Candidates for the upcoming primary election are circulating nomination petitions, with a filing deadline of 5 p.m. on March 17.
The primary is May 19.
Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Republican, are expected to be unopposed in the primary.
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis is also expected to run unopposed. Garrity has selected Allegheny County attorney Jason Richey as her running mate. Richey could face a primary from John Ventre, of Westmoreland County.
U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-2nd dist.) will be running for re-election. The Republican candidate is Jessica Arriaga.
State Sen. Tina Tartaglione (D-2nd dist.) is seeking a ninth term. No Republican is expected to enter the race.
Democratic state Reps. Ed Neilson, Jason Dawkins and Anthony Bellmon are not expected to face primary or general election challenges.
Republican Rep. Martina White will be challenged by Democrat Rob Gurtcheff, a fraud investigator for a health insurance company.
Democratic Rep. Sean Dougherty will be challenged by Republican Wallace “Doc” Quinlan, a retired chiropractor and former aide to City Councilman Brian O’Neill.
Democratic Rep. Pat Gallagher will be opposed by Bill Griffin, a retired teacher and principal who worked at Austin Meehan, Kennedy Crossan, John Hancock and Gen. J. Harry LaBrum schools.
Democratic Rep. Joe Hohenstein will have a primary challenge from Mark LaVelle, who was his Republican opponent in 2022 and who was the GOP candidate for sheriff in 2023. Robyn Bird, who handles public relations and governmental affairs for Local 22, the firefighters and paramedics union, is the Republican candidate. Bird kicked off her campaign Thursday night at Bridesburg Pub.
No Republican will be filing in the 202nd Legislative District, but Democratic Rep. Jared Solomon will face a primary challenge from Robert Rudnitsky, president of the Take Back Your Neighborhood Civic Association. Solomon is the founder of that group.
Rudnitsky is running because he opposes a Solomon-backed plan to change Castor Avenue from four lanes of traffic to three, with left-turn lanes.
Solomon said the road diet will make the avenue safer for drivers and pedestrians. Rudnitsky said the change will hurt businesses during construction, increase traffic on side streets and lead to double parking that will impede police and fire vehicles.
Also appearing on the May 19 ballot will be a proposed change to the Home Rule Charter that would allow city elected officials to keep their jobs while running for state or federal office. ••
