Republicans share optimism for 2022 races after a successful 2021 election. Here is the Playbook. 

Election Results & Analysis

‘2021 gives Pennsylvania GOP more hope for big 2022 election’: The Associated Press reports that “with Republicans on the cusp of sweeping statewide judicial races in Pennsylvania, the GOP is finding more reasons to smile a year away from a high-stakes election in which the state’s voters will pick a new governor and a new U.S. senator.”

‘Republican gains in Pennsylvania and New Jersey are a ‘huge alarm bell’ for Democrats in 2022’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “the election results pointed to trouble for President Joe Biden and Democrats in Washington as they prepare to defend their narrow majorities in Congress.”

‘Pa.’s election was sleepy compared with 2020. Some voters still saw high stakes: ‘The country’s just in such a state.’’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “in most ways, Tuesday’s election was nothing like 2020. The glare of the spotlight on Pennsylvania had faded, for the moment. Elections officials said the process was smooth and complaint-free.”

‘MAP: Here’s an (unofficial) look at the 2021 Election Day turnout rates in Pa. counties’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “as results continue to trickle in from Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, unofficial results provide a preliminary glimpse at voter turnout rate in each county.”

‘Pittsburgh attorney Steve Irwin joins race to replace Doyle’: WESA reports that “a third Democrat is entering the race to replace retiring Congressman Mike Doyle next year: Squirrel Hill attorney Steve Irwin.”

‘With results trickling in, Pa. school board races don’t seem to show a decisive new political narrative’: WHYY reports that “with municipal election results still not final in several key counties, it’s too soon to assess the full impact of a massive, conservative spending campaign in school board races across Pennsylvania. One thing does seem clear based on early election returns: Results varied dramatically depending on the underlying politics of a district.”

‘Sources: Pittsburgh Mayor-Elect Ed Gainey To Name Jake Wheatley Deputy Mayor And Jake Pawlak Chief Of Staff’: KDKA reports that “sources tell KDKA political editor Jon Delano that state Rep. Jake Wheatley will soon resign his seat in the House of Representatives to take on a new job as deputy mayor to Mayor-elect Gainey.”

‘Tyler Titus concedes race for Erie County Executive; Davis declared winner’: WJET reports that Democrat Tyler Titus conceded the race for Erie County Executive. Republican Brenton Davis becomes the “youngest County Executive in Erie County history at 38-years-old.”

‘Analysts: Pennsylvania Election Great For Republicans, Allegheny County An Oasis For Democrats’: KDKA reports that “Republicans and Democrats in Pennsylvania both have something to celebrate in Tuesday’s election. But overall, political experts say it was a better night for Republicans.”

‘5 takeaways from the Lehigh Valley election results’: The Allentown Morning Call details their “five key takeaways from Tuesday’s election in the Lehigh Valley and beyond.”

‘Republicans sweep five Bucks County row offices, regain foothold in Doylestown’: The Bucks Local News reports that “Republicans swept the table on Tuesday regaining a foothold at the Bucks County Courthouse in Doylestown by winning five row offices, four of which it lost four years ago to the Democrats.”

‘Incumbent Lamont McClure defeats controversial newcomer Steve Lynch in Northampton County executive race; Lynch pledges investigation’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “the incumbent said he is looking forward to another term of reducing economic burdens on taxpayers and pushing growth in the county. Lynch, meanwhile, is already pledging an investigation of the election, telling followers on Facebook to prepare for “phase 2.””

‘Lehigh Valley school board races show voters want students back in the classroom full time’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “many Lehigh Valley voters want students in classrooms full time and disapproved of how education officials handled the COVID-19 pandemic, unofficial results of Tuesday’s municipal election show.”

‘Democrats hold on to Delaware County Council, keep two council seats’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Democrats held on to their Delaware County Council seats in Tuesday’s election, posts they had wrested from Republicans after more than a century of historically GOP control.”

‘Philadelphians voted to get rid of the Civil Service’s ‘rule of two,’ which was blamed for limiting diversity’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Philadelphia voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the city Home Rule Charter that will eliminate a hiring rule that has been blamed for limiting diversity in the municipal workforce.”

‘Incumbent Dem Coghill poised to keep seat in City Council race against Green candidate Mulvaney’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “in the only contested race for a spot on City Council this election cycle, incumbent Anthony Coghill appeared to maintain a big lead against Green Party candidate Connor Mulvaney to keep his seat.”

‘Delco election official sues former president Donald Trump, supporters for defamation’: The Delaware County Daily Times reports that “​​the supervisor and chief custodian of the Delaware County Voting Machine Warehouse is suing former President Donald Trump, two local GOP poll watchers and others for allegedly making “deliberate, malicious, and defamatory statements and insinuations” about him in the wake of the contentious 2020 Presidential Election.”

‘Matt Tuerk outlines what he wants to get done as the next mayor of Allentown after election win’: WFMZ talks with Allentown Mayor-elect Matt Tuerk about “what he wants to get done as the next mayor of Allentown.”

‘J. William Reynolds discusses his plans as he prepares to take on the job of Bethlehem mayor’: WFMZ talks with mayor-elect J. Williams Reynolds about his plans as Bethlehem mayor. 

‘Republican surge leads to election sweep in Westmoreland County’: WTAE reports that “a new era is underway in Westmoreland County following a surge at the polls and a clean sweep for county Republicans. Republican nominees were victorious in all four county-wide races, giving the party control of nearly all county-elected offices.”

‘2nd Amendment measures pass’: The Altoona Mirror reports that “Blair County voters have embraced the idea of creating a Second Amendment Sanctuary to provide another layer of gun protection rights.”

‘DeBaptiste to serve as West Chester mayor’: The Daily Local News reports that “Lillian DeBaptiste was the overwhelming choice of voters to become the next borough mayor.”

