Former state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale announced his candidacy for Pennsylvania Attorney General with a press release and campaign video on Thursday.

DePasquale, who served as a three-term state representative before becoming Auditor General from 2013-21, said he wants to build on his experience as the state’s top watchdog and investigator.

“Here in Pennsylvania, too many of our rights and freedoms are under attack by extremists – from criminals and big corporations, to dishonest politicians,” said DePasquale. “I’m running for Attorney General to take my experience as a protector and watchdog to go after the criminals and extremists who are attacking Pennsylvanians’ freedoms. As Attorney General, my top priority will be protecting the people of Pennsylvania – including defending reproductive rights, making all communities safer, and safeguarding taxpayer and consumer dollars.”

A Democrat who ran unsuccessfully against Rep. Scott Perry for the 10th congressional District seat in the U.S. House in 2020, he is the first Democrat to toss his hat into the ring. DePasquale looks to replace Michelle Henry, who is completing the term of Josh Shapiro who vacated the position after his election as Governor of the Keystone State.

He says his priorities are defending women’s reproductive freedoms, safeguarding taxpayer dollars, protecting seniors from scams, making all communities safer – from violent and property crime to gun violence prevention – and taking on corrupt public officials and powerful institutions.

“Eugene is a dedicated public servant who has always prioritized protecting the taxpayers of Pennsylvania,” said State Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny). “His efforts as our Auditor General included helping to better protect children who were victims of abuse and drastically reducing the backlog in untested rape kits. Eugene is accountable, fair and transparent, and will bring those qualities with him every day as our commonwealth’s Attorney General.”

DePasquale received a B.A. in political science from the College of Wooster, an M.P.A. from the University of Pittsburgh, and a J.D. from Widener University School of Law. He worked as an attorney and for the City of York as director of economic development. DePasquale then worked as deputy secretary for the Department of Environmental Protection. He also served as chair of the York County Democratic Party from 1998 to 2002.