LUCKY 9 GET FREE RIDE – But Record Nos. File In Other Races
Two Republicans and seven Democrats running for reelection in the General Assembly can book around-the-world travel accommodations, not campaign at all, and come back just in time to be sworn in the first week in January.
They make up the Lucky House 9.
The Republicans are long-time seat-holders State Rep. Dennis O’Brien in the 169th and State Rep. John Taylor in the 177th.
Getting a free pass on the Democratic side of the aisle are State Reps. Michael McGeehan, 173rd; John Sabatina, Jr., 174th; Ronald Waters, 191st; Jewell Williams, 197th; Cherelle Parker, 200th; Mark Cohen, 202nd; and Dwight Evans, 203rd.
Without primary, but with General, opposition is 2nd Senate Dist.’s Christine Tartaglione. Tartaglione will face Gary Adam Feldman in November. Fourth District’s LeAnna Washington faces a primary tussle with Thomas Lamont. State Sen. Anthony Williams has primary opposition in the 8th from Carmen Hopson and Republican Rhashea Harmon in the General. He stands a good chance of holding onto that seat despite the time he will consume in the primary race for Governor. Should he fail in that quest, he’s an easy primary winner to return to his Senate seat.
Two of our three Congress Members, Bob Brady in the 1st and Chaka Fattah in the 2nd, have no opposition in the primary. The Republicans have slated Pia Varma in the 1st and Rick Hellberg in the 2nd. Only 13th Dist. Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz has no competition in the primary. She will face either Republican Carson Dee Adcock, Joshua Quinter or Brian Haughton.
Facing no Democratic opposition in the primary is incumbent Democrat Brendan Boyle in the 170th. He’ll face Republican Marc Collazzo in the general election.
State Rep. John Perzel faces competition from Joseph Gaynor in the 172nd primary, with four Democrats running to challenge him in November. They are Daniel Collins, Karen Rotondo, Kevin Boyle and Tim Kearney (second time around).
The 175th’s State Rep. Michael O’Brien is challenged by Peter Fiorentino and Daryl LaFountain in the primary and Republican Louis S. Schwartz in the General; State Rep. Tony Payton, 179th, has Matthew Franchetti as a Republican opponent in November. 180th’s State Rep. Angel Cruz is challenged by Anthony Johnson and Jonathan Ramos (the second time around for Ramos); 181st’s W. Curtis Thomas is in a namesake challenge from Lewis Thomas (no relation). Winner gets free ride in November. 182nd’s Babette Josephs is being challenged by Gregg Kravitz in the primary with no GOP opposition in November; William Keller, 184th, has no primary foe but GOP opposition in Stephen Pico; Robert Donatucci, 185th, has no primary, but faces Michael D. Bruno in November. 186th’s Kenyatta Johnson is taking on challenger Dyheim Watson in the primary and must face Keith Todd in the General; 188th’s James Roebuck has only primary challenges from Bryant Brown and Darryl Kegler; 190th’s Vanessa Brown faces only primary challenges from Audrey Blackwell Watson and Sharif Street; the same with 192nd’s Louise Bishop, who is wrestling with Will Mega and 198th’s Rosita Youngblood, who is challenged by Malik Boyd.
Busy with challenges in both the primary and General is 201st’s John Myers. His primary opposition includes Viveca Gresham, Pamela Pendleton and Michael Ellis and, in the General, by Republican Joseph Messa.
Both the 194th and 195th House Dists. have seen their incumbents, respectively State Reps. Kathy Manderino and Frank Oliver, elect not to seek another term.
That opened the floodgates in the 194th for challenges against endorsed Democrat Lou Agre by Bill Morris, Pamela DeLissio, Thomas Rolland, Joshua Cohen, Keith Newman and Harry Massele. The winner will face Republican nominee Timothy Downey in the General.
Endorsed in the 195th is Michelle Brownlee, with primary opposition from Warren Bloom, Anthony Ingargiola, Richard Purdie, Lee Ruffin, Christopher Rooney, Jamila Payne and Courtney Lewis. The winner will face Republican James Kernaghan in November.
The game gets tough in the race for statewide offices, starting off with incumbent and endorsed US Sen. Arlen Specter who faces Congressman Joseph Sestak and Joseph Vodvarka. Winner faces Pat Toomey or Peg Luksik, who duel in the Republican primary.
Gubernatorial candidates face primary and General challenges in both parties. With none endorsed on the Democratic side, it’s bloodletting for Auditor General Jack Wagner, Dan Onorato and Joseph Hoeffel. They will face in the General either Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett or his challenger State Rep. Samuel Rohrer.
Philadelphian Jonathan Saidel, with a unanimous Party endorsement under his belt, is favored with a strong Philly vote in the primary. Challenging him are Scott Conlin and Doris Smith-Ribner. Whom the winner will face in the General is a tough call, with eight running: Billy McCue, Jim Cawley, Stephen Urban, John Kennedy, Chet Beiler, Jean Craige Pepper, Russ Diamond and State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe.
…with eight running: Billy McCue, Jim Cawley, Stephen Urban, John Kennedy, Chet Beiler, Jean Craige Pepper, Russ Diamond and State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe.
Nine are running…Steve Johnson should be added to the list.
Where is Steve Johnson, he is the most known candidate in our area and on every other list?
Did Michelle Brownlee get that endorsement in the 195th district as part of her plea bargain agreement on multiple felony charges?
Kim, we truly do apologize for omitting Steve Johnson from our list. He is indeed running an active campaign for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor. His name was accidentally omitted from the Dept. of State’s earliest list of filed candidates, which we relied on. But he is now officially listed. — Jim Tayoun