PRIMARY ELECTION 2024
UPDATE: Walsh upsets Cabell in 117th House District race
117th House District
In a stunning upset, challenger Jamie Walsh has apparently narrowly defeated incumbent state Rep. Mike Cabell to win the Republican nomination for the 117th House District seat, according to unofficial results from the primary election Tuesday.
With all 40 precincts reporting, Walsh, a gutter installation company owner from of Ross Twp., defeated Cabell, a Butler Twp. resident, by eight votes, 4,723 to 4,715 votes.
The official count will begin Friday and a recount may happen after that.
* 2024 Unofficial Primary Election Results
UPDATE: Walsh overtakes Cabell in 117th House District race with more than half of precincts still uncounted
117th House District
Gutter installation company owner Jamie Walsh has leaped to a commanding lead over incumbent state Rep. Mike Cabell in their Republican nominating contest.
With only 18 of 40 precincts reporting, Cabell has 3,148 votes, Walsh, 2,058.
120th House District
Security technology company owner Brenda Pugh has declared victory in the Republican nominating contest.
With 36 of 37 precincts, Pugh has 3,748 votes, real estate appraisal company owner and Luzerne County Councilwoman Lee Ann McDermott, 1,460, and flooring company owner Dallas School Director Patrick Musto, 727.
On the Democratic side, activist Fern Leard will likely win the Democratic race against Exeter Councilman John Morgan.
Leard has 3,334 votes, Morgan, 2,286.
121st House District
Republican Dino Disler may have won enough write-in votes to appear on the November election ballot. Tallies show voters cast 863 write-ins. Who received them won’t be known until completion of the official count that begins later this week, but Republicans ran a serious campaign to get Disler on the ballot.
Disler would face longtime incumbent Democratic Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, who was unopposed and had 3,660 with all 33 precincts reporting.
139th House District
Republican insurance agency owner Jeffrey Olsommer has defeated Democratic former Pike County Area Agency on Aging Director Robin Skibber in the special election to replace Joe Adams through Nov. 30.
With all precincts Olsommer has 7,140 votes, Skibber, 4,696.
In the Republican primary election between Olsommer and staffing company owner Matthew Contreras, Olsommer leads by a wide margin, 4,975 to 2,195.
Skibber, unopposed for the Democratic nomination, received 3,957 to secure her ballot spot.
109th House District
First-term incumbent Rep. Robert Leadbeter has won the Republican nomination over high school business teacher and Benton Area School Director Matt Yoder. With all 42 precincts reporting, Leadbeter finished with 6,376 votes, Yoder, 1,339.
Nicholas McGaw, unopposed for the Democratic nomination, officially captured it with 3,461 votes.
110th House District
Longtime incumbent Rep. Tina Pickett has defeated challenger Matthew Wayman. Pickett has 6,691 votes, Wayman, 989.
No Democratic candidate is on the ballot.
7th Congressional District
The Associated Press has declared state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie the winner in the Republican nominating contest. Mackenize has 20,556 votes, Kevin Dellicker, 16,193, and Maria Montero, 12,204.
The winner will face incumbent Democratic Rep. Susan Wild, who has received 52,202 votes.
Luzerne County Government Study Commission
Voters overwhelmingly want a commission to study the county council form of government.
With 142 of 186 precincts reporting, there were 26,250 yes votes and 12,194 no votes.
* 2024 Unofficial Primary Election Results
UPDATE: Cabell-Walsh 117th House District race too close to call, Olsommer wins 139th House special and primary elections *
117th House District
Incumbent Republican state Rep. Mike Cabell has only a 32-vote lead against challenger Jamie Walsh, a gutter installation company owner.
With only 9 of 40 precincts reporting, Cabell has 1,254 votes, Walsh, 1,222.
120th House District
Security technology company owner Brenda Pugh has declared victory in the Republican nominating contest.
With 35 of 37 precincts, Pugh has 3,556 votes, real estate appraisal company owner and Luzerne County Councilwoman Lee Ann McDermott, 1,376, and flooring company owner Dallas School Director Patrick Musto, 702.
