Pennsylvania Primary Election Candidates

Pennsylvania Primary Election Candidates

by Frank Pizzoli

April 4 is Pennsylvania’s first Primary Election of the new millennium. Below are listed presidential candidates, statewide candidates, midstate congressional candidates and candidates for contested state House seats in the midstate. There are no contested state Senate primary races.

Across Pennsylvania, observers estimate that as many as 40 percent of the 203 State House campaigns — that’s 82 — will have only one candidate listed on the ballot. More than one-third of the 25 Senate races (there are 50 Senators in Pennsylvania) have unchallenged incumbents. For perspective, the entire House of Representatives runs every two years. Half the Senate runs every two years.

In Congress, Pennsylvania has 23 delegates — 19 in the House, 2 Senators. The state is expected to lose at least two House members when the 2000 Census is tabulated and congressional districts are retabulated based on population. Four of the 19 incumbent congressman face no challenger in this re-election year.

Presidential race

Republicans
Texas Gov. George W. Bush

Democrats
Lyndon H. LaRouche Jr., Virginia

U.S. Senate

Republican
U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa.

Democrats
Former Labor Secretary Tom Foley, Derry Twp.
U.S. Rep. Tom Klink,Westmoreland County
State Sen. Allyson Schwartz, Philadelphia
Suburban Philadelphia attorney Philip Berg
Suburban Philadelphia attorney Murray Levin

State Attorney General

Republican
Attorney General Mike Fisher

Democrats
Philadelphia attorney Jim Eisenhower
Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli

State Auditor General

Republican
State Rep. Katie True, R-Lancaster

Democrat
Auditor General Robert P. Casey Jr.

State Treasurer

Republican
Treasurer Barbara Hafer

Democrat
Former Treasurer Catherine Baker Knoll

Congress – 17th District,
(All of Dauphin and Lebanon counties, parts of Lancaster, Cumberland and Perry counties)

Republican
U.S. Rep. George W. Gekas, R-Harrisburg

Democrat
Leslye Hess Herrmann, East Pennsboro Twp.

Congress – 19th District
(All of York and Adams counties, part of Cumberland County)

Republicans
State Rep. Todd Platts, R-York
State Rep. Al Masland, R-Carlisle
York County Commissioner Chris Reilly
Cumberland County lawyer Charles Gerow
Cumberland County lawyer Dick Stewart

Democrats
Jeff Sanders, York County
John Moran, York County

State House – 104th District
(Northern and Western Dauphin County)

Republicans
Ben Margerum, Susquehanna Twp
Incumbent Rep. Mark S. McNaughton, Susquehanna Twp.

Democrat
Liz Hrenda, Susquehanna Twp.

State House – 196th District
(Suburban York seat vacated by Rep. Todd Platts)

Republicans
Spring Grove Mayor Beverly Mackereth
Shaun Small,West Manchester
Marilyn Schnee, Spring Garden Twp.

Democrat
Mark Campbell,West Manchester Twp.

State House – 199th District
(Suburban Carlisle seat vacated by Rep. Al Masland)

Republicans
Will Gabig, Carlisle
Dale Walker, Carlisle
Thomas Faley, South Middleton Twp.

Democrat
Margaret Tricarico of South Middleton Twp.