Five Democrats will challenge GOP incumbents for top Bucks County offices in November.
Municipal and county primary elections will be held May 20, 2025; general elections will be held Nov. 4, 2025, according to Bucks County.gov.
The Bucks County Democratic Committee has unanimously endorsed its slate of county row candidates.
They are Joe Khan for district attorney, Danny Ceisler for sheriff, Neale Dougherty for controller, Robin Robinson for recorder of deeds and Donna Petrecco for prothonotary (a principal clerk of a court), a press release said.
“At a time when the very foundations of our democracy are being challenged, it’s more important now than ever that we elect people who are dedicated to upholding the rule of law and the rights of all Bucks Countians. I am proud to stand with this slate of candidates who will do just that,” said Steve Santarsiero, State Senator and Bucks County Committee Chair in a press release.
Kahn served as county prosecutor, a federal prosecutor and county solicitor. He recently announced his candidacy for the district attorney’s office.
Republican Jennifer Schorn is Bucks County district attorney and announced she will run for re election, along with four other GOP county row officer candidates, Delaware Valley Journal.com reported.
“Joe Khan has a strong and proven track record as a former Bucks County solicitor and county and federal prosecutor. Bucks County deserves a district attorney who will fight to keep our community safe, and Joe will do exactly that,” Santarsiero said.
Kahn is a partner at Curtin & Heefner, where he is co-chair of the appellate section, which covers voting and environmental issues.
In 2020 Kahn was unanimously appointed Bucks County solicitor by the county commissioners, which includes Democrats Diane Ellis-Marseglia and Robert Harvie, Jr. and Republican Gene DiGirolamo.
“I am humbled by this overwhelming support from the Democratic Party, and I am honored to accept this endorsement. Bucks County needs a DA who has a proven track record of fighting crime, corruption and attacks on our rights. That’s what I’ve done for 25 years, and that’s what I’ll do as our next district attorney,” Kahn said in a press release.
Ceisler served in combat zones, courtrooms and in capitols. He served on the special operations counter-terrorism task force in Afghanistan and is a veteran of three Pentagon crisis management teams, the press release said. In 2023, he became a senior public safety official in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration.
“My time in the Army and working with Gov. Shapiro taught me the importance of strong leadership and accountability,” Ceisler said in a press release.
Dougherty is a former Bucks County controller (2018-2022) and was responsible for oversight of the county’s $500 million budget. He served as a New Hope-Solebury School District school member and as its president.
Robinson is a former recorder of deeds (2018 – 2022). During her tenure she led an historic Deep Book Restoration Project, preserving more than 700 deteriorating historic deeds. She previously worked in the county commissioners’ office for 10 years.
Petrecco has served in leadership roles involving local government as vice chair for the Bucks County Housing Authority, currently Pennsbury School District school board member, on the Historic Preservation Committee of Falls Township board, and as deputy chair of membership for Falls Township Democrats.
