The 2024 primary elections in Pennsylvania commenced smoothly on Tuesday as voters headed to the polls. By Tuesday afternoon, officials in Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, Lancaster, and Lebanon Counties reported no significant issues or disruptions. Samantha Krepps, communications director for Cumberland County, stated that voting seemed to be proceeding without any problems. Sarah Geesaman, Director of Elections and Voter Registration for Perry County, echoed this sentiment, indicating that everything had been running smoothly in their county. The Pennsylvania Department of State’s press secretary, Matt Heckel, also confirmed that they had not received reports of any major issues across the state.
In Cumberland County, the pre-canvass of mail-in and absentee ballots began at 7 a.m. The process involves verifying and opening ballots, preparing them for scanning, and then counting the votes. Krepps reported that the pre-canvass had been completed by Tuesday afternoon, although the results will not be released until after the polls close at 8 p.m. As of 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Cumberland County had received 14,292 out of the 18,894 mail-in or absentee ballots that had been sent out to voters. Voters have until 8 p.m. to return their voted ballots at the Bureau of Elections.
Lancaster County also reported the completion of its pre-canvass for mail-in and absentee ballots. The county had sent out 26,638 ballots and had received approximately 20,200 in return, according to Lancaster County spokesperson Michael Fitzpatrick.
Both the Pennsylvania Department of State and Lancaster County have announced improvements to their election websites. The Department of State has revamped its election night returns website, electionreturns.pa.gov, to enhance user navigation and search functionality. Lancaster County has significantly upgraded its elections return website, electionresults.lancastercountypa.gov/results/public/lancaster-county-PA/elections/2024GeneralPrimary.
In Pennsylvania, only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary, and only registered Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary. While both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have opponents on their party’s ballot, the races have been effectively over for months. Neither Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey nor Republican challenger Dave McCormick have primary challenges.
For the Pennsylvania Attorney General nomination, five Democrats are vying for the party’s nod: former Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, former Bucks County solicitor Joe Khan, former public defender Keir Bradford-Grey, state Rep. Jared Solomon, and Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer. On the GOP side, Delaware County state Rep. Craig Williams and York County District Attorney Dave Sunday are seeking the nomination.
Democrats also have contested primaries for Auditor General (Philadelphia state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley) and State Treasurer (Erie County state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro and Allegheny County resident Erin McClelland), as the Republican incumbents await the winners of these contests.
The marquee race in the Harrisburg area is among six Democrats seeking to take on U.S. Rep. Scott Perry in the 10th Congressional District. The candidates vying for the Democratic nomination are business consultant John Broadhurst, retired Army officer and Carlisle School Board member Rick Coplen, Harrisburg councilwoman Shamaine Daniels, former Harrisburg city government official Blake Lynch, retired Marine Corps pilot Mike O’Brien, and former newscaster Janelle Stelson.
Other primary races being closely watched in the Harrisburg area include the race for the 15th District Senate seat and the race for the 103rd state House District seat. For the 15th District Senate seat, which will become vacant due to the retirement of Republican John Di Santo, Democrats Patty Kim and Alvin Q. Taylor and Republicans Dominic DiFrancesco and Kenneth Stambaugh are seeking their party’s nominations. Five Democrats are competing for the 103rd state House District seat being vacated by Kim: Nate Davidson, Mercedes Evans, Laura Harding, Jesse Monoski, and Tina Nixon.
