Tuesday Primary Election Results – Still Waiting…

Jun 4, 2020 | 0 comments

As we look at Pennsylvania election results, one thing is clear: It was an unusually confusing election, due to the unprecedented number of mail-in ballots (new this year) and the COVID-19 crisis. The other surprise in the midst of this – or perhaps because of it – was the effect of the out-of-the-blue announcement by Governor Wolf that seven counties can count mail-in ballots that are received through next Tuesday, June 9 (as long as they were postmarked by Election Day, June 3): Bucks, Allegheny, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Montgomery and Philadelphia. This means the official results for these counties – and for the statewide races – will not be known until next week.

Here are some highlights of interest to us at the Pennsylvania Family Council. We hope to bring you more updates by next week!

First, a look at some notable results in open seats created by retirements.

In Pittsburgh’s North Hills in a Republican primary race to succeed House Speaker Mike Turzai, Rob Mercuri, a finance specialist and West Point graduate, bested two other candidates for a place on the November 3rd ballot against Democrat Emily Skopov. Pennsylvania Family Council was proud to endorse Rob.

In Schuylkill County, another candidate endorsed by Pennsylvania Family Council, businessman Tim Twardzik beat a challenger for the Republican nomination for an open seat created by the retirement of Rep. Neal Goodman (D).

In the northern tier counties of Jefferson and Warren, current State Rep. Cris Dush and friend of the Pennsylvania Family Council won a contested Republican primary for the State Senate seat held by retiring Senate President Pro Tempore, Joe Scarnati. 

Some other results show a distinct move leftward politically.

In a State Senate Democrat Primary race in Montgomery County (suburban Philadelphia), challenger Amanda Cappelletti has an 18-point lead over longtime incumbent State Senator Daylin Leach. Cappelletti had the backing of pro-abortion and other liberal groups, even though Leach has been no friend of the family or religious values in his tenure. Leach had been hounded by allegations of past instances of sexual harassment.

In the city of Pittsburgh, a trend continued as it appears that the open seat of a moderate Democrat, pro-life  Rep. Harry Readshaw, will be filled by Jessica Benham, known as the “progressive favorite” in a four-way race for his House seat. In the northside of Pittsburgh, incumbent Rep. Adam Ravenstahl (who has a mixed record on abortion)  is trailing Democrat Socialist candidate Emily Kinkead, with mail-in ballots yet to be counted.

Interesting results in a state senate race in Philadelphia as Nikil Saval, a Democratic Socialist and co-founder of Reclaim Philly, defeated state Sen. Larry Farnese with 68 percent of the in-person vote, enough to call the race. 

Looking forward to the November 3 General Election – we will again have our nonpartisan voter’s guide available in print and online at www.PAFamilyVoter.com.

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