Pennsylvania votes: Live 2024 primary election coverage

Summer Lee projected winner in PA-12

U.S. Rep. Summer Lee was projected to win reelection in the primary election for PA-12, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

Lee jumped ahead early with mail-in votes shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. The AP called the race at  9:21 p.m.

Read more.

Fitzpatrick projected winner in PA-01

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) cruised to victory for the Republican Party nomination over challenger Mark Houck for the 1st Congressional District. The Associated Press called the race for Fitzpatrick at 8:13 PM.  

Fitzpatrick, Chair of the House Problem Solvers Caucus, significantly outpaced Houck in the fundraising race, bringing $4.27 million in the election cycle to date as of April 4, which is the most of any congressional candidate in the commonwealth.

Fitzpatrick’s victory confirms a rematch for the 1st Congressional District between him and Democrat Ashley Ehasz, a U.S. Army veteran, who was unopposed for her party’s nomination. Fitzpatrick defeated Ehasz by nearly 10 points in 2022 for the Philadelphia suburban seat. 

Fitzpatrick is the only Republican member of the state’s U.S. House delegation to represent a district that Biden won in 2020 and remains the only Republican to not endorse Trump’s 2024 candidacy.

As of early April, Fitzpatrick’s campaign had $3.65 million on hand, which is the second highest in the state’s congressional delegation, while Ehasz had $820,000 on hand. 

Ehasz has raised $1.37 million in the election cycle to date, as of early April, which is the most of any non-incumbent Democrat running for Congress in the state.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) placed Fitzpatrick on its initial 2024 target list, although national ratings outlets like the Cook Political Report rate the race as “likely Republican.”

Polls have closed

Now, we wait.

Results here:

https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/

And we rely on the Associated Press to make the call. Here’s the AP results site for the Pennsylvania primary:

https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/

Votebeat reports newly redesigned Pa. ballots are confusing primary voters

A design change Pennsylvania officials made to prevent voters from making a disqualifying error on their mail ballots appears to have backfired.

The issue — voters failing to write the final two digits of the year on the return envelope — is leading some counties to reject ballots in the primary, despite the state’s new advice to count them.

Last fall, the Pennsylvania Department of State announced it was redesigning the state’s mail ballot return envelope, in part to reduce the number of ballots rejected for lacking a proper date, which is required by law. This year’s envelope has “20” prefilled in the year line and leaves spaces for the voters to fill in the last two digits.

One election director said a “significant” number of voters who returned flawed ballots had not filled in the last two digits of the year, and other election officials around the state echoed that observation.

Read more here.

Primary elections in Berks, Luzerne, and Philadelphia counties being monitored by Dept. of Justice

Federal officials are monitoring the primary election in Philadelphia and two counties where irregularities made headlines in 2022.

The U.S. Department of Justice said Tuesday that staff from its Civil Rights Division were in Berks, Luzerne and Philadelphia counties monitoring compliance with federal civil rights laws in the election. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice declined to comment on the reasons the three counties were selected. The division regularly deploys staff to communities across the country, the DOJ said. 

Pennsylvania voters headed to the polls Tuesday in the state’s primary election.

Philadelphia is Pennsylvania’s largest county with more than 1 million registered voters. Luzerne and Berks counties have been under scrutiny after problems threatened to disenfranchise voters in 2022.

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces federal laws that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Civil Rights Act, and Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, according to the DOJ.

A Luzerne County judge ordered polls to remain open until 10 p.m. during the 2022 primary election after shortages of paper for voting machines and emergency and provisional ballots prevented some from voting.

The shortages prompted a congressional hearing and an investigation by the Luzerne County district attorney’s office. A report from the district attorney’s office in June concluded that high turnover among county elections office staff was the primary cause of the poor planning.

Berks County was one of three sued by the Pennsylvania Department of State after election officials  refused to count mail ballots that were returned on time but without handwritten dates on the voter declaration on the outside of the envelopes, despite a federal court order requiring them to do so.

A three-judge panel of U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals last month reversed that order but voting rights advocates have requested reconsideration by a larger panel of judges.

The DOJ said complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931.

Biden campaign opens North Philadelphia office

PHILADELPHIA — As the Biden campaign announced the opening of 10 new coordinated offices in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, the message was clear in North Philadelphia. The Biden campaign is all-in on attempting to keep Pennsylvania in the win column.

“It’s April and you have a community campaign office opening up,” state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia) said. “What that means is that folks aren’t taking us for granted.”

