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What We’re Hearing
“You will never see a headline that reads an election went smoothly, but that’s what happened today in Pennsylvania.” – Al Schmidt

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Top Story

1. Democrats Keep PA House Majority, Positioning Party To Prevent Limits On Abortion Rights

“Democrats maintained their narrow Pennsylvania House majority Tuesday by winning a special election and along with it continued control over how the chamber will handle abortion, gun rights and election law legislation.

Heather Boyd won a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives representing the Philadelphia suburbs, beating Republican Katie Ford for a vacancy created by the resignation of Democratic Rep. Mike Zabel.” (AP)

Related

Democrats Keep PA House Majority Following Zabel Resignation. “Pennsylvania House Democrats will retain their one-seat majority in the state House, after spending more than $1 million to defend their control of the chamber.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• HD163: Boyd (D) 59.94%, Ford (R) 38.82%, Goodwin (L) 1.26%

Stender Wins 108th Seat, Defeating Finn, Scretchling. “Republican Michael Stender will head to Harrisburg as the new representative in the Pennsylvania House’s 108th District after he outlasted Democratic challenger Trevor Finn and Libertarian candidate Elijah Scretchling Tuesday night in a special election.” (Daily Item)

• HD108: Stender (R) 65.54%, Finn (D) 30.52%, Scretchling (L) 3.94%

PA Had A ‘Free And Fair, Safe And Secure Election’ On Tuesday. “With only a “few minor and isolated issues occurring,” Pennsylvania’s top election official reported Tuesday’s municipal primary went smoothly.” (PennLive)

State

2. McCaffery, Carluccio Win Primaries For PA Supreme Court Seat

“Democrat Dan McCaffery and Republican Carolyn Carluccio won their parties’ primaries for a vacant seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Tuesday, setting up a fall contest to join a high court that is at the center of cases on guns, abortion and elections in a presidential battleground state.” (AP)

• (D) McCaffrey 59.59%, Kunselman 40.41%
• (R) Carluccio 53.55%, McCullough 46.45%

Related

Dugan Tops Allegheny County DA Zappala – But A November Rematch Could Be Looming. “Matt Dugan beat a titan of Allegheny County’s Democratic Party on Tuesday, topping Stephen A. Zappala Jr. at the ballot box for district attorney for the first time in Mr. Zappala’s quarter-century political career.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

• Dugan 55.58%, Zappala 44.31%

Baratta Captures Democratic Nod For Northampton County DA. “Former Northampton County Judge Stephen G. Baratta defeated Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck in a Democratic primary challenge, unofficial election results show.” (Morning Call)

• Baratta 54.47%, Houck 45.45%

Around The Commonwealth

3. Parker Captures Democratic Nod For Philadelphia Mayor

“Cherelle Parker — a West Oak Lane native who lost much of her family at a young age and went on to become a state lawmaker and City Council majority leader — won the Democratic nomination for Philadelphia mayor, making her the odds-on favorite to become the 100th mayor and the first woman to ever helm the city.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• Parker 32.94%, Rhynhart 22.66%, Gym 21.29%, Domb 11.68%, J. Brown 8.97%

Related

Innamorato Wins Democratic Primary For Allegheny County Executive. “State Rep. Sara Innamorato led a progressive clean sweep Tuesday in Democratic primary elections for Allegheny County offices, winning the party’s nomination for county executive to extend a series of victories over establishment-friendly Democrats in Western Pennsylvania.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

• Innamorato 37.58%, Weinstein 29.54%, Lamb 19.83%, Fawcett 9.70%

Winder, Makhija Win, Gale Falls In Contentious Montco Commissioner Race. “Jamila Winder, an executive with an education company, and attorney Neil Makhija won the contentious Democratic primary Tuesday for two Montgomery County commissioner seats.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Unofficial Cumberland Commissioner Results Give GOP Win To Neiderer; Eichelberger Leads For Second Slot. “There may be another shotgun marriage in a Republican Cumberland County commissioners ticket.” (PennLive)

Gaughan, McGloin, Chermak, Campbell Win Lackawanna Commissioner Nominations. “It was a night for fresh faces.” (Times-Tribune)

First-Time Candidate Leads Democratic Field For Lehigh County Commissioner. “Unofficial results from Lehigh County show legislative aide Sheila Alvarado, incumbent Dan Hartzell, community organizer April Riddick and data engineer Jon Irons secured their nominations.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Former State Rep. Sainato Moves On In Lawrence County Commissioner Race. “Mail-in ballots told the tale for the Lawrence County commissioners in Tuesday’s primary.” (New Castle News)

Pandora, Hetherington In; Halcovage Out In Schuylkill. “Incumbent Schuylkill County Commissioner George Halcovage Jr. appears to have lost his bid for re-election, finishing seventh in a field of eight candidates.” (Lehighton Times News)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

Editorial

• Sara Innamorato Will Have To Learn From Mayor Ed Gainey’s Struggles To Succeed. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Support Democracy In School Boards Races – Even When The Other Side Wins. (Broad + Liberty)

Opinion

• Wall Street Critic Gov. Shapiro Picks New Trustees For PA Pension Boards. (Joseph N. DiStefano)
• Biden And The Democrats Won’t Deal With The Debt. (Rep. Guy Reschenthaler)
• An Obscure 1800s Law is Shaping Up To Be The Center Of The Next Abortion Battle. (Sonia Suter, Naomi Cahn)
• Mental Health And Mass Shootings Really Aren’t Connected. (John A. Tures)
• We Can Elect Better Leaders When We Make Elections More Accessible. (Oliver Truong)

1 Thing

5. 50 Years Ago Today: Watergate Hearings Begin

May 17, 1973: Sen. Sam Ervin (D-N.C.) opens the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities into the Watergate incident.

Original caption for this photo … Washington: General view in the packed Senate Caucus room as the Select Senate Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities opened its investigation into the Watergate scandal 5/17. Only 100 public seats were available — the remainder of the crowd were newsmen and members of Congress.

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