The deadline has passed to file for the May 19 primary, though the ballot will not be set until challenges to nomination petitions are completed.
The ballot will be topped by the race for governor. Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Republican, are unopposed in the primary.
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis is also unopposed. Garrity selected Allegheny County attorney Jason Richey as her running mate, though he faces a primary from John Ventre, of Westmoreland County.
U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-2nd dist.) will face Republican Jessica Arriaga.
Democratic state Sen. Tina Tartaglione and Reps. Ed Neilson, Jason Dawkins and Anthony Bellmon have no primary or general election opponents.
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.
Mark LaVelle is challenging state Rep. Joe Hohenstein in the Democratic primary. LaVelle was Hohenstein’s Republican opponent in 2022 and the GOP candidate for sheriff in 2023. Robyn Bird is the Republican candidate. She handles public relations and governmental affairs for Local 22, the firefighters and paramedics union.
No Republican filed 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.
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. ••
