Will today’s expected national “Blue Wave” wash away entrenched local Republican incumbents in Pennsylvania’s state House and Senate?
While national media has their attention trained on the race between Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick and his surging Democratic challenger Bob Harvie for Pennsylvania’s first congressional district seat– as they should – there are five local races that could determine the balance of power in Harrisburg with Governor Josh Shapiro expected to win re-election handily against a very weak Stacy Garrity.
If Democrats can pick off key seats in Bucks County, they’ll be primed to expand their majority in the House and maybe even flip the Senate. Democrats have a one-seat majority in the House, and they are hoping to grow their numbers by picking off three Bucks County Republican incumbents that are more vulnerable than they’ve ever been in part because of the national mood and disapproval of Trump and the GOP. In the upper chamber, Republicans hold a 27–23 majority in the Senate, but there are two seats locally that Democrats think they can take to cut into that majority. The result would be a Blue trifecta the party has not known for more than 30 years.
Five closely watched races that will have statewide ramifications
1. In PA House District-18, made up of Bensalem Township and Hulmeville Borough, incumbent Republican K.C. Tomlinson is running against Democrat Bryan Allen.
Allen currently holds a lead at 52% to Tomlinson’s 42% with 6% of voters undecided as of an October survey posted by PA State Navigate.
2. In PA House District-142, made up of Langhorne Borough Langhorne Manor Borough, Lower Southampton Township, Middletown Township, Northampton Township, and Penndel Borough, incumbent Joe Hogan faces Democrat Kristin Egan.
Egan holds a 50% to 46% lead, with 5% of voters undecidedThe latest poll by PA State as of an October survey posted by PA State Navigate.
3. In the House District-143, which includes Dublin, Perkasie, Sellersville and Silverdale boroughs, Bedminster, Hilltown, Plumstead and parts of New Britain and Tinicum townships, incumbent Republican Shelby Labs is running against Democrat Tim Hayes, Dublin Borough Council president and independent candidate Chris Gambino.
Economic development, inflation, health care, and data center regulations are among voters’ top concerns in the district.
4. In PA Senate District 6, incumbent Republican Frank Farry is running against Democrat Eileen Hartnett Albillar, Bucks County’s Clerk of Courts.
A growing bi-partisan chorus of people opposed to AI Flock-type surveillance license plate cameras is one issue Farry supports. He is co-sponsor of Republican-lead Senate Bill 933, that would expand automated license plate readers like on roadways and PennDOT-owned infrastructure across Pennsylvania, Bucks County Beacon reported.
5. In PA Senate District-16, which includes portions of Lehigh and Bucks counties, Democrat and Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley is running against incumbent Republican Jarrett Coleman.
While data centers, Flock cameras, spending and health care are top campaign issues, Coleman has argued skill games are not gambling, and they should not be subject to regulation or taxation.
In July the state Supreme Court begged to differ when the high court ruled 4-2 on June 15, skill games are illegal to operate as they had been since roughly 2015 inside social clubs, gas stations, convenience stores, bars and other business locations.
