Today’s primary is confusing, but also important

This much we know as Pennsylvania heads to the polls today on Primary Election Day.

Virtually all of this region will have new representatives – and new districts — in Congress come next January.

Which will be nice in the sprawling 7th District, since there is none now.

You can thank former U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan, R-7, for that, at least in part. Meehan got himself entangled in a scandal over using taxpayer money to settle a sex harassment complaint filed by a former staffer.

At first he indicated he would not seek re-election. A few weeks ago he abruptly resigned. Gov. Tom Wolf, as mandated by the state Constitution, set a special election to fill the remainder of Meehan’s term. But that won’t be held until the general election in November.

Today the two parties will nominate candidates for a new 5th District seat in Delaware County, 1st and 4th Districts in Montgomery County, and redrawn 6th District in Chester and Berks. That’s because the state Supreme Court tossed out the old districts as a classic case of partisan gerrymandering.

It’s expected that the winners in today’s primaries also will run in the special election in November. Voters – at least some of them — will be asked in November to vote in two different congressional races, both the special election in the 7th, and the general election in the 5th. But the special election in the 7th will adhere to the old district borders, meaning some people will be able to vote in the 7th race, but not in the new 5th district race.

It’s also expected that the winner of the 5th will also be victorious in the 7th. But there is no guarantee. Yes, after being without representation for months, residents of the 7th District could send someone to Washington for several weeks only to have that person replaced by a new representative in January.

In Chester County, where the 6th remains somewhat intact, incumbent Republican Ryan Costello is not seeking re-election, so change is in the wind there as well as the areas with new district boundaries. (The 6th now stretches into Berks, including the city of Reading.)

Confused yet? So are we. Hey, what can we tell you, this is Pennsylvania. Nothing surprises us anymore.

As usual, a lot of people will sit this primary election out. It is the dreaded mid-term primary in a non-presidential election cycle.

But there are any number of compelling reasons for voters to exercise their franchise.

In the wake of an anti-Trump backlash and the #Metoo movement, a record number of women are running for Congress, not just here in the suburbs, but across the state and nation.

Republicans also will be selecting a candidate to challenge Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. State Sen. Scott Wagner, R-York, has been waging a nasty war of words with Allegheny County businessman Paul Mango. Offering a choice in the Year of the Woman is Pittsburgh area attorney Laura Ellsworth.

There is even a race for lieutenant governor. That’s because incumbent Democrat Mike Stack is deemed vulnerable after he ran afoul of Wolf and had his security detail taken away amid reports they were being verbally abused by Stack and his wife. He’s being challenged by Nina Ahmad, another former deputy mayor in Kenney’s Philly administration; Braddock Mayor John Fetterman, who made a splash in last November’s U.S. Senate race; Chester County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone; and Ray Sosa, a banking and insurance exec from Montgomery County.

On the Republican side, Jeff Bartos, a real estate exec from Montgomery County, is running with Wagner. Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughn is tied to the Mango campaign. Also seeking the nomination are Kathleen Coder, an Allegheny County business consultant, and Peg Luksik, a longtime state abortion foe.

Remember, we elect the governor and lieutenant governor separately, meaning it’s conceivable that you could wind up with the state’s two top execs coming from different parties.

And just for good measure, Republicans will nominate a candidate to run against U.S. Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr. in the fall general election. U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Luzerne, from Allentown is facing off against state Rep. Jim Christiana, RBeaver County.

Make yourself familiar with who is running for what. Yes, we know it’s a daunting task.

But that’s the cost of citizenship.

Don’t waste it.