In heavily Democratic California, 2 GOP House rivals grapple in nasty fight over Trump loyalty
CORONA, Calif. — No one would call California Trump country. But a vicious U.S. House primary is playing out southeast of Los Angeles where two Republican incumbents wedged into the same district are fighting over their MAGA bona fides and loyalty to the president. Rep. Ken Calvert, the longest serving...
Referendum changing Pittsburgh’s public notice practices may face legal challenges
Pittsburgh voters on Tuesday approved a ballot referendum that gives the city more options in where it can post its public notices. But the measure could face legal hurdles, as it conflicts with state law requiring such notices be printed in a newspaper, said Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for...
Scott Timko edges out Ethan Nicholas to earn GOP nod in 12th state House District
The third time turned out to be a charm for Cranberry’s Scott Timko as he earned the Republican nomination in Tuesday’s primary election race in the 12th state House District after coming up short in two previous bids. Timko collected nearly 52% of votes cast compared to 48% for his...
Voter turnout for primary election lags with few contested races on spring ballots
Westmoreland County’s political leaders have a simple plan for November. Democratic and Republican party heads Wednesday said that plan will be to drive up vote totals after a lackluster spring primary that saw turnout dip to 24% of all eligible voters. According to unofficial results released by the county election...
Mayes cruises to primary win in 24th state House race
State Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-East Liberty, is in line to return to Harrisburg for a third term. Unofficial tallies show the Democratic incumbent collected nearly 88% of the votes counted in Tuesday’s primary to defeat challenger Will Anderson of Homewood in the 24th state House District. No Republicans appeared...
The ‘misstep’: Catena explains controversial mailer following primary loss
A day after losing the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania’s 45th state House District to political newcomer Brittany Bloam, Allegheny County Council President Pat Catena said he does not believe a controversial campaign mailer targeting transgender athletes cost him the race. Bloam, a Robinson land use and zoning attorney, defeated Catena...
Where Trump falters with Republicans — and where he holds steady, according to a new AP-NORC poll
WASHINGTON — Republicans are unhappier with President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy than they were a few months ago, but they’re largely continuing to stand behind him as the war with Iran continues, a new AP-NORC poll finds. About 6 in 10 Republicans approve of how Trump is handling...
The GOP’s YOLO caucus is small but growing. That may spell trouble for Trump’s congressional agenda
WASHINGTON — The YOLO caucus is in session. In a Republican-led Congress defined by deference to President Donald Trump, there’s a small but steadily growing cohort who have found themselves more willing to break with the White House. Although the president maintains a firm grip on Republican voters, the expanding...
Voters pass ballot referendum on Pittsburgh’s public notice practicesVideo
Pittsburgh voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly supported a ballot referendum that will give the city more flexibility in how it publishes some public notices. Prior to the referendum, the city was required to post notice for public hearings in a newspaper of general circulation. The measure voters backed Tuesday allows the...
Camera Bartolotta wins GOP nod in contentious state Senate race
State Sen. Camera Bartolotta defeated challenger Al Buchtan by nearly 7 percentage points Tuesday night in a contentious primary race for the Republican nomination in the 46th District. As of 11 p.m., with all of the Senate district’s precincts reporting unofficial results, Bartolotta had collected 53.1% of the votes tallied...
State Sen. Wayne Fontana secures victory against newcomer in the 42nd District
State Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Brookline, secured another victory Tuesday, fending off his first challenger in more than two decades to win the Democratic primary in the 42nd District. Fontana, 76, defeated political newcomer Paul Steenkiste, a software engineer whose campaign marked the longtime incumbent’s first contested race since winning a...
Tony Guy wins Republican nomination in 17th Congressional District
Beaver County Sheriff Tony Guy won his Republican primary race against Robinson springmaker Jesse James Vodvarka on Tuesday night in the 17th Congressional District. Guy, 65, will face U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Fox Chapel, in the November election. Deluzio, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary, is seeking a third...
Jordan Omlor defeats Lisa Gephart for 59th District Democratic nomination
Newcomer Jordan Omlor defeated Lisa Gephart on Tuesday night in the Democratic primary for the 59th District state House seat. He will face Republican incumbent Leslie Rossi in November. With all precincts reporting in the district — which includes Latrobe, Ligonier, Derry, Mt. Pleasant and Unity in Westmoreland County —...
