Primary election day in Pennsylvania is Tuesday, May 17. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

The state has an online tool to let voters find their polling place by entering their address.

For more information on polling places, go to the official election pages for your county:

• Allegheny County election page

• Westmoreland County election page

• Armstrong County election page

Election coverage from TribLIVE

U.S. Senate

• Pa. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman had stroke but is on way to ‘full recovery’

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate, has suffered a stroke but is on his way to a “full recovery,” the campaign said Sunday.

• John Fetterman brings bid for U.S. Senate to Greensburg as primary nears

John Fetterman, Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor and a leading Democratic candidate for a U.S. Senate seat, made his ultimate goal clear when he spoke to an informal gathering of about 130 people Tuesday evening in Greensburg.

• Trump’s smackdown of David McCormick shows the risks for Republicans trying a MAGA makeover

Standing before a wall-sized American flag at an American Legion hall here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, David McCormick talked up his background in the Army, called himself a “happy warrior,” and ticked through the reasons he wants to be Pennsylvania’s next senator.

• Poll: Kathy Barnette is neck-and-neck with Oz, McCormick in Pa. Senate race

Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Kathy Barnette now appears to be running neck-and-neck with the two big-spending front-runners, Mehmet Oz and David McCormick, just days before the May 17 primary, according to a new poll.

• Trump fans flock to Westmoreland Fairgrounds to see former president, hear more about why to vote for Dr. Oz

Thousands of ardent Donald Trump supporters braved the rain and mud Friday for their chance to see the former president, who was returning to Westmoreland County to promote his endorsement of Republican senatorial candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz.

• Trump looks to advance his GOP takeover, sway support for Oz at Westmoreland stop

Former President Trump spoke to a few hundred people at a fairgrounds in Westmoreland County on Friday night during a rally centered around attempting to establish him and his allies as the voice of conservatives and the Republican Party.

• Attacks dominate Pennsylvania’s Senate GOP primary debate

What could be the final primary debate between Republicans running for Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat devolved into a string of attacks over China, abortion and more as the candidates stretched Wednesday night for any perceived advantage in a wide-open and expensive race.

• Video: Pa. Republican candidates for U.S. Senate debate

A debate between Republican candidates vying for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat was held April 26 and featured Kathy Barnette, Jeff Bartos, Carla Sands, George Bochoetto and Sean Gale.

• Video: Pa. Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate debate

A debate between Democratic candidates vying for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat was held April 25 with candidates John Fetterman, Malcolm Kenyatta, Alexandria Khalil and Conor Lamb.

• Live TV debate exposes Democrats’ differences in Senate race

The first live-televised prime-time debate between leading candidates for the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat exposed differences between the rivals on April 21, as they seized opportunities to attack each other.

• Lamb, Kenyatta face off — minus Fetterman — in debate of Democratic Senate hopefuls

Democratic Senate candidates from both ends of Pennsylvania accused the front-runner, Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, of flip-flopping on energy issues in the first televised debate in one of the nation’s most-watched campaigns of the year.

• Conor Lamb votes for federal marijuana decriminalization, after opposing it in 2020

U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Mt. Lebanon, voted Friday to support a bill that would decriminalize marijuana on the federal level and allow for some marijuana-related convictions to be expunged.

• Senate candidate Oz talks fracking support and election fraud at Canonsburg campaign event

Republican Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz spoke at a campaign event in Canonsburg on Wednesday evening, highlighting his energy policies and taking questions about the legitimacy of the 2020 election.

• Forum gets tense in GOP’s sharp-elbowed U.S. Senate primary

The first public appearance between the highest-profile Republicans running for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania quickly became chippy Wednesday, as themes playing out in millions of dollars in sharp-elbowed TV attack ads played out on a small forum stage.

U.S. House of Representatives

12th Congressional District

• 5 Democrats, 1 Republican seek nominations to run for U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle’s seat

Five Democrats and one Republican are seeking their parties’ nominations in Tuesday’s primary to run for longtime U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle’s seat in November.

• Bernie Sanders stumps for Summer Lee at Pittsburgh rally

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders rallied in Downtown Pittsburgh on Thursday in support of congressional candidate Summer Lee, in an attempt to help her win what has become a contentious race in the final days before Tuesday’s primary election.

