Tag: pennsylvania

  • Candidate field for Pittsburgh mayoral race takes shape

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    Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto faces three challengers in the Democratic primary on May 18, 2021, according to the unofficial list published by Allegheny County on March 9. No Republican candidates were listed. Peduto’s challengers include current state Rep. Edward Gainey, Tony Moreno, and Michael Thompson.  The winner of the Democratic primary will advance to the…

  • Pennsylvania General Assembly refers constitutional changes to governor’s emergency powers to May primary ballot

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    Voters in Pennsylvania will decide at least three constitutional amendments on May 18, 2021, including two ballot measures to alter the governor’s emergency powers. One ballot measure would limit an emergency declaration by the governor to 21 days unless the legislature passes a resolution to extend the order. Another proposal would allow the legislature to…

  • Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth to resign after error in constitutional amendment process

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    Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar (D) is expected to resign on February 5, 2021, after her office failed to advertise a constitutional amendment as the state constitution requires. Voters could have decided the constitutional amendment at the election on May 18, 2021, but the two-session process will need to restart. The earliest the amendment…

  • Pennsylvania State Senate District 48 special election set for May 18, 2021

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    Election officials have scheduled a special election for the District 48 seat in the Pennsylvania State Senate for May 18, 2021. The seat became vacant when David Arnold (R) died from brain cancer on Jan. 17. There is no primary, and candidates will be nominated directly by political parties.

  • Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 59 special election set for May 18, 2021

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    Election officials have scheduled a special election for the District 59 seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for May 18, 2021. The seat became vacant when Mike Reese (R) died from a brain aneurysm on Jan. 2. There is no primary, and candidates will be nominated directly by political parties.

  • Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court rules that 2019 Marsy’s Law ballot measure violated state constitution

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    Judge gavel on desk

    On January 7, 2021, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled that a ballot measure for Marsy’s Law, a type of crime victims’ rights amendment, violated the Pennsylvania Constitution. Pennsylvanians voted 74% to 26% in favor of Marsy’s Law at the election on November 5, 2019. Results were never certified, however, according to a court order. The…

  • Pennsylvania voters could decide as many as eight constitutional amendments in 2021 or 2022

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    In Pennsylvania, the average number of statewide ballot measures for a single year is less than 1. In 2021 or 2022, Pennsylvanians could vote on upwards of eight ballot measures that address electoral and voting policies, legal language and actions, and the governor’s emergency powers. For an amendment to appear on a statewide ballot the…

  • Conor Lamb wins re-election to Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District

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    Incumbent Conor Lamb (D) defeated challenger Sean Parnell (R) in Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District. Lamb was first elected in a March 2018 special election for the remainder of Tim Murphy’s (R) term in what was then the 18th Congressional District. Lamb defeated Rick Saccone (R) 49.9% to 49.5% to flip the seat. Following court-ordered redistricting…

  • Perry wins re-election in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District

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    Incumbent Rep. Scott Perry (R) defeated Eugene DePasquale (D) in the general election for Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District.  Perry was first elected to represent Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional District in 2012. Following court-ordered redistricting in 2018, he was elected to the 10th District. In 2018, Perry defeated George Scott (D) 51.3% to 48.7%. Heading into the…

  • Toomey announces he won’t run for re-election to U.S. Senate in 2022

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    On Oct. 5, U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) announced that he would not seek re-election to the U.S. Senate and would be retiring from Congress. Toomey also stated that he would not run for governor of Pennsylvania in 2022. At a press conference, Toomey said, “I will not be running for reelection in 2022 and…