Pennsylvania is “America’s swing state,” and the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee identified 22 races in the Keystone State as “target races” this fall.
According to a DLCC press release, Target Races are the most competitive, must-win races in the nation and are designed to shift the balance of power in state legislatures once in a generation.
“As costs rise and Republicans redouble their efforts to gain power, building lasting power in state legislatures is critical to defending our future,” said DLCC President Heather Williams. “We will be with our Target Race candidates from now through November to ensure that strong campaigns are ready to flip seats and build new majorities in states across the country. The DLCC is just getting started as we prepare to target over 500 races across the country. Republicans have been put on notice that the DLCC is wrong to want to change the landscape of the state legislature for years to come.”
The DLCC plans to work directly with clubs and candidates in the target race to provide support and resources for data, research, surveys, paid communications and direct voter contact.
Democrats currently hold a one-seat majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (101 to 100), and the DLCC has targeted 17 districts key to keeping the party in power. The 17 districts include seven currently controlled by Democrats and 10 others that the DLCC hopes to stay or turn blue.
On the Senate side, the committee has identified five seats in hopes of winning a majority in the chamber and giving Pennsylvania a Democratic trio – control of the House, Senate and (*22*) Mansion – for the first time since 1993. Republicans currently hold a majority, 27-23.
“Pennsylvania is one of the toughest battlegrounds in the country, and the DLCC is going all out to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to build lasting Democratic power in the state,” Williams said.
Pennsylvania home goals (17)
- Ryan Bizzarro, HD-03 (Erie County) *
- Robert Matzie, HD-16 (Beaver) *
- Bryan Allen, HD-18 (Bucks)
- Dr. Arvind Venkat, HD-30 (Allegheny) *
- Mandy Steele, HD-33 (Allegheny) *
- Brad Chambers, HD-41 (Lancaster)
- Hadley Haas, HD-44 (Allegheny)
- Brittany Bloom, HD-45 (Allegheny)
- Paul Takac, HD-82 (center) *
- Sara Agerton, HD-88 (Cumberland)
- Jim Haddock, HD-118 (Lackawanna, Lucerne) *
- Jessica McClay, HD-121 (Luzerne)
- Jeff Warren, HD-137 (Northampton)
- Kristin Egan, HD-142 (Bucks)
- Timothy Hayes, HD-143 (Bucks)
- Brian Munroe, HD-144 (Bucks) *
- Elizabeth Moro, HD-160 (Chester, Delaware)
Objectives of the Pennsylvania Senate (5)
- Eileen Hartnett Albillar, SD-06 (Bucks)
- Nick Miller, SD-14 (Lehigh, Northampton) *
- Chris Thomas, SD-24 (Berks, Montgomery)
- James Malone, SD-36 (Lancaster) *
- Brian Wrightson, SD-40 (Lackawanna, Monroe, Wayne)
italics indicate incumbent