• Gainey, other Dems call out attack ads against Summer Lee in 12th District race

A coalition of Summer Lee supporters, upset about a campaign being supported by an outside group, are pressuring an opponent running in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District to condemn what they call attack ads from the United Democracy Project.

17th Congressional District

• 2 Democrats, 3 Republicans vying for outgoing U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb’s seat in Congress

Two Democrats and three Republicans are vying for their parties’ nominations in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb in the 17th Congressional District, which includes Beaver County and parts of Butler and Allegheny counties.

Pa. Governor

• Trump backs Mastriano in Pennsylvania GOP governor primary

Donald Trump on Saturday endorsed Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvania’s Republican primary for governor, siding with a far-right candidate who was outside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection and has worked with determination to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

• Melissa Hart drops out of Pa. GOP gubernatorial field — 7 remain

Melissa Hart, the only woman in Pennsylvania’s Republican gubernatorial primary race, announced Friday she has decided to bow out of the contest and throw her support to Lou Barletta.

• Jake Corman drops out of Pa. governor’s race, backs Barletta as primary nears

Jake Corman, Pennsylvania’s ranking state senator and a Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor said Thursday that he was ending his campaign and endorsing rival Lou Barletta, a move that comes as GOP leaders warn that leading candidate Doug Mastriano is too far right to win in a general election.

• State Sen. Kim Ward endorses Dave White in GOP primary for Pa. governor

State Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward is endorsing Republican candidate Dave White for governor a week before the May 17 primary election.

• Corman vows to undo Wolf administration plans to toll bridges to fund repairs

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jake Corman pushed back on the Wolf administration’s plans to toll nine bridges across the state and called on the governor to halt the process, while also promising to undo the process if he is elected.

• 4 leading GOP governor candidates look for ways to differentiate themselves in latest debate

The four leading Republican primary candidates for governor agreed on the questions they faced in an hour-long debate Wednesday night inside the WHTM/abc27 studio in Harrisburg, so much of the time was spent trying to separate themselves from their opponents.

• Top GOP candidate for Pa. governor campaigned at an event promoting QAnon and conspiracy theories about 9/11

Mastriano, who has consistently led polls of the sprawling Republican primary field, raised money for his campaign at the event. The organizers auctioned a print of Trump for $4,000 — with proceeds apparently going to Mastriano.

• Josh Shapiro’s vast donor base has positioned him to enter general election campaign flush with cash

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro has raised nearly $18 million in campaign contributions over the past 15 months — more than all nine of his potential Republican opponents combined.

• 5 takeaways from Spotlight PA’s Republican gubernatorial debate

Five of the nine Republican candidates running to be Pennsylvania’s next governor participated in a debate hosted by Spotlight PA and its founding members Tuesday, aiming to differentiate themselves in a crowded field and make an impression on a largely undecided electorate.

• Video: Pennsylvania GOP gubernatorial candidate debate

The gubernatorial debate featured Republican candidates Jake Corman, Joe Gale, Charlie Gerow, Melissa Hart and Nche Zama. It was held Tuesday night at Gettysburg College.

• Pa. primary election 2022: See how much money the GOP candidates for governor have raised

With just over a month to go until the May primary election of 2022, the nine candidates vying for the Republican nomination for governor have collectively raised more than $13 million.

Pa. Lieutenant Governor

• Candidate in Pennsylvania lieutenant governor primary hit with protective order

A candidate in next month’s Republican primary for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor was ordered this week to stay away from his home after his wife made claims of physical and mental abuse in obtaining a protective order.

• Pair trade barbs in GOP Pennsylvania lieutenant governor’s race sideshow

A Republican seeking his party’s nomination for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor in next month’s primary threatened one of his eight opponents that he plans to confront him in person over a Facebook post raising questions about his background because it merely mentioned his wife.

• Pa. election 2022: A guide to the primary race few voters are paying attention to

By now, most voters have likely heard about the congested, double-digit field of contenders jockeying in this year’s primary race for the chance to snag the state’s top job of governor. But there is another crowded primary contest unfolding with far less fanfare: that of lieutenant governor. In all, there are 12 people running to become Pennsylvania’s second-in-command — two more than in the governor’s race.

