Pennsylvania primary ballot finalized for presidential races, Congress, state legislature

The field is set for Pennsylvania’s primary, with a slew of Democratic presidential candidates hoping to continue momentum — or finally find some — in the Keystone State’s late April election.

One of those who might still be looking for a spark, or to fan one that should have long since started smoldering, is former Vice President Joe Biden, the candidate U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, jumped out early to support in Pennsylvania.

“I endorsed him early for four reasons,” Casey told the Tribune-Review about the fellow Scranton native who often was referred to as Pennsylvania’s third senator (even though Biden represented Delaware.) “The three big issues are his character and integrity… his experience… and, three, his ideas, which aren’t getting as much attention and I hope they do. He’s got a good plan to protect the Affordable Care Act and bring down costs.

“And four, a very practical consideration, he can carry Pennsylvania in the general election. That’s just not important for a Democrat, it’s essential. If a Democrat does not carry Pennsylvania in 2020, it’s lights out and the president will be re-elected.”

Bloomberg | Michelle Gustafson

Joe Biden

Writing off Biden after poor showing in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary would be a mistake, Casey said.

“I think it’s still really early,” Casey said. “(Biden) does best among those broad electorates. I think he’s got a great opportunity in Nevada (caucuses are Saturday) and South Carolina (primary is Feb. 29), as well.”

And then, of course, is Super Tuesday, Casey said. On March 3, voters in 14 states will head to the polls to participate in primaries — and further decide the fate of Democratic presidential candidates before Pennsylvania comes into play.

The Pennsylvania primary is April 28.

Casey said he believes there are a couple Democratic candidates other than Biden who he believes could win Pennsylvania in the general election, though he isn’t ready to name them yet. Biden is still his guy, he said.

Candidates had until 5 p.m. Tuesday to file nominating petitions in Harrisburg. Below is the unofficial list in the state as well as Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.

Presidential primary candidates

Democrat:

• Joe Biden; former U.S. vice president and U.S. senator, Delaware
• Mike Bloomberg; former mayor of New York City, billionaire businessman
• Pete Buttigieg; former mayor of South Bend, Ind.
• Tulsi Gabbard; U.S. representative, Hawaii
• Amy Klobuchar; U.S. senator, Minnesota
• Bernie Sanders; U.S. senator, Vermont
• Tom Steyer; billionaire businessman
• Elizabeth Warren; U.S. senator, Massachusetts

Republican:

• Donald Trump, (incumbent)
• William Weld, former governor of Massachusetts
• Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente, California businessman

Statewide

Auditor General:

Democrat

• Nina Ahmad, Philadelphia
• H. Scott Conklin, Centre County
• Rose (Rosie) Marie Davis, Monroe County
• Tracie Fountain, Dauphin County
• Christina Hartman, Lancaster County
• Michael Lamb, Allegheny County

Republican

• Timothy Defoor, Dauphin County

Attorney General:

Democrat

• Josh Shapiro, Philadelphia (incumbent)

Republican

• Heather Heidelbaugh, Mt. Lebanon

Treasurer:

Democrat

• Joe Torsella, Montgomery County (incumbent)

Republican

• Stacy L. Garrity, Bradford County

Local races of note

U.S. Congress:

13th District

Democrat

• Todd Rowley, Donegal

Republican

• John Joyce, Blair County (incumbent)

14th District

Democrat

• Bill Marx, Delmont

Republican

• Guy Reschenthaler, Peters (incumbent)

17th District

Democrat

• Conor Lamb, Mt. Lebanon (incumbent)

Republican

• Sean Parnell, Ohio Township
• Jesse James Vodvarka, Robinson

18th District

Democrat

• Janis C. Brooks, North Versailles
• Jerry S. Dickinson, Swissvale
• Mike Doyle, Forest Hills (incumbent)

Republican

• Luke Edison Negron, Bethel Park

State Senate:

37th District

Democrat

• Pam Iovino, Mt. Lebanon (incumbent)

Republican

• Jeff Neff, Sewickley
• Delvin Robinson, Bridgeville

39th District

Democrat

• Tay Waltenbaugh, Hempfield

Republican

• Kim Ward, Hempfield (incumbent)

41st District

Democrat

• Anthony J. Deloreto, White (Indiana Co.)

