With snow blanketing the rooftops and a new mayor and council still measuring for curtains at City Hall, it’s hard to believe, yet true: spring is just around the corner and with it another election.
The primary for a host of state and federal offices — President, U.S. House and Senate, state Attorney General, Treasury, and Auditor, as well as the Pa. House and half the state Senate — is scheduled for April 23, three months from this Tuesday.
Some of the marquee races will be uncontested, like President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey’s bids for the Democratic nominations. Former president Donald Trump is far ahead of his rivals in Pennsylvania polls, and businessman David McCormick appears to be the frontrunner in the GOP Senate primary, although at least one other person is in the race.
Things get more interesting at the state level. Five Democrats have so far put in their names for AG, including three with Philly ties, along with three Republicans.
Pioneering North Philly state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta is one of three Dems bidding to challenge the Republican incumbent in the state Auditor race. And although the general election isn’t until November, the state Treasurer race has already been enlivened by a war of words between the Republican who currently holds the office and two Democratic candidates.
Here’s a look at the state candidates who are likely to appear on Philly voters’ April ballots.
Attorney General
As the state’s chief law enforcement official, the AG oversees several hundred lawyers who prosecute criminal cases and some civil cases on behalf of state agencies, enforce consumer protection laws, and perform other duties.
The job has served as a springboard to the governorship for Josh Shapiro and former governor Tom Corbett. Current Attorney General Michelle Henry, who is filling the last two years of Shapiro’s term, isn’t running.
Democrats:
• Philly’s former Chief Public Defender Keir Bradford-Grey (campaign site)
• Former state Auditor General and U.S. House candidate Eugene DePasquale (campaign site)
• Former Bucks County solicitor and Philadelphia district attorney candidate Joe Khan (campaign site)
• Northeast Philly State Rep. Jared Solomon (campaign site)
• Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer (campaign site)
Republicans:
• Former Assistant U.S. Attorney and Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun Copeland (campaign site)
• State Rep. Craig Williams, 160th district (Chester and Delaware counties)
• York County District Attorney Dave Sunday (campaign site)
Other potential candidates are former U.S. Attorney Scott Brady, former U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, former U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain, State Rep. Natalie Mihalek, and Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli, according to City & State.
State Treasurer
The Treasurer’s Office manages tax revenues and other funds, pays state employees, makes disbursements for state agencies, oversees investments, manages a college savings program, and runs other programs.
It’s not a particularly political position, but Democratic candidate Ryan Bizzarro has criticized Republican incumbent Stacy Garrity for her opposition to abortion and sought to tie her to the Jan. 6 attack. One of his supporters called her an “insurrectionist Barbie.” Garrity, who was not present at the U.S. Capitol that day, has condemned the attack and called the comment sexist.
Democrats:
• State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, 3rd district (Erie County) (campaign website)
• Former addiction program director Erin McClelland, Allegheny County (campaign website)
Republican:
• State Treasurer Stacy Garrity (incumbent) (campaign website)
Auditor General
The Auditor is the state’s fiscal watchdog. The office does financial audits of state agencies and other entities — including local governments, school districts, public pension programs, and certain universities — to make sure state money is spent legally and properly. It also occasionally does performance audits of institutions like prisons and mental health centers to see if they’re running efficiently and effectively.
Democrats:
• State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, 181st district (Philadelphia) (campaign website)
• Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley (campaign website)
• State Rep. Mark Rozzi, 126th district (Berks County) (campaign website)
Republican:
• Auditor General Timothy DeFoor (incumbent) (campaign website)
The article has been updated to clarify the source of the “insurrectionist Barbie” comment.