Pa. House of Representatives

19th District

• Newly elected state Rep. Aerion Abney, Glenn Grayson square off in Pittsburgh state House district

Just weeks after winning a special election to finish out former state Rep. Jake Wheatley’s term in Harrisburg, newly elected state Rep. Aerion Abney once again finds himself matched against the Rev. Glenn Grayson in a race for the seat.

24th District

• Newly elected state Rep. Martell Covington faces primary challenge from 2 Dems

Just weeks after a special election determined who would finish out newly elected Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s term in the state House, three Democrats are running to win a full, four-year term in the seat starting early next year.

27th District

• 2 Republicans look to unseat state Rep. Dan Deasy

Two Republicans are seeking their party’s nomination in a primary race to challenge incumbent state Rep. Dan Deasy, D-Westwood, in the November election.

30th District

• 2 Republicans seeking nomination for state House 30th District, 1 Democrat running uncontested

Two Republican candidates are vying to run for state House of Representatives in the 30th District, which encompasses the Allegheny County communities of Ben Avon, Emsworth, Franklin Park, Kilbuck and McCandless and parts of Hampton Township.

36th District

• State Rep. Jessica Benham faces primary challenge from Stephanie Fox in South Hills

Pennsylvania’s 36th State House District has seen its share of political drama since former longtime state Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Carrick, announced his retirement in 2020.

56th District

• Dunbar faces primary challenge for state House seat in Westmoreland

For the first time in more than a decade, state Rep. George Dunbar is facing a primary challenge to retain his 56th District seat — this time from a political newcomer who contends the incumbent’s Republican credentials are insufficient.

Other news

• All the information you need for the Pa. primary

To make sure you’re ready to vote on May 17, Spotlight PA answered some of your most frequently asked questions, like where and when can I vote and what to do with your mail ballot.

• Primary voter turnout expectations low across Pittsburgh region

“Turnout should be a little higher for an election such as this,” said one poll coordinator, noting that while the statewide races for governor and the U.S. Senate will likely draw more voters to the polls than last year’s municipal election, it won’t be as high as when voters are asked to select candidates for president.

• What price will candidates pay to emerge from Pa. primaries?

Pennsylvania’s Republican primary races for governor and U.S. Senate have been rugged affairs, with infighting among the crowded fields of GOP candidates and millions of dollars pouring in to fund a barrage of attack ads. On the Democratic side, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman has built a sizable lead in polls in the party’s primary race for U.S. Senate, but opponents have launched attacks that Republicans figure to adopt and use against him.

• A complete guide to the May 17 primary

Here’s what you need to know to be prepared for Pennsylvania’s 2022 primary election.

• Pennsylvania’s biggest primaries could get called on election night. But don’t get used to it

The May 17 Pennsylvania primary elections shouldn’t create anything like the days-long anxiety of November 2020, when the counting of mail ballots dragged on. There’s a very good chance we’ll know the Democratic and Republican nominees for Senate and governor a few hours after polls close.

• Fall election could determine future of abortion rights in Pennsylvania

The future of legal abortion access in Pennsylvania could hinge on the outcome of the general election in November after a draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court suggests the court is poised to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade case.

• Why independents can’t vote for candidates this May, and the push to change that

Pennsylvania is one of only nine states with a closed primary system. People who register without a party affiliation or with smaller third parties, such as the Green or the Libertarian Party, are unable to vote for Democratic or Republican candidates in the spring races that determine who runs in the general election.

• How Pennsylvania’s abortion fight could play out across the country

What happens in Pennsylvania has ripple effects across the U.S. It’s the closest state to get an abortion for a large swath of Midwest states such as Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia and Kentucky, where restrictions would go into effect should Roe v. Wade be struck down.

• Westmoreland commissioners say costs, not politics, behind regional drop box cuts

Republican commissioners in Westmoreland County said it is money, not politics, that’s behind a decision to eliminate regional drop boxes for mail-in ballots in the primary election.

• Allegheny County to offer early, in-person voting at Downtown Pittsburgh election office

Allegheny County plans to offer registered voters the opportunity to apply for a mail-in ballot, have it approved on-site, and then cast that ballot the same day all at the elections building in Downtown Pittsburgh.