Following Tuesday’s announcement, the Biden campaign now has a total of 24 coordinated campaign offices throughout the commonwealth aimed at get-out-the vote efforts.

Biden won Pennsylvania in 2020 over then-President Donald Trump by putting up massive numbers in Philadelphia and the surrounding collar counties. State Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia), who is the chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, said he believes voters in the City of Brotherly Love are key to keeping Biden in the White House. 

“Make no mistake,” Street said. “Massive turnout in the city of Philadelphia will make the difference in making sure that Joe Biden is reelected president.”

Read more.

In spite of some complications with the election falling on Passover, few problems in Pa. primary

Elections experts working with volunteers to ensure a smooth election say in spite of some complications because of the election falling on the Passover holiday, today’s primary is going smoothly.

“As with any election day, there are always a few issues that crop up,” Phillip Hensley-Robin, the executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania, said at a news conference. “We’re fortunate and happy to see there aren’t any big, systemic issues.”

Common Cause Pennsylvania and the ACLU of Pennsylvania are operating election hotlines that voters can call if they run into any issues voting. So far, according to representatives of both groups, issues have been minor. 

Because this election falls on Passover, a major week-long Jewish holiday, several synagogues traditionally used as polling places are not open to voters, and new polling places had to be established.

‘Confusion and delay’ bring unsuccessful end in bid to move Pennsylvania’s presidential primary

Hensley-Robin said that their hotline received a complaint that at least one new polling place in Pittsburgh didn’t have proper signage, leading to voter confusion.

“We are strongly urging that election officials do what they can to ensure all new polling places are not only advertised to voters, but include proper signage,” Hensley-Robin said.

While there were few issues reported on election day, the election falling on the passover holiday also caused some issues in the days and weeks leading up to the election.

“Recruitment for poll workers, recruitment for poll watchers and recruitment for our election protection volunteers were all impacted by the conflict with the holiday,” Hensley-Robin said. 

Marion Schneider, the senior policy council for voting rights at the ACLU of Pennsylvania said the group still has concerns with regard to late-arriving mail-in ballots that may present an issue for observant Jewish voters.

Schneider’s concern is for voters who follow traditional Jewish laws prohibiting the use of cars, phones and other electronics on the Jewish Sabbath and holidays like Passover.

“Religiously observant Jews can’t do anything that [election] day,” she said. “So ballots were late in some locations, and if voters didn’t receive their ballots in time, before all of these religious holidays, then they would be hampered in returning their ballot on time.”

Other reports of issues with the election have been scattered and, generally, of a predictable sort.

Common Cause Pennsylvania said it received a report about a polling place in south Philadelphia opening late, but the issue has since been resolved.

The ACLU and Common Cause Pennsylvania are also watching for issues with mail-in ballots being rejected, particularly as it relates to a recent court decision that improperly dated ballots can be thrown out.

The groups are urging all voters who submitted mail-in ballots and are concerned they may have misdated them to report to their local county election office to “cure” their ballot. If they’re concerned they will be unable to cure their ballots, voters can go to their local polling place and submit a provisional ballot which should be counted if their ballot is rejected.

Common Cause is also still watching to see if concerns about ballot drop-boxes expressed by primarily Republican politicians affect mail-in voting returns.

The group urges any voters who have issues casting their vote to call their hotline.

• For English speakers,  the number is 866-687-8683
• For Spanish speakers, it’s 866-839-8682
• For Arabic speakers, it’s 844-925-5287
• For Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Bengali, Hindu, Urdu and Tagalog speakers, it’s 888-274-8683

Kenyatta casts ballot and notes historic nature of his candidacy

State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia), one of two Democrats running for state auditor general, cast his ballot on Tuesday morning alongside his husband, Dr. Matthew Kenyatta at William B. Moore Manor in North Philadelphia.

“This is as simple as it is substantive, we deserve a government that works for working people,” Kenyatta told reporters on Tuesday morning. “That means having a watchdog and a public advocate who people know and get up every single day and fight for the Pennsylvanians who can’t afford a lobbyist, can’t afford big contributions to politicians, but who do deserve a government that is showing up in their lives in ways they can see, touch, and feel and that’s the gig of the auditor general.”

Kenyatta also reflected on the historic nature of his candidacy for auditor general. If he wins the primary over Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley, he’d be the first openly LGBTQ person of color as a statewide candidate in Pennsylvania. 

“I would just say this,” Kenyatta said. “It’s not everyday that a Black gay kid from North Philly gets to represent Pennsylvanians in this way.”