‘Cletus Lee Elected First Black Mayor Of North Braddock’: KDKA reports that “North Braddock has elected its first Black mayor. Democrat Cletus Lee unseated incumbent Republican challenger Albert Senic in the race for mayor on Tuesday.”

‘Montgomery County has delayed count of 23,000 mail-in ballots’: Montgomery Media reports that “more than 12 hours after the polls closed in Montgomery County for the 2021 general election, the process continued on Wednesday to count more than 20,000 outstanding ballots.”

‘Democrats dominate races in Yardley, Morrisville, Lower Makefield and Pennsbury’: The Bucks Local News reports that “while Republicans posted gains in other parts of Bucks County, Democrats prevailed in Lower Makefield, Yardley Borough, Morrisville Borough and in the race for Pennsbury School Board, according to unofficial results.”

‘Republicans pick up seats in Newtown area races, Democrats make in roads in Upper Makefield’: The Bucks Local News reports that “Republicans picked up seats on Tuesday in Newtown area contested races while Democrats claimed victory in Upper Makefield and retained their majorities on the Newtown Borough Council and the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors, according to unofficial results.”

‘Votes counted after midnight changed results in key Lehigh Valley races’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “Lehigh County voters and candidates awakened Wednesday morning to election results that were different than late on election night when officials reported 100% of the vote had been counted.”

‘Cumberland County’s unofficial election results expected Thursday’: PennLive reports that “the final results of Tuesday’s election have not yet been determined in Cumberland County, where officials continue to count mail-in ballots. County Commissioner Gary Eichelberger said he expects the count will be completed on Thursday.”

‘City of Meadville to elect first female mayor’: WJET reports that “it was a historic race for mayor in Meadville as the city is about to elect their very first female mayor. The write in candidate Marcy Kantz is leading her Democratic opponent Jaime Kinder.”

‘Lackawanna County judge race may be costliest in county history’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “the two candidates for Lackawanna County judge in Tuesday’s election raised more than $1 million in campaign money for a job that pays less than a fifth of that, according to campaign finance records.”

‘Turnout for Berks election on par with the past’: The Reading Eagle reports that “just over a quarter of registered Berks County voters took part in Tuesday’s municipal election, putting it on par with similar contests over the past decade.”

‘Two incumbents, one newcomer leading in City Council race’: The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that “Eric Beiter, Randall J. Allison and Liz Miele were projected to win seats on Williamsport City Council in Tuesday’s general election, according to the unofficial vote count as provided by Lycoming County Voter Services.”

Harrisburg Vacancies: Vacancies and special elections are coming. Rep. Ed Gainey (D-Allegheny) will become Mayor of Pittsburgh while Rep. Jake Wheatley (D-Allegheny) is expected to join his administration. Meanwhile Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) won her race for Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas and state Sen. John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia) is expected to win a seat on Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas.

More Headlines

‘Pa. man killed after collision with gubernatorial candidate’s car had alcohol, drugs in system’: PennLive reports that “toxicological tests show the motorcyclist killed this summer after a collision with Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Charlie Gerow’s car on the Pennsylvania Turnpike had traces of alcohol, methamphetamines and fentanyl in his system. But Chester County Coroner Christina VandePol cautioned that because the substances were found in tests of Logan Carl Abbott’s tissues, there’s no way to definitively say whether he was driving under the influence of one or more substances at the time of the night-time July 21, 2021 crash in Tredyffrin Township.”

‘Witnesses called by defense in bribery trial testify to Henon’s dedication to his community’: WHYY reports that “City Councilmember Bobby Henon’s attorney ramped up his defense against the corruption charges his client is fighting in federal court, presenting evidence that Henon strongly supported a proposed sweetened beverage tax several weeks before union leader Johnny “Doc” Dougherty allegedly bribed him to get behind the levy.”

‘John Dougherty and Bobby Henon Trial: Day-by-day updates’: The Philadelphia Inquirer provides “daily updates on the federal trial of labor leader John J. Dougherty and Philadelphia City Councilmember Bobby Henon.”

‘A major immigrant detention center just closed in Pa. but plans for new a one could mean more detainees here than ever’: WITF reports that “when York County commissioners decided in July that the county’s longstanding deal with federal authorities to detain immigrants was no longer beneficial, advocacy groups around the state heralded it as a victory. But now, a project in Clearfield County could mean that more immigrants than ever will be incarcerated by federal immigration authorities in Pennsylvania.”

‘Local resettlement agencies anticipate a surge as more Afghans leave military bases for new homes in Philly’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “more Afghan evacuees are leaving their temporary living quarters on American military bases for new homes in Philadelphia, and the pace of that resettlement is expected to increase over the coming weeks.”

‘Erie City Council gets their first look at the mayor’s 2022 budget’: WJET reports that “the proposed 95.7 million dollar spending plan was presented during an hours-long meeting on November 3rd.”

‘’It’s union time’ as Scranton teachers begin strike’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “in their fifth year working under an expired contract, members of the Scranton Federation of Teachers began a strike that was years in the making.”

‘Sanctions hearing scheduled for Toothman’: The Observer-Reporter reports that “a sanctions hearing for former Greene County president judge Farley Toothman has been scheduled for December after a nine-judge panel found in July that he abused his time on the bench.”

‘Throop councilwoman sentenced to probation’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “Lackawanna County Judge Vito Geroulo on Wednesday sentenced a Throop councilwoman and two members of her family to 90 days of probation after a domestic incident last year in the borough.”

‘Most COVID-19 measures continue moving in good direction in Pa.’: PennLive reports that “Pennsylvania registered 3,819 new COVID-19 infections as of Wednesday, continuing the recent downward trend that also includes hospitalizations.”

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