Dem official gather for endorsements
Chester County Democrats meet to endorse candidates for various 2018 state and federal races.
WEST CHESTER » After historic electoral wins in 2017, some 300 Chester County Democratic Party leaders gathered at Stetson Middle School Wednesday night for the party’s annual nominating convention.
Chester County Democratic Committee Chairman Brian McGinnis opened the convention with a recap of the many victories over the past few election cycles — from three state Supreme Court justices in 2015 to four Chester County row office seats — as the party looks to the 2018 midterm elections.
Gov. Tom Wolf and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, both running unopposed in the May primary, won unanimous voice votes for endorsements.
Four candidates for lieutenant governor were nominated from the floor: Chester County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone, Braddock Mayor John Fetterman, state Rep. Madeleine Dean, D153rd Dist., and incumbent Lt. Gov. Mike Stack. Only Cozzone and Fetterman made speeches at the podium. Once ballots were collected and tabulated, McGinnis announced that Chester County’s Cozzone won the county Democratic endorsement with 62 percent of the vote.
Citing a desire to bring issues affecting local governments to attention in Harrisburg, Cozzone pledged to be an advocate alongside Gov. Wolf as they worked with both political parties.
“Gov. Wolf needs a partner who can get things done,” McGinnis said, “and Commissioner Cozzone is that partner. The party stands firmly behind her in her bid for lieutenant governor.”
Cozzone’s priorities include criminal justice reform, improving programs for unand underemployed workers and advocating for pipeline safety.
“I am grateful for the committee’s support in this race,” Cozzone said, “as well as the support they have given me over the last decade.”
The race to replace Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello in the newly redrawn 6th Congressional District brought two nominations from the floor. Chrissy Houlahan and Elizabeth Moro each took turns at the podium. After the votes were cast, Houlahan, who has already been endorsed by liberal group Emily’s List and was featured on the cover of TIME magazine, won the Chester County Dems’ endorsement.
“I entered this race over 10 months ago, and it is clear that voters here in southeastern Pennsylvania are looking for real world representation in Congress,” Houlahan said. “People are tired of the partisan gridlock in Washington and are looking for leadership that delivers results. I am proud of the campaign we have run and the grassroots support we have received. I have spent my career in service and if elected I will bring my experience to Congress to create good jobs, expand access and affordability to health care, improve and strengthen education, fight for veterans and hold this administration accountable.”
For the past three congressional elections, the 6th District included parts of Chester, Berks, Montgomery and Lebanon counties, but the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently ruled that the state’s congressional map violated the state constitution due to partisan gerrymandering. Under the state’s new congressional map, drawn by the court, the 6th District now contains all of Chester County as well as a portion of Berks County, including the heavily-Democratic City of Reading.
Top Republicans in the state Legislature have requested the U.S. Supreme Court to place a stay on the state Supreme Court’s ruling, claiming it overstepped its bounds in drawing the new map. Some Republicans, including Costello, allege that the Democratic justices on the state Supreme Court are guilty of “judicial activism” and should be impeached. Several GOP congressmen from Pennsylvania also filed a complaint against the new map in Harrisburg federal court.
County leaders also formed regional caucuses to hear from their state Senate and House contenders. After the votes were counted, the following candidates can boast Chester County Democratic Committee endorsements:
• State Senate, District 26: Tanner Rouse;
• State House, District 13: Sue Walker;
• State House, District 26: Pam Hacker;
• State House, District 155: Danielle Otten;
• State House, District 156: incumbent Rep. Carolyn Comitta;
• State House, District 157: Melissa Schusterman;
• State House, District 167: Kristine Howard.
Three caucuses voted to remain an open primary:
• State House, District 74: Dan Willams, Downingtown Mayor Josh Maxwell, and Frank Pryor;
• State House, District 158: Mark ‘Rick’ Nelms and Christina Sappey;
• State House, District 160: Anton Andrew and Cathy Spahr.
For a complete listing of all 2018 Democratic candidates running on Chester County ballots, go to http://chescodems.org/2018-candidates/.
Pennsylvania’s primary elections will be held on May 15.