Moving the Primary: The PA Senate last Tuesday unanimously passed S.B. 428 authored by Sen. John Gordner, R-Columbia, to move up Pennsylvania’s primary elections in presidential election years by five weeks. The legislation would have the Commonwealth’s presidential primaries coincide with Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Arizona on the third Tuesday in March starting in 2024. The bill goes to the state House for consideration. The Senate passed an identical bill last year, but it died in the House. The bill is before the House for consideration.
Swearing-In: State Rep. Gina Curry, D-Delaware, was sworn into office last Monday. Curry won a special election for the 164th District in November. She previously served as vice president of the Upper Darby School Board, where she was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2019.
Governor’s Race: Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre, has announced that he will not seek another term representing the State College area as he pursues a run for governor. Corman joins a crowded field of 14 other Republican candidates who have declared or formed exploratory committees, including State Sen. Scott Martin, R-Lancaster, who announced his candidacy last week.
Lt. Gov. Race: Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced his support for State Rep. Austin Davis, D-Allegheny, for lieutenant governor. Rep. Brian Sims, D-Phila., is also running for the Democratic nomination. On the Republican side, former State Reps. Jeff Coleman and Rick Saccone, and Jerry Carnicella, a former candidate for the PA House and PA Senate, have formally declared their candidacies.