On the Democratic side, activist Fern Leard has maintained a large lead in the Democratic race against Exeter Councilman John Morgan.
Leard has 3,288 votes, Morgan, 2,255.
121st House District
Republican Dino Disler may have won enough write-in votes to appear on the November election ballot. Tallies show voters cast 736 write-ins. Who received them won’t be known until the official count that begins later this week, but Republicans ran a serious campaign to get Disler on the ballot.
Disler would face longtime incumbent Democratic Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, who was unopposed and had 3,554 with 31 of 33 voting precincts reporting.
139th House District
Republican insurance agency owner Jeffrey Olsommer has defeated Democratic former Pike County Area Agency on Aging Director Robin Skibber in the special election to replace Joe Adams through Nov. 30.
With all precincts Olsommer has 7,140 votes, Skibber, 4,696.
In the Republican primary election between Olsommer and staffing company owner Matthew Contreras, Olsommer leads by a wide margin, 4,975 to 2,195.
Skibber, unopposed for the Democratic nomination, received 3,957 to secure her ballot spot.
109th House District
First-term incumbent Rep. Robert Leadbeter has won the Republican nomination over high school business teacher and Benton Area School Director Matt Yoder. With all 42 precincts reporting, Leadbeter finished with 6,376 votes, Yoder, 1,339.
Nicholas McGaw, unopposed for the Democratic nomination, officially captured it with 3,461 votes.
110th House District
Longtime incumbent Rep. Tina Pickett has a commanding lead over challenger Matthew Wayman. Pickett has 2,414 votes, Wayman, 416.
No Democratic candidate is on the ballot.
7th Congressional District
The Associated Press has declared state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie the winner in the Republican nominating contest. Mackenize has 16,548 votes, Kevin Dellicker, 11,984, and Maria Montero, 10,234.
The winner will face incumbent Democratic Rep. Susan Wild, who has received 47,344 votes.
Luzerne County Government Study Commission
Voters overwhelmingly want a commission to study the county council form of government.
With 135 of 186 precincts reporting, there were 24,498 yes votes and 11,420 no votes.
* 2024 Unofficial Primary Election Results
UPDATE: Cabell-Walsh in extremely tight race, but other incumbent representatives have safe leads
117th House District
Incumbent Republican state Rep. Mike Cabell lead has narrowed even further in his contest against challenger Jamie Walsh, a gutter installation company owner.
With only 3 of 40 precincts reporting, Cabell has 837 votes, Walsh, 828.
120th House District
Security technology company owner Brenda Pugh has declared victory in the Republican nominating contest.
With 22 of 37 precincts, Pugh has 2,406 votes, real estate appraisal company owner and Luzerne County Councilwoman Lee Ann McDermott, 929, and flooring company owner Dallas School Director Patrick Musto, 485.
On the Democratic side, activist Fern Leard has maintained a large lead in the Democratic race against Exeter Councilman John Morgan.
Leard has 2,806 votes, Morgan, 1,760.
121st House District
Republican Dino Disler may have won enough write-in votes to appear on the November election ballot. Tallies show voters cast 591 write-ins. Who received them won’t be known until the official count that begins later this week, but Republicans ran a serious campaign to get Disler on the ballot.
Disler would face longtime incumbent Democratic Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, who was unopposed and had 3,554 with 21 of 33 voting precincts reporting.
139th House District
Republican insurance agency owner Jeffrey Olsommer leads Democratic former Pike County Area Agency on Aging Director Robin Skibber in the special election to replace Joe Adams through Nov. 30.
Olsommer has 1,222 votes, Skibber, 965.
In the Republican primary election between Olsommer and staffing company owner Matthew Contreras, Olsommer leads by a wide margin, 2,439 to 1,198.
Skibber, unopposed for the Democratic nomination, received 3,100 votes so far.