“It’s not every day that somebody gets to go and vote with their husband,” Kenyatta added. “And so, this is a special moment and I think a part of what it says is that people just want competent, serious leadership.”

In 2018, Kenyatta made history by becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ person of color elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

In December, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party endorsed Kenyatta’s candidacy for auditor general, making it the first time it is formally supporting an openly gay Black man for statewide office. Kenyatta has also earned support from various labor unions and elected Democratic elected officials. 

Kenyatta said that his background growing up in a working poor family in North Philadelphia will resonate with voters and will bring positive impact to the office. 

When talking to voters across the commonwealth, Kenyatta said they were responsive to his calls for reopening the Bureau of School Audits, and his proposal to create a Bureau of Worker and Labor Protections in an effort to “reimagine the office.”

Kenyatta is also seeking reelection to his seat in the state House.After casting his vote, Kenyatta joined dozens of other Democrats for a new Biden campaign office opening in North Philadelphia.

National Issues top of mind for some Harrisburg primary voters

Linda Ortega, 76, is a Republican most interested in the top ticket races — particularly the Presidential and Senatorial races. While the top races aren’t seen as particularly competitive in this primary, it was still important for Ortega to cast her vote at a Harrisburg elementary school serving as a polling place.

“Living in America, it is a privilege to vote,” Ortega said. “I think we all should all our part in keeping our country safe and well run.”

Ortega said the issues she is most concerned about are the border, inflation and using fossil fuels over renewable energy sources.

“The utilities are out of sight for normal people,” Ortega said.

Ortega was not alone among  Harrisburg-area voters in bringing their concerns about some of the biggest national political issues to the polls. While voters offered numerous reasons for coming out to vote in a primary election, which typically see much lower turnout than general elections, many were most concerned about major national issues.

Like her, Gerald Smith, 66, is particularly concerned about the state of the southern border. He also believes that Democrats have swung too far to the left on abortion access, though he believes it should be allowed in some circumstances. A Republican, Smith plans to vote for former President Donald Trump in November.

But it wasn’t these concerns that brought Smith to the polls. It was an interaction he had with the Dauphin County Treasurer Dominic DiFrancesco, who is running as a Republican in the 15th state Senate district race.

“I had an issue, and I contacted the treasurer’s office, and he contacted me back personally,” Smith said of DiFrancesco. “Although it’s an easy, easy bar for people to meet … very few people do. So I owed him one in my mind.”

Jessica, 39, a Democratic primary voter who didn’t want to give her last name, sees voting as a civic duty.

“I’m older, so I’ve been trying to tell my younger friends that, ‘you need to do this,’” Jessica said.

While she’s interested in all the races on the ballot, for her the most important issue is “reproductive rights, absolutely 100%.”

But Jessica is also concerned with what she sees as a threat to Democracy from Trump and others who enabled him in questioning the results of the 2020 election without any evidence of large-scale voter fraud.

PSA from the Pa. Dept. of State: How to report voter intimidation

From the Pennsylvania Department of State:

“Voter intimidation is illegal at the polls and at ballot drop boxes. You can help protect the safety and integrity of our elections. Report any voter intimidation or harassment you witness. Notify an election worker and contact our year-round voter information hotline at 1-877-868-3772.”

Voter intimidation is illegal at the polls and at ballot drop boxes. You can help protect the safety and integrity of our elections. Report any voter intimidation or harassment you witness. Notify an election worker and contact our year-round voter information hotline at… pic.twitter.com/i5lFn5vTRk

— PA Department of State (@PAStateDept) April 22, 2024

Solomon casts ballot, says fundamental rights front and center for Democratic voters 

State Rep. Jared Solomon (D-Philadelphia), one of the five Democrats running for Pennsylvania attorney general, cast his ballot early on Tuesday morning, joined by his wife, Tiffani, and daughter, Charlotte, at Max Myers Rec Center in Northeast Philadelphia. 

“This election is about our fundamental rights and freedoms,” Solomon told the Capital-Star in an interview. “I’m the only candidate with the courage to push back against Trump and extremists in Pennsylvania and protect abortion access and voting rights and that’s a message that I’ve heard that voters want in all 67 counties.”

Solomon, who is also running for reelection for the state House’s 202nd District, said that the protection of rights and having government work for them are the issues top of mind for Democratic voters in his district and across the commonwealth. 

“I’ve shown that in the Northeast,” Solomon said. “I’ve showed what it looks like for government to be responsive, accessible, and bring tangible improvements to the neighborhood. Those type of values and those desires I see in all 67 counties and I would bring as a very community based attorney general to the office.” 