Brittany Bloam beats out Pat Catena to land Democratic nod in 45th state House District
Political newcomer Brittany Bloam declared victory Tuesday night in her race for the Democratic nomination and a spot on the November ballot in Pennsylvania’s 45th state House District. Bloam, a Robinson native, fought off Allegheny County Council President Pat Catena to earn the Democratic nomination. “I’m relieved. I’m happy. I’m...
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee wins Democratic nomination in reelection bid
An outspoken Democratic congresswoman from Allegheny County’s eastern suburbs is poised to earn her party’s nomination to run for another term in Washington in the November election. As of 10:30 p.m., with 96% of the 12th Congressional District’s precincts reporting unofficial results, U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, had collected 81%...
Jason Richey secures primary victory over John Ventre for GOP lieutenant governor nomination
Republican Jason Richey cruised to a landslide victory over retired UPS executive John Ventre on Tuesday night in the primary election for lieutenant governor. Richey, 54, of Sewickley, declared victory shortly after 10 p.m. as he held a commanding lead to serve as the running mate to GOP gubernatorial candidate...
Democrats Lisa Gephart, Jordan Omlor compete in 59th House District
In the state House’s 59th District, Democrats Lisa Gephart and Jordan Omlor will compete Tuesday for a spot on the fall ballot. The winner will go up against incumbent Republican Leslie Rossi, who is unopposed and has been in office since her election in 2021. Gephart, 59, of Mt. Pleasant...
Trump endorses Paxton in Texas Republican primary, boosting his challenge to incumbent Sen. Cornyn
ALLEN, Texas — President Donald Trump on Tuesday endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate, supercharging his effort to oust incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in next week’s runoff. “Ken is a true MAGA Warrior who has ALWAYS delivered for Texas, and will continue to...
Election 2026: Pennsylvania voters decide today in primariesVideo
Polls across Pennsylvania are now closed for those voting in person in this year’s primary election. A right and a privilege Sisters Anne-Michelle and Anna-Marie McMuldren were the only two voters in the basement of Grace Community Presbyterian Church in Lower Burrell to vote Tuesday afternoon. “The sun is shining,...
Referendum asks voters about how Pittsburgh publishes public notices
Pittsburgh voters on Tuesday will be asked to decide whether the city can change its requirement that notice for public hearings be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation. If voters approve the referendum on the ballot Tuesday, the city would be permitted to publish notices for hearings “via successor...
Patrick Stefano faces Harry Young Cochran in Tuesday’s 32nd District Republican primary
In the 32nd Senatorial District, which encompasses part of Westmoreland County and all of Bedford, Fayette, and Somerset counties, incumbent Patrick Stefano will go up against former state representative Harry Young Cochran in Tuesday’s Republican primary. “I was asked by a lot of people to run for our district, which...
Sen. Cassidy battles Trump-backed challenger in Louisiana Republican primary
NEW ORLEANS — U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy is fighting for his political life in Louisiana’s Republican primary on Saturday as he faces a challenge backed by President Donald Trump, the latest attempt by the president to purge the party of politicians he views as disloyal. Trump endorsed U.S. Rep. Julia...
Nicholas, Timko seek GOP nomination in Butler County state House district
The winner of Tuesday’s contested Republican primary race in a Butler County state House district could have a shot of earning more than just the GOP nomination to run for the 12th District seat in November. Republican officials have said the primary winner also would likely be the party’s logical...
Wayne Fontana faces Paul Steenkiste in 1st electoral challenge in 2-plus decades
Software engineer Paul Steenkiste is doing something no one has done in more than two decades: challenging state Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Brookline, in a primary or general election. Fontana, 76, has gone unopposed since being first elected to the state Senate in a contested special election race in 2005. Steenkiste,...
What to know going into today’s primary
Just more than 1 in 10 races across Southwestern Pennsylvania are being contested in Tuesday’s primary, with many races on either the Republican or Democratic side failing to field any candidates at all. Still, there are some key races to watch, including a Republican contest for lieutenant governor, two contested...
