A primary primer: Yes, it’s confusing; it’s also important
T his much we know as Delaware County and Pennsylvania heads to the polls today on Primary Election Day.
Delaware County will have a new representative – and a new district - in Congress come November.
Which will be nice, since we don’t actually have one 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. For now, “taxation without representation?” Delco is your home.
In the meantime, today the two parties will nominate candidates for a new 5th District seat in Congress. That’s because the state Supreme Court tossed out the old districts – including Meehan’s 7th District seat – as a classic case of partisan gerrymandering. The 7th was so badly mangled by Republicans in the state Legislature back during the last redistricting exercise in 2011 that it earned the nickname “Goofy Kicking Donald Duck.”
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, we could send someone to Washington for several weeks only to have that person replaced by a new representative in January.
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.
For starters, there is that new 5th District and the likelihood that Delaware County will send a woman to Washington. Republicans have lined up behind former assistant county district attorney and deputy state attorney general Pearl Kim. The Democratic frontrunner is attorney and former Wallingford Swarthmore School Board President Mary Gay Scanlon, with former assistant U.S. attorney Ashley Lunkenheimer in hot pursuit along with state Rep. Greg Vitali, D-166 of Haverford. The wild card in his race is Rich Lazer, from the Philly portion of the district, who is hoping that the multitude of Delco candidates splinter the vote, opening the door for him to snag the nomination.
In total there is a stampede of 10 Democrats seeking the nod. And that’s down from the 14 who originally threw their hat in the ring
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 Delaware County, 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. Yes, you can insert the “Blowing His Stack” headline here. 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.
There is a chance voters will defy the normal convention and pack the polls. That certainly is our wish.
It’s not as if there is not a lot up for grabs today.
Especially here in Delaware 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.