Solomon’s campaign has been active on the television airwaves in the Philadelphia media market, including an ad painting the race as a decision between himself and former Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, citing internal polling. 

There has not been widespread public polling in the race.

Former Philadelphia Chief Public Defender Keir Bradford-Grey, former Bucks County Solicitor Joe Khan, and Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer are also vying for the Democratic Party nomination for attorney general. DePasquale is the only candidate in the Democratic Party primary not  from the southeast.

Lee vs. Patel in PA-12

The 2024 primary for Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District, which includes the city of Pittsburgh, a large chunk of Allegheny County and part of Westmoreland County has proven to be a knock-down, drag-out battle with a relatively unknown challenger seeking to unseat a rising star of the progressive movement.

It’s attracted national attention and thousands of dollars in outside donations, and may serve as a harbinger for how Democrats will fare in the November general election among its progressive voters. Read more.

Lee ran into Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey at the polls this morning

I just found our Mayor @gainey_ed voting and we wanna make sure you do too!

It's Election Day in PA and every voter should make their voices heard at the ballot box.

Polls are open until 8PM, so stay in line—doing your civic duty ensures our democracy stays strong. #PA12 pic.twitter.com/RJjGzcPOF7

— Summer Lee (@SummerForPA) April 23, 2024

Challenger Bhavini Patel posted a GOTV message

Hey #PA12 – it's time to make your voice heard!

Polls close at 8pm, so get out and vote at your local polling place.

And don't forget to remind three friends to do the same! pic.twitter.com/YzGqfwy25U

— Bhavini Patel (@PatelForPA) April 23, 2024

Stelson makes last minute pitch to voters in PA-10

HARRISBURG – Janelle Stelson, one of six Democrats running to take on incumbent Republican Scott Perry in Pennsylvania’s 10th district, already voted by mail weeks ago. Still, she stopped at a Harrisburg polling place to greet voters and, hopefully, win over a few at the last minute.

When she walked up to the elementary school serving as a polling place, she was mostly greeted by canvassers handing out pamphlets to voters, some from competing campaigns. The turnout had been slow, but steady.

“Even on the news you get in the bubble of trying to get all prepared and everything, and then it’s so disappointing because at large it feels like people don’t care as much until you get to November,” Stelson, a former news anchor at WGAL, told one of the people camped out in lawn chairs handing out pamphlets to interested voters.

As voters filtered into the polling place, Stelson introduced herself to each. She wants voters to know that she believes she is the Democrat who can beat Perry.

Stelson said her previous work primed her for the campaign. Stelson ended up as one of the top fundraisers in the crowded field to take on Perry, a six-term incumbent seen by Democrats as beatable.

Throughout her campaign, Stelson received criticism from some Democrats for being a registered Republican until only earlier this year.

“It’s been great getting out with the voters,” Stelson said. “It’s sort of a continuation of what I’ve been doing in the news. Everybody talks to you about their problems and issues and we’ve been doing stories on them. And now I’m listening to their problems and issues and actually trying to do something about them.”

As voting continues, Stelson will continue to turnout at polling places throughout the 10th district.

“You work really really hard, but it’s what’s required when you really care about what you’re doing.”

And we’re off: The polls are open

The polls are open across the Keystone State for the 2024 primary election. Although the big races at the top of the ballot were all but decided before Pennsylvanians went to the polls, there are several key races we’ll be watching. U.S. Rep. Summer Lee is facing a primary challenge in PA-12, and six Democrats are vying for their party’s nomination in PA-10 to take on GOP incumbent Scott Perry. Seven candidates — five Democrats and two Republicans — are running for the open attorney general seat.  Two Democrats are seeking the party’s nomination for Treasurer to face incumbent Republican Stacy Garrity, and two other Democrats are seeking the party’s nomination for auditor general, to face incumbent Republican Tim DeFoor.

Since Pennsylvania has closed primaries, only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote in their party’s respective primaries today. Independent and unaffiliated voters still have to wait until the general election in November to cast their ballots.

Keep checking back here today for continuous updates from our staff, social media posts from the campaigns and reports from county election offices. And if you’re looking for quick voter guides, we’ve got you covered with our candidate Q&As:

Candidates for Pennsylvania attorney general on the issues

Democrats in PA-12 primary on the issues

Democrats vying for PA-10 primary on the issues

Primary candidates for Pennsylvania treasurer on the issues

Primary candidates for Pa. auditor general on the issues