Donald Trump’s Republican nomination may be secure, but GOP voters continue to express their disapproval by casting protest votes. In the Pennsylvania primary, Nikki Haley, who ended her campaign over a month ago, garnered a significant 16.5% of the vote. This suggests that over 155,000 Republican voters chose to support a defunct campaign rather than Trump, signaling potential problems for his general election chances.
Marc Anderson has emerged victorious in the Republican primary race for the 92nd House District in northern York County. Anderson secured 36.6% of the votes, narrowly defeating Zak Kile, who received 31.4% of the GOP voter support. The primary election results were released Tuesday night, paving the way for Anderson to represent the Republican Party in the upcoming general election.
The Cumberland County Bureau of Elections has released the unofficial results from Tuesday’s general primary election. With all 118 precincts reporting, 21,592 Democrats and 27,024 Republicans cast their votes, totaling 48,616 ballots. The Bureau of Elections issued 18,894 mail-in and absentee ballots, of which 14,963 were returned and counted. The unofficial results are available on the Cumberland County elections website.
State Representative Marci Mustello emerged victorious once again in the Republican primary for the 11th State House District, defeating Ryan Covert by a significant margin. Mustello, a resident of Butler Township, secured 5,263 votes, while Covert garnered 3,073 votes. This rematch of the 2020 Republican primary yielded the same outcome, with Mustello previously triumphing with 54% of the vote. In the 2020 general election, Mustello went on to defeat Democratic challenger Samuel Doctor with 72% of the vote.
Republican Jill Cooper has secured a decisive victory in the primary election for the 55th District in Westmoreland County, overwhelmingly defeating her challenger Jamie Lingg. With nearly 78% of the votes, Cooper is set to represent the district in the House for another term. She expressed gratitude for her constituents’ support and pledged to continue working hard for the community.
Fifth-term state Representative Russ Diamond has emerged victorious in the Republican primary race for the 102nd House District, defeating challenger Rachel Moyer. With a significant margin of 5,773 votes to Moyer’s 3,078, Diamond secured the nomination, representing most of Lebanon County. As the incumbent since 2016, Diamond plans to run unopposed in the November general election, barring any write-in candidates.
U.S. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) has emerged victorious in the Republican primary election for Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ. Fitzpatrick successfully defended his seat against a challenge from anti-abortion activist Mark Houck, who had faced accusations of assaulting a Planned Parenthood escort but was subsequently acquitted. The 1st District encompasses areas north of Philadelphia, including Bucks and Montgomery counties. Notably, despite President Biden carrying the district by over 4.5 points in 2020, it remains a competitive battleground for both Republicans and Democrats. Fitzpatrick will now face Democratic candidate Ashley Ehasz in the general election, a rematch of their previous contest where he prevailed by nearly 10 points. The Cook Political Report classifies Fitzpatrick’s seat as ‘likely Republican.’
President Biden has emerged victorious in Pennsylvania’s Democratic primary, according to projections from Decision Desk HQ. This win further strengthens his position as the Democratic frontrunner, despite facing a protest vote from some Democrats over his handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Meanwhile, in the Republican primary, Donald Trump is poised to secure another victory in Pennsylvania, leading Biden by a narrow margin.
Ex-congressman George Santos has ended his bid to return to Congress following his expulsion from the House over fraud charges. Santos, who had initially declared his candidacy as an independent, cited concerns about splitting the Republican vote and handed victory to the Democrats as his reasons for withdrawing. Santos’s campaign committee reported zero fundraising or expenditures in March, sparking speculation about its viability. Despite leaving the GOP, Santos’s post on the social media platform X hinted at potential future political aspirations, stating, “It’s only goodbye for now. I’ll be back.”
Pennsylvania’s primary election, held on Tuesday, will determine the candidates for the November ballot in congressional and state races that could influence the national political landscape in 2024. The state’s closed primary system allows only registered Democrats and Republicans to vote. Key races to watch include the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate between Sen. Bob Casey and challenger David McCormick, and the Republican primary for U.S. House in the 12th Congressional District between Rep. Summer Lee and her challengers. Additionally, the race for Pennsylvania attorney general is fiercely contested, with multiple candidates from both parties vying for the position.