Republican

• Joe Pittman, Indiana Borough (incumbent)

43rd District

Democrat

• Bill Brittain, Forest Hills
• Jay Costa Jr., Forest Hills (incumbent)

45th District

Democrat

• Jim Brewster, McKeesport (incumbent)

Republican

• Nicole Ziccarelli, Lower Burrell

State House:

19th District

Democrat

• Aerion Andrew Abney, Pittsburgh
• Jake Wheatley, Pittsburgh (incumbent)

20th District

Democrat

• Emily Kinkead, Pittsburgh
• Adam Ravenstahl, Ross (incumbent)

21st District

Democrat

• Sara Innamorato, Pittsburgh (incumbent)

Republican

• John Waugh, Ross

23rd District

Democrat

• Dan Frankel, Pittsburgh (incumbent)

24th District

Democrat

• William Anderson, Pittsburgh
• Ed Gainey, Pittsburgh (incumbent)

25th District

Democrat

• Brandon Markosek, Monroeville (incumbent)

Republican

• John Ritter, Monroeville

27th District

Democrat

• Dan Deasy, Pittsburgh (incumbent)

28th District

Democrat

• Emily Skopov, Marshall

Republican

• Libby Blackburn, McCandless
• Mike Heckmann, McCandless
• Rob Mercuri, Pine

30th District

Democrat

• Marco Attisano, O’Hara
• Lissa Geiger Shulman, Hampton

Republican

• Lori Mizgorski, Shaler (incumbent)

32nd District

Democrat

• Tony DeLuca, Penn Hills (incumbent)
• Erin Vecchio, Penn Hills

33rd District

Democrat

• Frank Dermody, Oakmont (incumbent)

Republican

• Carrie DelRosso, Oakmont

34th District

Democrat

• Summer Lee, Swissvale (incumbent)
• Chris Roland, North Braddock

35th District

Democrat

• Austin Davis, McKeesport (incumbent)

36th District

Democrat

• Jessica Bentham, Pittsburgh
• Mark Johnson, Pittsburgh
• Heather Kass, Pittsburgh
• Ed Moeller, Baldwin
• Jacob Nixon, Baldwin

Republican

• AJ Doyle, Brentwood

38th District

Democrat

• Tony DiCenzo, West Mifflin
• Nick Pisciottano, West Mifflin
• Victoria Schmotzer, Whitehall

39th District

Democrat

• Sara-Summer Oliphant, South Park

Republican

• Tom Kirsch, Bethel Park
• Mike Puskaric, Union (Washington Co.)

40th District

Democrat

• Sharon Guidi, Peters (Washington Co.)

Republican

• Natalie Mihalek, Upper St. Clair (incumbent)

42nd District

Democrat

• Dan Miller, Mt. Lebanon (incumbent)

44th District

Democrat

• Michele Knoll, Ohio Township

Republican

• Bob Doodato, North Fayette
• Valerie Gaydos, Aleppo (incumbent)

45th District

Democrat

• Anita Astorino Kulik, Kennedy (incumbent)

Republican

• M. Francis, Robinson
• Danny DeVito, Carnegie

46th District

Democrat

• Bryon Timmons, Cecil

Republican

• Jason Ortitay, Cecil (incumbent)

52nd District

Democrat

• Harry Young Cochran, Connellsville (Fayette Co.)

Republican

• Ryan Warner, Perryopolis (Fayette Co.) (incumbent)

54th District

Republican

• Bob Brooks, Murrysville (incumbent)

55th District

Democrat

• Joseph Petrarca, Washington Township (incumbent)

Republican

• Jason Silvis, Washington Township

56th District

Republican

• George Dunbar, Penn Township (incumbent)

57th District

Republican

• Eric Nelson, Hempfield (incumbent)

58th District

Democrat

• Robert Prah Jr., Rostraver

Republican

• Eric Davanzo, South Huntingdon

59th District

Republican

• Mike Reese, Mt. Pleasant Township (incumbent)

Rich Cholodofsky and Deb Erdley are Tribune-Review staff writers. You can contact Rich at 724-830-6293, rcholodofsky@tribweb.com or via Twitter @RichCholodofsky. You can contact Deb at 724-850-1209, derdley@tribweb.com or via Twitter @deberdley_trib.