Here’s the latest in the redistricting saga. Democrats around the state are hoping to force Speaker Sam Smith to call for special elections in six vacant state House seats as it appears increasingly unlikely that new lines will be in place in time for the 2012 elections.

While party bylaws do prohibit members and committees from supporting Democrats – complete with a procedure for discipline – there are no such rules against welcoming non-endorsed Republicans.

Kathleen Kane’s campaign for Attorney General welcomed its newest staffer two weeks ago: former Dan McCaffery campaign manager and seasoned political operative Josh Morrow.

We’ve taken a look at the ballot from the state department and pulled out a few interesting tidbits about the legislative races, like who’s facing a 2010 rematch, who’s getting a free pass, and what’s happening in the open seats. Enjoy!

Here it is, the list of every candidate for office in Pa. in 2012. The deadline for Pa. House and Senate candidates to file was 5pm.

Say hello to the newest conflict over redistricting. House Minority Leader Frank Dermody sent a letter to Speaker Sam Smith this morning requesting that he issue writs of election to replace the six lawmakers who left office after the 2011 elections.

Here’s the full list of candidates who have filed so far, and some of the more impressive numbers of petition signatures from the various campaigns.

Eugene DePasquale is not the only Democratic candidate for Auditor General, be he might as well be. He won the Pa. Progressive Summit straw poll 98 percent to 2 percent after Sunday’s debate.

In the past few weeks, abortion and other reproductive health issues have reemerged as top campaign issues. At the Pa. Progressive Summit on Saturday, women’s rights advocates gathered to discuss specific initiatives in Pa.

Records were challenged, laws were interpreted and progressive values abounded Friday night, as Attorney General candidates Patrick Murphy and Kathleen Kane faced-off in a lively debate.

A bill to create impact fees for companies drilling for natural gas in Marcellus Shale wells has been passed by both state legislative bodies and now moves on to Governor Corbett for his final approval.