Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick has emerged victorious once again in the GOP primary for the 1st District, defeating his right-wing challenger Mark Houck. This is his third consecutive victory in fending off primary opponents since his initial election in 2016. Fitzpatrick will now face Democrat Ashley Ehasz in the upcoming fall election, a rematch of their previous contest where Fitzpatrick won by 10 points.
Meanwhile, state Rep. Brown in West Philadelphia and state Rep. Salisbury in the Pittsburgh area are holding off challenges from the left, with Blackwell and Green potentially splitting the vote against Rep. Brown. In the Democratic race for state Senate in Erie, Erie County Democratic Party Chair Jim Wertz is projected to defeat former Fetterman staffer Selena King.
Looking ahead to the state treasurer race, whoever secures a spot on the ballot may face challenges given Pennsylvanians’ views on the economy. According to a GBAO/Fabrizio Lee/Wall Street Journal poll, Pennsylvania voters are more positive about the U.S. economy’s direction compared to voters in other swing states, but satisfaction with the Pennsylvania economy specifically is lower, with only 20 percent believing it has improved in the last two years.
In other news, Dave Sunday has won the Republican nomination for attorney general and is currently leading on the Republican side with 66 percent of the vote and 31 percent reporting. On the Democratic side, Eugene DePasquale is currently in front with 39 percent and 54 percent reporting