2020 PA State Elections Megathread

[Badger]

Well then, we will get un-gerrymandered maps for State Senate and State House soon enough.

But when?

[Badger]

With his record of convictions, how the hell did Justin Walsh get elected JUDGE?!?

[Badger]

I grew up in the 28th District. The fact that it was even remotely competitive this past election still boggles my mind. Of course it also blew my mind in the decidedly upper-middle-class Housing Development I lived in to see Obama signs springing up in 2008. Going home to visit my parents from Ohio I thought I'd somehow driven through a wormhole into an alternative universe.

Upper middle-class suburbs in Western Pennsylvania like the 28th District are shifting Democratic know where remotely to the same speed that Philadelphia suburbs have over the last 20 years, but there is some shifting.

Who knows, the race was closeish in 2018. Still a reach for Democrats though

[Badger]

Any possibility than a primary challenge is successful?

Which race?  Daylin Leach could easily be knocked off, yes, the others, I doubt it as things stand today.

But doesn't he have a decent chance of surviving only because his primary Challengers are so many and the splitting the vote? Or is one in particular emerging as the true contender to Leach?

[Badger]

But doesn't he have a decent chance of surviving only because his primary Challengers are so many and the splitting the vote? Or is one in particular emerging as the true contender to Leach?

Yeah, that’s definitely a scenario that could play out!  Now, keep in mind that I’m not a SEPA Dem, so I don’t have my finger right on the pulse of that faction of the party, but overall I know that Leach is widely seen as a liability by the state party at large, and also by many Democratic voters.  I’ll be honest, I think it’s within the realm of possibility that the state party or major factions within it endorse one of Leach’s primary challengers, as we really don’t need to risk a mass refusal to vote if Leach is the general election candidate.  Like you said, with that many primary opponents, Leach could squeak through the pack, but he’s definitely in boiling hot water as it stands.

I hear you. But doesn't Leach also have the slight advantage that his seat is safely democratic and has no realistic chance of flipping even if he is the nominee?