Dems eye state House pickups
Philadelphia suburbs, Mr. Borick said.
The southwest and southeast of Pennsylvania “are almost like different worlds,” he said.
Mr. Harhai served 10 terms representing his Westmoreland County district. Mr. Daley, whose district includes portions of Washington and Fayette counties, has held his seat since 1983.
Seeking the 49th District seat formerly held by Mr. Daley are Democrat Alan Benyak, a lawyer, and Republican Donald “Bud” Cook.
“I think I can represent the 49th District very well in Harrisburg,” said Mr. Benyak, 52.
Mr. Benyak, who beat five other Democrats to win the primary, said he believes the top issues facing his district are high property taxes and the need for family-sustaining jobs. He also said he has campaigned on the issue of “no budget, no pay” legislation, which would keep legislators from being paid in the event of a budget impasse.
Many school districts and social service agencies in his district struggled in the lengthy 2015 budget standoff, and Mr. Benyak said he would give up his paycheck in the event of another budget impasse.
Mr. Cook did not respond to multiple phone and email messages for this story. His website describes him as a businessman who wants to create family-sustaining jobs and fight the drug epidemic.
Vying for the 58th District seat Mr. Harhai will vacate at the end of the year are Democrat Mary Popovich, mayor of West Newton, and Republican Justin Walsh, a Rostraver lawyer.
Ms. Popovich, 62, is touting her experience in local government as a mayor and former councilwoman. A former coal miner who returned to school after an injury, she is now an assistant professor at California University of Pennsylvania in the health science department.
She said she hopes to work on issues such as sustainable funding for education, closing corporate tax loopholes, addressing the opioid crisis and affordable college loans.
Mr. Walsh did not respond to calls for this story. His campaign website says he supports creating jobs, fighting the drug epidemic and fighting tax increases.
It’s unlikely Democrats could win enough House seats to change the balance of power in the chamber.
“In the absence of a real landslide, there’s just not as much possible ground Democrats could pick up to change the balance of the House. There are too many districts not in play,” Mr. Borick said.
Pollster Terry Madonna also said that even if Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton wins Pennsylvania, he doesn’t foresee Democrats taking the state House, though an exact forecast is unclear.
“Here’s the big X factor: It’s called Donald Trump. We’re at a point where it is just too hard to know,” Mr. Madonna said.
State Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, the House Republican Campaign Committee chairman, said that in his view the presidential candidates don’t necessarily translate down-ballot.
“With the [state] House races, you are closest to the people,” Mr. Mustio said. Unlike candidates for many other offices, “you can knock on every door.”