The upcoming 2020 Pennsylvania Senate race will be one to watch as it could decide whether the Republicans or Democrats control the state. With such high stakes, the competition to become a Pennsylvania Senator is heating up.
On the Republican side, incumbent Pat Toomey has decided to not run for reelection due to personal reasons, leaving an open seat and a number of potential candidates trying to fill his shoes. At this moment, four Republicans are officially running for the seat: former Congressman Lou Barletta; pharmaceutical executive Jeff Bartos; state Rep. Jim Christiana; and businessman Paul Addis. All of them have unique backgrounds that could potentially play an important role in the future of Pennsylvania legislature on both a federal and state level.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party has seven potential candidates vying for the position. Congressman Brendan Boyle is leading in polls at the moment over State Representative, Steve Santarsiero; Lt. Governor Jim Cawley’s Chief-of-Staff Kevin Onochiefor; Chris Rabb, a Temple University professor; professional therapist John Stilley III; business consultant George Scott and Akron election commissioner Lindy Li. Each candidate brings something different to the race with their policy convictions that could prevent or encourage progressive legislation if they become their party's nominee.
In addition to the 11 candidates already announced, we should expect even more names to enter before election day due to how crucial this race will be in November 2020. Whether it’s a Republican or Democrat who takes home this seat, all eyes will be watching as their vote tally makes an impact on our government from both local and federal perspectives all around Pennsylvania.
What candidates are running for Pennsylvania Senate?
The 2020 United States Senatorial election in Pennsylvania will consist of thirteen candidates running for the Senate seat. Incumbent Senator Bob Casey is seeking a third term in office and will be opposed by Republican nominee Sean Parnell.
Parnell, a U.S. Army veteran, won the Republican party primary against four other candidates: former Pitt professor Robert Ardini; Gerald Lawrence, an artist and animal advocate; Cynthia Ayers, an Army Veteran and cybersecurity executive; and Edward Clifford III, an insurance executive.
Voters will also have the option to vote for a third-party or independent candidate during November’s general election. Three candidates have already filed paperwork to appear on the general election ballot: Dale Kerns Jr., a Libertarian Computer Network Technician from Montgomery County; Kenneth Krawchuk, a Libertarian Business Systems Analyst from Montgomery County; and Neal Gale, an Independent Structural Engineer from Montgomery County.
In addition to those six candidates listed on the ballot, seven other candidates have filed official candidacy papers with the Pennsylvania Department of State which allow them run write-in campaigns in both party primaries as well as November's general election. These seven individuals include two Democrats (Elizabeth Fiedler and Timothy Runkle), two Republicans (Johndo John and Norbert Layaou), two Libertarians (Dale Kerns Sr. and Alicia Gladden), as well as one Independent (John Ajs). The outcome of this important Senate race will determine which direction Pennsylvania chooses to go on many critical issues in our state ranging from healthcare to criminal justice reform. It is essential that Pennsylvanians make their voices heard by exercising their right to vote this fall for whichever candidate reflects their values best in this pivotal political season.
What political parties are represented in the Pennsylvania Senate race?
This November’s Pennsylvania Senate race is shaping up to be a particularly interesting one for individuals looking to stay informed on the American political process. With registered voters in the Keystone State representing members from all major political tendencies, it’s essential to know what parties are represented in this pivotal election. In the race for Pennsylvania Senate, three distinct parties are currently vying for control of the Commonwealth’s Senate seat: Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian.
The Democratic Party has often been seen as a champion of progressive policies such as health care reform and economic regulation protections. Incumbent Senator Bob Casey—son of legendary Pennsylvanian Governor Robert Casey— currently represents this party in Washington D.C., but his seat will be up for grabs this November when state residents have their say in the mid-term elections. Along with supporting a great number of traditional left-wing platforms, Casey has emerged as a figurehead for causes like equal pay legislation and sensible gun safety regulations. He has locked horns with President Trump on several issues, including immigration reform and health care rights for pre-existing conditions—issues that are sure to be at the front of voters minds whenthey head to the polls in November.
Meanwhile, the Republican Party counts Scott Wagner among its ranks as its candidate running against Senator Casey in this election cycle. Staunchly anti-abortion rights and labor union negotiator, Wagner seeks to end wasteful spending practices at both federal and state levels while improving Pennsylvania’s educational system. His fierce adherence to conservative ideals drives much of his platform while his commitment to individual Constitutional freedoms (i.e second amendment) forms an integral parts of his political appealand message.
