The votes are in, and it will be Democrat Sean Dougherty and Republican Aizaz Gill battling it out in the general election in the 172nd Legislative District.
Dougherty, a lawyer, topped Democratic Rep. Kevin Boyle with 72 percent of the vote. Among mail-in votes, Dougherty was ahead by just 997-870. But news of police seeking Boyle for allegedly violating a protection from abuse order – which was discovered to be inactive the day before the election – seemed to hurt the incumbent at the polls.
Gill, president of the Burholme Civic Association, defeated former Army Ranger Patrick Gushue with 65 percent of the vote. Gill had a narrow 220-191 advantage in mail-in votes but stretched his lead at the polls.
State Reps. Martina White, Pat Gallagher, Ed Neilson, Joe Hohenstein, Jason Dawkins, Jared Solomon and Anthony Bellmon were unopposed in the primary and have no opponent in the general election.
In the race for president, Joe Biden took 88 percent on the Democratic side. Dean Phillips, who has dropped out, received 7 percent. Another 5 percent cast write-in votes.
On the Republican side, former President Donald Trump received 83 percent. Nikki Haley, who has dropped out, took 16 percent. Another 1 percent cast write-in votes.
In the U.S. Senate race, Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Jr. and Republican Dave McCormick were both unopposed.
In the Democratic primary for attorney general, former Auditor General Eugene DePasquale – taking advantage of being the only candidate from Western Pennsylvania – prevailed with 36 percent of the vote. Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer was second with 20 percent, followed by former Bucks County Solicitor Joe Khan with 16 percent, former Defender Association of Philadelphia chief Keir Bradford-Grey with 15 percent and state Rep. Jared Solomon with 13 percent.
On the Republican side, York County District Attorney Dave Sunday defeated state Rep. Craig Williams with 70 percent of the vote.
For auditor general, Democrat Malcolm Kenyatta defeated Mark Pinsley with 64 percent of the vote and will face Republican incumbent Tim DeFoor.
For state treasurer, Democrat Erin McClelland defeated party-endorsed Ryan Bizzarro with 54 percent of the vote and will face Republican incumbent Stacy Garrity. Bizzarro ran ads criticizing Garrity, but it will be McClelland facing the incumbent. All is not lost for Bizzarro. He is running for re-election to his state House seat.
In the 2nd Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Brendan Boyle and Republican Aaron Bashir were both unopposed.
State Sen. Jimmy Dillon (D-5th dist.) and his Republican opponent, Joe Picozzi, were both unopposed.
Both parties picked delegates to the summer national conventions. The Republican National Convention is July 15-18 in Milwaukee. The Democratic National Convention, Aug. 19-22 in Chicago.
Philadelphia voters approved, with 66 percent, an amendment to the Home Rule Charter to require the city to provide for the indemnification and defense of registered community organizations in connection with claims made against them arising directly out of their lawful participation in the city’s zoning variance process? Surprisingly, four wards, including the 63rd, 64th and 66th in the Northeast, voted against the amendment. ••
