Rundown on PA midterms

By OWEN WALSH
Posted 11/1/22

PENNSYLVANIA — The midterm elections on Tuesday, November 8 are expected to yield some of the most impactful results on Pennsylvania politics in recent history. The winners in key races could …

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Rundown on PA midterms

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PENNSYLVANIA — The midterm elections on Tuesday, November 8 are expected to yield some of the most impactful results on Pennsylvania politics in recent history. The winners in key races could go on to play an important role in issues like a woman’s right to choose in the commonwealth, fixing the broken public education system, and the choice between transitioning toward clean energy or doubling down on fossil fuels.

Here’s what you need to know before mailing in a ballot or heading to the polls on Election Day.

Notable and local races

Governor’s race: As Gov. Tom Wolf’s final term as governor comes to a close, attorney general Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, is running against Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano. On abortion, Shapiro promises to veto any legislation restricting a woman’s right to choose, while Mastriano has said he would sign the “heartbeat bill,” which requires physicians to check for a heartbeat before performing an abortion, into law. He also said he would end funding to Planned Parenthood, and has called the slogan my body, my choice “ridiculous nonsense.”

The two candidates take opposite approaches to addressing the inequitable school funding system in the state. Shapiro has said that PA needs to increase its investment in public schools, while Mastriano would cut funding significantly and redirect that money to create a voucher program that makes it easier to send students to private, religious and charter schools.

Senate race: The retirement of Sen. Pat Toomey leaves a critical vacancy in Washington that both parties are eager to fill. Running for the Democratic side, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and his campaign team have garnered praise for their deft use of social media, especially compared to the relatively clumsy online presence of celebrity health guru Dr. Mehemet Oz.

Regardless of online campaigning, polls show the Senate race as extremely close following the only televised debate in which the two candidates took part. Due to a stroke Fetterman suffered earlier this year, the current lieutenant governor was aided by video monitors showing a live transcript of what was being said. The Oz camp has repeatedly used Fetterman’s stroke to call into question his fitness to serve.

During the debate, Fetterman dug in as the pro-choice candidate, while Oz said the decision should be up to local leaders. Oz focused in on fracking, a topic Fetterman has a difficult relationship with, years ago campaigning on the fact that he would never support it, but then saying the opposite during the recent debate.

House race: It feels as though it just happened, but Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-08), who represents much of the NEPA region in the U.S. House, is once again running for reelection against Republican challenger Jim Bognet. Cartwright has been serving the region for the past decade, while Bognet is a former Trump appointee, and worked on the presidential campaigns of both Mitt Romney and John McCain.

Click here to read the full story about the two candidates’ recent debate.

State House race: At the state level, Pennsylvania District 139—encompassing parts of Wayne and Pike counties—has been represented by Republican Rep. Mike Peifer for the past 15 years. After Peifer announced his retirement, Republican Wayne County Commissioner Joe Adams threw his hat into the ring to succeed him on the Republican ticket. Running on the Democratic side is advocate and educator Meghan Rosenfeld.

With an extensive background in finance, Adams said he would focus on lowering taxes, promoting pro-growth economic policies and creating more jobs in the area. Rosenfeld named education reform, environmental conservation and improving healthcare access in Pike County as some of her top priorities.

State Senate race: Thanks to recent redistricting of Pennsylvania’s legislative maps, some Wayne County residents have a new race to watch. The new state Senate map puts a dozen southern Wayne municipalities that were once part of District 20 —including the boroughs of Honesdale, Prompton and Waymart—into District 40, currently represented by outgoing Republican Rep. Mario Scavello.

Republican Rosemary Brown, who currently represents District 189 in the state House, is hoping to fill Scavello’s seat, and is facing Democratic candidate Jenifer Shukaitis. Shukaitis is campaigning on protecting women’s reproductive freedom, equitable access to healthcare, investing in education, and promoting “thoughtful green infrastructure.”

As a representative, Brown has promoted creating a “business-friendly, low-tax atmosphere that will attract businesses to Pennsylvania and generate family sustaining jobs.” She said she is also focused on issues relating to financial literacy education, fair funding to local school districts, school property tax relief and public health issues such as the opioid crisis and tick-borne illnesses.

Voting in PA

Election Day is on Tuesday, November 8. The polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Mail-in ballots and civilian absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. that night.

Pennsylvania, election, Governor, Tom Wolf, Josh Shapiro, Doug Mastriano, Pat Toomey, John Fetterman, Mehmet Oz, Matt Cartwright, Jim Bognet, Mike Peifer, Joe Adams, Megan Rosenfeld, Mario Scavello, Rosemary Brown

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