This election year will usher in a showdown over the post of Pennsylvania governor and pitched battles for several commonwealth congressional seats that could tilt the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.
For the most part, these battles will play out in the general election, as Gov. Josh Shapiro tries to fend off a Republican challenger, Treasurer Stacy Garrity, and both parties feud over congressional districts. But the May 19 primary will still settle contests in several key races.
The drama is primarily on the Democratic side, as the party selects nominees to replace an outgoing congressman and take on vulnerable GOP representatives.
Here are a few Pennsylvania races you might want to watch on primary night.
Primary battle rages over deep blue Philly district
A Democratic footrace is on for an opening in a solidly blue Philadelphia district that had been held for a decade by Rep. Dwight Evans, who suffered a stroke in 2024 and announced he would not run for reelection.
Three frontrunners have emerged, each of them representing different factions of the party and levels of legislative experience. Because the district skews so heavily Democratic, the winner in this primary battle is expected to glide to overall victory.
The contenders:
- State Sen. Sharif Street, who has served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly since 2016 and spent three years as chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. Many see Street as an insider candidate because of his elected experience, family background (his father was mayor of Philadelphia) and endorsements from sitting city Mayor Cherelle Parker and a host of other local officials.By the end of March, he had raised the most money in the primary race so far, reporting nearly $900,000 in campaign donations, according to federal disclosures.
- State Rep. Chris Rabb, a Democratic Socialist who is viewed as the most progressive of the leading candidates. On the campaign trail, he has energized left-leaning rooms by vowing to buck his party if necessary and accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. He has bagged high-profile endorsements from The Philadelphia Inquirer and New York Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and was slated to appear April 30 on a streamed show hosted by polarizing leftist Hasan Piker.He has raised about $800,000 in the race as of March 31.
- Dr. Ala Stanford, a political newcomer who rose to prominence for her public health work during the COVID-19 pandemic and is Evans’ pick to replace him. A pediatric surgeon, Stanford left her job to focus on improving coronavirus vaccine access for marginalized communities in Philadelphia. Former President Joe Biden later appointed her as regional director in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Though she has never held public office, she hasn’t trailed too far behind her rivals in fundraising, gathering more than $678,000 through March.
A four-way tussle in Lehigh Valley
Two years ago, Republican Ryan Mackenzie ousted Democratic Rep. Susan Wild to claim the seat for this competitive district that spans Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton counties and parts of Monroe County.
Democrats are looking to take back the district, and four of them are vying for the chance to face off against Mackenzie in the general election.
The candidates:
- Bob Brooks, a retired firefighter who spent two decades working in the city of Bethlehem. He also has a long union history and is serving as president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association.He has drawn support from Shapiro and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and had raised a little more than $1 million in campaign contributions as of March 31, according to the Federal Election Commission.
- Ryan Crosswell, a former Marine and federal prosecutor who gained attention for quitting over concerns that President Donald Trump’s administration was misusing the justice system for political ends. His widely publicized resignation letter pointed to the administration’s decision to drop corruption charges against then-New York Mayor Eric Adams in hopes that the Democrat would cooperate with immigration enforcement efforts. He has raised the most of the four primary contenders, reporting more than $1.6 million in contributions through March.
- Carol Obando-Derstine, an engineer who spent nearly a decade working at PPL Electric Utilities. Born in Colombia, she immigrated to the United States with her family as a child. After beginning her career in the nonprofit world, Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey hired her as a regional manager, and former Gov. Tom Wolf asked that she serve on his commission on Latino affairs. Until recently, she has worked on energy issues for PPL.Obando-Derstine has picked up endorsements from Wild, the last Democrat to occupy the 7th District seat. Campaign finance reports show she had raised $543,000 through March.
- Lamont McClure, a former Northampton County executive and council member. He led the county through the COVID-19 pandemic and has touted his efforts to preserve farmland and open space. He has also highlighted his support for keeping a nursing home under county ownership. His campaign has reported about $501,000 in contributions this election cycle.
The central Pa. news anchor vs. the pastor
Democrats have their sights set on flipping GOP Rep. Scotty Perry’s seat in District 10, which covers Dauphin County and parts of York and Cumberland counties.
The establishment-backed contender is Janelle Stelson, a former local news anchor who nearly beat Perry in the 2024 race. This time around, she has already raised more than $4.3 million, among the most of any Pennsylvania congressional candidate, and has gotten Shapiro’s endorsement and support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
But she is facing a primary challenger from the left in Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas, a former pastor. Douglas has garnered support from immigrant rights advocates for his opposition to the Trump administration’s aggressive enforcement efforts.
Douglas, who has accepted about $122,000 in campaign contributions, has also drawn attention for being among a group of Christian leftists who are running for office as a counterweight to Trump and his supporters’ presentation of biblical values.
For her part, Stelson is a recognizable face in the district from her previous candidacy and her roughly 30 years on air with the Lancaster-based WGAL-TV News 8 team.
Voters likely won’t have an opportunity to see the two candidates square off in person, since Stelson has refused to debate Douglas in the primary. In a recent candidate forum, she only agreed to participate if she could speak at a different time from him, according to a WITF report.
Party favorite, outsider compete in Bucks
Democrats also hope to oust Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in the 1st Congressional District, which includes Bucks County and part of Montgomery County.
Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie is the establishment favorite for nomination, having secured endorsements from Democratic committees in both Bucks and Montgomery counties. His opponent is Lucia Simonelli, a mathematician and scientist who has worked as a climate adviser for the U.S. Senate.
As of March 31, Harvie had well outpaced Simonelli in fundraising, gathering more than $1.3 million in contributions to her $52,000.
