Welcome to the Wednesday, April 10, Brew.
By: Ethan Sorell
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- Decade-low number of contested U.S. House primaries in Pennsylvania
- Two candidates running in Republican primary for West Virginia Attorney General
- Upcoming voter participation deadlines
Decade-low number of contested U.S. House primaries in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is holding primaries for congressional and state offices on Tuesday, April 23. Today, let’s look at what voters in the Keystone state can expect to see on their ballots.
U.S. Senate
Pennsylvanians will elect one member to the U.S. Senate this year. Both the Democratic and Republican primaries are uncontested, meaning Incumbent Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. (D) will face David McCormick (R), the only Republican primary candidate, in the November general election. McCormick finished second in the 2022 Republican primary behind Mehmet Oz (R).
Sen. John Fetterman (D) defeated Oz 51.2%-46.3% in the 2022 Senate election. In 2018, Casey defeated Lou Barletta (R) 55.7-42.6%.
U.S. House
- Forty-five candidates, including 25 Democrats and 20 Republicans, are running for Pennsylvania’s 17 U.S. House districts. That’s an average of 2.65 candidates per district, less than in the previous three election cycles.
- In 2022, there were 2.82 candidates per district. There were 2.83 in 2020 and 4.66 in 2018.
- There are no open districts this year, meaning all incumbents are running for re-election.
- Seven candidates are running for the 10th Congressional District, the most candidates for any district in the state this year, including Republican incumbent Rep. Scott Perry and six Democrats.
- Seven primaries – four Democratic and three Republican – are contested, the fewest in the past 10 years.
- Three incumbents – two Democrats and one Republican – are in contested primaries. That’s more than in 2022 and 2020 when two incumbents faced challengers.
- The 3rd Congressional District is guaranteed to Democrats because no Republican filed to run.
State Executive Offices
- Three state executive offices are up for election: Attorney General, Auditor General, and Treasurer.
- Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) appointed incumbent Attorney General Michelle Henry (D). Henry is not seeking re-election. Six Democrats and two Republicans are running for the office.
- Incumbent Timothy DeFoor (R) is the only Republican candidate running for Auditor. Two candidates – Malcolm Kenyatta (D) and Mark Pinsley (D) – are running in the Democratic primary.
- Incumbent Treasurer Stacy Garrity (R) is the only candidate running in the Republican primary for Treasurer. Two candidates – Ryan Bizzarro (D) and Erin McClelland (D) are running in the Democratic primary.
State Legislature
All 203 Pennsylvania seats in the state House and 25 out of the 50 seats in the state Senate are up for election this year. Pennsylvania has a divided government, meaning neither party has a trifecta. Democrats control the governorship and the state House, while Republicans control the state Senate.
- Two hundred thirty-two major party candidates are running for state House seats, including 172 Democrats and 164 Republicans.
- Forty-three major party candidates are running for state Senate seats, including 20 Democrats and 23 Republicans.
- Two special elections have been called to fill vacancies in House Districts 139 and 140.
- Jim Prokpiak (D) won the special election for District 140 on Feb. 13.
- Jeff Olsommer (R) and Robin Schooley Skibber (D) are running in the special election for District 139 on April 23.
Local Ballot Measures
In 2024, Ballotpedia is covering local ballot measures that appear in the 100 largest U.S. cities, state capitals, and throughout California. One of those ballot measures is on the ballot in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and deals with the city’s zoning boards. Click here to read more about that ballot measure.
Two candidates running in Republican primary for West Virginia Attorney General
Throughout the year, we’ll bring you coverage of the most compelling elections—the battlegrounds we expect to have a meaningful effect on the balance of power in governments or to be particularly competitive.
Today, we’re looking at the May 14 Republican primary for West Virginia Attorney General. Two candidates are running: John B. McCuskey (R) and Mike Stuart (R). Incumbent Patrick Morrisey (R) is running for governor, leaving the office open.
Both McCuskey and Stuart are running on their records in elected office. Both candidates say they will prioritize suing the federal government to overturn policies they say challenge West Virginia values. Both also say they will encourage other departments in the state government to obtain legal services from the attorney general’s office rather than private counsel.
McCuskey is the state auditor and a former state legislator. McCuskey says he is “an experienced leader with a proven record of fighting for West Virginians and their conservative values,” saying he promoted transparency and streamlined the state’s property tax system as auditor. McCuskey says he will work with West Virginia University to recruit local law school graduates to work in the attorney general’s office and build “a coalition of in-state firms that are both conservative and like-minded as we are” to provide outside counsel to the state when necessary.
Stuart is a state senator and former federal prosecutor. Stuart says he is a “proven conservative fighter for West Virginia.” Stuart says his record includes serving as a U.S. Attorney under President Donald Trump (R) and winning election to a state senate district with a history of electing Democrats. Stuart says he will advocate for a change in state law to allow the attorney general’s office, rather than county prosecutors, to prosecute specific crimes. Stuart says he wants “a full-service, serious law firm as the attorney general of the State of West Virginia.”
No Democrat has won a statewide election in West Virginia since 2018. Incumbent Patrick Morrisey (R) won re-election 64%–36% in 2020.
Ten states are holding elections for attorney general this year. There are currently 27 Republican, 22 Democratic, and one independent attorneys general.
Upcoming voter participation deadlines
With the 2024 election season well on its way, we are taking a look at the important deadlines voters need to be aware of over the next two weeks to take part in their state’s primary election.
Eleven states have important voter participation deadlines this month. These include voter registration deadlines, early voting opening and closing dates, deadlines to request absentee/mail-in ballots, and deadlines to return those ballots.
The map below shows the states that have voter participation deadlines scheduled in the next two weeks. The bulleted list below includes every state with deadlines between April 10 and April 23.
- Alabama (primary runoff): April 11 (deadline to request an absentee/mail-in ballot in-person).
- Georgia: April 22 (voter registration deadline).
- Idaho: April 26 (voter registration deadline by mail).
- Kentucky: April 22 (voter registration deadline).
- Maryland: April 23 (voter registration deadline by mail and online).
- Nebraska (presidential primary): April 15 to May 13 (early voting dates).
- North Carolina (primary runoff): April 19 (voter registration deadline by mail and online).
- Pennsylvania: April 16 (early voting ends), April 16 (deadline to request an absentee/mail-in ballot), April 23 (deadline to return an absentee/mail-in ballot).
- South Dakota (presidential primary): April 19 to June 3 (early voting dates)
- West Virginia: April 23 (voter registration deadline).
- Wyoming (Democratic presidential primary): April 13 (deadline to return an absentee/mail-in ballot).
Looking ahead
May will be a busy month for voter participation deadlines, too. We’ll bring you all the information you need to know to vote in those contests, so stay tuned!
Editor’s note: this post was updated with a new map for voter participation deadlines