Nearly three dozen primary contests in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and four in the state Senate emerged on Tuesday, the deadline for candidates to submit petitions to appear on the April 23 ballot.
Candidates from both parties were lining up to run for Senate seats, which opened up when Sens. John DiSanto (R-Perry) and James Brewster (D-Allegheny) announced they are retiring at the end of this year.
The Democrats running for DiSanto’s Senate seat are state Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin) and Harrisburg pastor and community organizer Alvin Taylor. Dauphin County Treasurer Nick DiFrancesco and Ken Stambaugh of Lower Paxton Township are seeking the Republican nomination.
State Representative Nick Pisciottano (D-Allegheny); Makenzie White, licensed social worker and community facilitator; and former Duquesne Mayor Nickole Nesby are seeking the Democratic nomination for Brewster’s 45th District seat. Security company owner Jennifer Ditini and Kami Stulginskas of Munhall are running for the Republican Party nomination.
Decisions by several House lawmakers to run for higher office set the stage for primaries for many candidates, including Democratic state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta’s district, even though he is seeking re-election for auditor general.
In the 181st Legislative District, Democrats Lewis Nash Sr., district leader in North Philadelphia; Jon Hankins, former Philadelphia City Council candidate and pastor; and Jamillah Griffin filed papers to challenge Kenyatta.
Three Democrats have filed petitions to seek the nomination for state Rep. Mark Rozzi’s 126th District seat in Berks County. Rozzi has endorsed his ex-wife Jacklyn Rusnock, but also seeking the nomination are Winston Jose Dilone Martinez and former House candidate Joshua Caltagirone, the great-nephew of longtime Berks County Assemblyman Thomas Caltagirone.
Five Democrats are seeking the nomination to run for Democratic State Rep. Patty Kim’s seat in the 103rd District in Dauphin and Cumberland counties. These are:
- Tina Nixon, an employee of former House Speaker K. Leroy Irvis;
- Mercedes Evans, Camp Hill borough councilor and community advocate;
- Nathan Davidson, former executive director of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Democratic Campaign Committee;
- Jesse Monoski, Lemoyne Borough Councilmember; AND
- Laura Harding, Navy veteran and community activist in Harrisburg.
Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion) announced in December that she would not seek re-election, setting the stage for a five-way primary. The following people are running for the GOP nomination:
- Lisa Kerle, services specialist in Oberlander’s office;
- Joshua Bashline, a resident of Clarion Township and member of the National Guard;
- Darlene Smail, former state trooper from Kittanning Township;
- Clay Kennyth, a paramedic, nurse and firefighter from Mayport; AND
- Sonia Cangelo, a bank manager from Leeper.
Republican Sen. Dawn Keefer (R-York.)’s decision to run to replace retiring state Sen. Mike Regan in the 31st Senate District created another primary in five primary elections. The following candidates are seeking the Republican nomination for Keefer’s seat:
- Holly Kelley, Dillsburg Borough Council member;
- Zachary Kile, chairman of the North York school board;
- Marc Anderson, a high school teacher in North York;
- William Wyatt of Carroll Township; AND
- Matthew Davis, House GOP communications staff member.
Several House lawmakers seeking re-election face primary challenges.
Rep. Kevin Boyle (Philadelphia), who made headlines after a video surfaced of him allegedly threatening workers at the Rockledge Bar in Montgomery County, will appear before Sean Dougherty, nephew of former labor leader John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty’ ego in court Democratic primary school. Two Republicans, community leader Aizaz Gill and Army veteran Patrick Gushue, are seeking GOP approval to run for the 172nd District seat.
Rep. Regina Young (Philadelphia) faces a challenge from refugee attorney Joe Sakor in her Southwest Philadelphia district.
Easton City Council member Taiba Sultana is challenging Republican Bob Freeman (D-Northampton), who has held the 136th District seat since 1998.
Moderate state Republican Thomas Mehaffie faces a challenge for his Dauphin County seat from former U.S. senator and House candidate Bobby Jeffries.