Lastly, there is also a Libertarian candidate running for Pennsylvania Senate—Sean Moulton has taken up arms against traditional two-party system dynamics, taking direct aim at limiting government intrusion while restructuring government expenditure plans with individual liberty in mind. Moulton serves as an ideological compromise; drawing from both left and right-leaning ideologiesin order to cater towards individuals who may not find full satisfaction from either existing dominant party platforms put forthby Democrats or Republicans respectively.
As tensions mount heading closer towards Election Day this November 6th, more details and policy stances are sure to come about regarding each respective candidate’s proposal for moving Pennsylania forward into this new era of American politics. Whether that be from Democratic incumbent Bob Casey or his contenders within the Republican or Libertarian parties remains yet unseen until the votes are finally tallied up later this year.
Who is the incumbent Senator in Pennsylvania?
The incumbent Senator in Pennsylvania is Robert Casey, Jr. Senator Casey was first elected in 2006 and has since been reelected twice to represent Pennsylvanians in the United States Senate. He serves as a member of the Democratic Party, and his tenure has focused on issues like healthcare, labor protections, budget reform and economic justice.
Casey's Senate career has seen a number of impressive achievements. He was an integral part of passage of the Affordable Care Act, a massive healthcare overhaul that made it easier for millions of Americans to gain access to health insurance. His proposals for budget reform also earned senator Casey wide bipartisan support, leading the way to pass several important bills that have ensured fiscal responsibility within America's federal government.
Senator Casey's commitment to economic justice have had far-reaching outcomes as well - it is partially due to his work that Pennsylvania now boasts one of the highest minimum wages in the nation. He continues to fight for working families across Pennsylvania and beyond, with recent legislation aimed at making college more affordable and reducing student loan debt burdens around the country.
Robert Casey Jr is Pennslyvania's current United States Senator and he has been an effective advocate for his constituents since 2006. His efforts on crucial issues like healthcare reform, economic justice, labor protection and budgeting have made tremendous impacts both within Pennsylvania and across America as a whole.
What are the qualifications of the Pennsylvania Senate candidates?
In Pennsylvania, the candidate qualifications for a Senate seat are tightly regulated. To be eligible to stand for the election, each candidate must meet certain requirements set out by the state constitution. The person must be at least 25 years old, have been a citizen of Pennsylvania (or any other US state) for four years prior to their election, and they must reside in the district they intend to represent when elected. In addition, a candidate cannot be a member of any other branch of government; they also cannot hold elected civilian office while simultaneously running for higher office.
Once a person has cleared all of these qualifications, they can run for a Pennsylvania Senate seat. Candidates in Pennsylvania must also collect at least 500 signatory valid signatures from members in their district before submitting an official petition to register as an official candidate on ballot papers in their local area. After this step is completed, candidates are officially allowed to begin campaigning and enter their name into their local ballot papers for election season. Additionally, all Senate candidates in Pennsylvania must fill out various forms concerning financial disclosure and ethics issues that could theoretically disqualify them from participating in the race.
Overall, running for a Senate seat within Pennsylvania involves adhering to several rules and regulations that candidates need to follow if they want to be successful in the election process. Every potential Senate candidate needs to make sure they meet all the age requirements and citizenship stipulations while also receiving official petitions with valid signatures and disclosure forms pertaining to financial information and ethical problems that could potentially disallow them from running if their paperwork is flawed or incomplete
Who is the leading candidate in the race for Pennsylvania Senate?
The race for Pennsylvania Senate this election season is an unprecedented one, and many eyes are focusing on the leading candidate for the seat. As of now, the leader in the polls is Democrat incumbent Bob Casey Jr., who has had a relatively successful term in office since 2006. He currently faces Republican challengers Lou Barletta, Jim Christiana, as well as a few independent candidates.
Casey’s re-election bid is powered by his strong support base among senior citizens and union workers, not to mention his accomplishments on health care reform and gun control laws throughout his term as senator. Also playing a factor of his successful campaign are endorsements from well-known names such as Nancy Pelosi and Kamala Harris as well as multiple local unions. Not only that, he's been able to deploy sizable amounts of money for his campaign - through donations from organizations like Planned Parenthood and teachers unions - which has helped secure voters leading up to the big day.
Barletta however continues to gain some momentum in Pennsylvania’s political scene due largely to broad appeal among rural voters. The major source of this support undoubtedly lies with President Donald Trump’s strong endorsement of Barletta earlier this year. That being said, while Barletta has seen a rise in donations since then, it remains unclear whether or not he will be able to overtake Casey despite sharing similar policy stances amongst Trump’s base – making this decision one that Pennsylvanian’s will have keep their eye on until November 6th.
At present time Bob Casey Jr., is the clear frontrunner for retaining the seat for Pennsylvania Senate – but there is still time for Lou Barletta and other candidates to gain significant traction before Election Day arrives this November.
