As the Associated Press reported Tuesday, state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (Philadelphia) was the projected winner of the Democratic auditor general nomination, defeating Lehigh County Comptroller Mark Pinsley.
In 2018, Kenyatta made history by becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ person of color elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. He hopes to make history again in November by becoming the first Democrat of color to serve as state auditor general. His expected nomination will be the first time two black auditors face off in the state’s general election, pitting them against incumbent Tim DeFoor.
Nearly two hours after polls closed, Kenyatta addressed a group of supporters at the Divine Lorraine Hotel, celebrating his victory.
“Two years ago, many of you were in the same room with me with a very different outcome, but with the same simple belief that the government can, should and will work for working people and working families, period,” Kenyatta said. In 2022, Kenyatta ran for the US Senate but dropped out third place in the Democratic Party primaries behind John Fetterman and Conor Lamb.
He then thanked his husband, Dr. Matthew Kenyatta, who introduced him at the victory party and recognized the historic moment when Kenyatta became the first openly LGBTQ person of color to run as a statewide candidate in Pennsylvania.
Talking zreporters after casting their votes on Tuesday morningsaid that “it’s not every day that a black gay man from North Philadelphia gets to represent the people of Pennsylvania in this way” and called it a “special moment”, arguing that in part it is saying that people “just want competent, serious leadership.” ”
Other organizations also celebrated the historic nature of Kenyatta’s victory.
“Malcolm’s decisive victory in this race is a huge deal,” said Ryan Matthews, director of the Pennsylvania Human Rights Campaign. “Not so long ago, the idea that a gay black man from Philadelphia would be nominated for office in Pennsylvania would have been unimaginable.”
In 2020, DeFoor made history becoming the first person of color win statewide office in Pennsylvania when winning the election for auditor general.
Since his election to the House of Representatives, Kenyatta has become a well-known progressive voice in his caucus, as well as one of President Joe Biden’s surrogates on the re-election campaign outside the Keystone State.
“I didn’t run for auditor general just because I want to be called auditor general,” Kenyatta said. “I ran for auditor general because I know what this role can do to improve the lives of people, working people and working families, who have opted out of the electoral process.”
While the office doesn’t often enjoy the notoriety of other statewide positions, Kenyatta argued that it matters who the state’s chief fiscal regulator.
“The Auditor General is the only role in state government that is about finding pain points,” he said. “It’s about finding the disconnect between where our government should be operating and where it’s not really meeting people’s needs.”
Standing in front of campaign posters that read “Defeat DeFoor,” Kenyatta directly attacked the incumbent GOP president for his previous comments on the 2020 election and blasting him for receiving ccontribution to Jeffrey Yass’s campaigna major donor to former President Donald Trump’s campaign. He also criticized DeFoor for closing the office’s Office of School Audit and promised to create an Office of Worker and Labor Protection.
Kenyatta claimed to be “in the reserve of Pennsylvania working families.”
“So if you’re wealthy and well-connected, if you can afford an army of lobbyists, I’m not the auditor general for you,” Kenyatta said.
The The Pennsylvania Democratic Party endorsed Kenyattacandidacy in December, marking the first time he has formally endorsed an openly gay black man for statewide office. Kenyatta also gained support trade unionsand various Democratic elected officials.
Kenyatta also thanked Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley and former House Speaker Mark Rozzi, who was previously a candidate for the position, for entering the race and said he would get the votes of those who did not support him in the primary and election. unite the party against DeFoor.
Pinsley sent social media post On Tuesday night, he said: “While this is not the result I expected, I want to thank all of my supporters, volunteers and voters. As Lehigh County’s comptroller, I campaigned for my job and I will proudly continue to do so. I look forward to Biden being re-elected in the fall.”
Pinsley announced unsuccessful 2018 and 2022 state Senate bids in Lehigh Valley and he was reportedly considering running for lieutenant governor in 2021
The race flew below the radar compared to spending and attention in an open attorney general race won, with except for the controversy over Kenyatta’s comments captured on the Ring doorbell camera.
Wendell Young, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776, and Daniel Bauder, president of the AFL-CIO Philadelphia board, celebrated Kenyatta’s victory.
“I’m just excited to be here tonight and support someone who is, I don’t even think is, a rising star anymore,” Bauder said of the 33-year-old Kenyatta. “I think you’re a star.”
“I’m going to miss him a little bit as a legislator,” Young said, adding that he gladly supports his campaign for auditor general but will miss his voice in the House.
“And now he’s going to make it louder on a bigger stage, and he’s young enough to have even more stages ahead of him,” Young said to applause.
This story was updated at 11:53 p.m