109th House District
First-term incumbent Rep. Robert Leadbeter will apparently win the Republican nomination over high school business teacher and Benton Area School Director Matt Yoder. With 39 of 42 precincts reporting, Leadbeter has 5,384 votes, Yoder, 1,012.
Nicholas McGaw, unopposed for the Democratic nomination, has 1,702 votes.
110th House District
Longtime incumbent Rep. Tina Pickett has a commanding lead over challenger Matthew Wayman. Pickett has 1,711 votes, Wayman, 300.
No Democratic candidate is on the ballot.
7th Congressional District
State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie has moved out to a sizable lead over his two opponents for the Republican nomination. Mackenize has 10,994 votes, Kevin Dellicker, 7,300, and Maria Montero, 6,470.
The winner will face incumbent Democratic Rep. Susan Wild, who has received 39,320 votes.
Luzerne County Government Study Commission
Voters overwhelmingly want a commission to study the county council form of government.
With 96 of 186 precincts reporting, there were 19,490 yes votes and 8,884 no votes.
* 2024 Unofficial Primary Election Results
UPDATE: Incumbents winning contested state representative races
117th House District
Incumbent Republican state Rep. Mike Cabell's narrowly leads in his contest against challenger Jamie Walsh.
Cabell has 825 votes, Walsh, 792.
120th House District
Activist Fern Leard has jumped to a large lead in the Democratic race against Exeter Councilman John Morgan.
Leard has 2,269 votes, Morgan, 1,455.
On the Republican side, security technology company owner Brenda Pugh is dominating a three-way race.
Pugh has 1,337 votes, real estate appraisal company owner and Luzerne County Councilwoman Lee Ann McDermott, 568, and flooring company owner Dallas School Director Patrick Musto, 284.
139th House District
No results are available in the special election between Republican insurance agency owner Jeffrey Olsommer and Democratic former Pike County Area Agency on Aging Director Robin Skibber.
In the Republican primary election between Olsommer and staffing company owner Matthew Contreras, Olsommer leads by a wide margin, 478 to 68.
Skibber is unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
109th House District
First-term incumbent Rep. Robert Leadbeter has a wide lead over high school business teacher and Benton Area School Director Matt Yoder. With 21 of 42 precincts reporting, Leadbeter has 2,756 votes, Yoder, 523.
110th House District
Longtime incumbent Rep. Tina Pickett has a commanding lead over challenger Matthew Wayman. Pickett has 1,256 votes, Wayman, 224.
7th Congressional District
State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie has moved out to a sizable lead over his two opponents for the Republican nomination. Mackenize has 2,519 votes, Kevin Dellicker, 1,606, and Maria Montero, 1,038.
Luzerne County Government Study Commission
Voters overwhelmingly want a commission to study the county council form of government.
With 29 of 186 precincts reporting, there were 12,612 yes votes and 5,631 no votes.
* 2024 Unofficial Primary Election Results
UPDATE: Early primary unofficial results have started to come in
117th House District
Incumbent Republican state Rep. Mike Cabell has moved out to 9 percentage point lead in his contest against challenger Jamie Walsh.
Cabell has 690 votes, Walsh, 576
120th House District
Activist Fern Leard has jumped to a large lead in the Democratic race against Exeter Councilman John Morgan.
Leard has 1,861 votes, Morgan, 1,140.
On the Republican side, security technology company owner Brenda Pugh is dominating a three-way race.
Pugh has 740 votes, real estate appraisal company owner and Luzerne County Councilwoman Lee Ann McDermott, 303, and flooring company owner Dallas School Director Patrick Musto, 188.
139th House District
No results are available in the special election between Republican insurance agency owner Jeffrey Olsommer and Democratic former Pike County Area Agency on Aging Director Robin Skibber.
In the Republican primary election between Olsommer and staffing company owner Matthew Contreras, Olsommer leads by a wide margin, 478 to 68.
Skibber is unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
109th House District
No results are available in the Republican primary election between first-term incumbent Rep. Robert Leadbeter and high school business teacher and Benton Area School Director Matt Yoder.
110th House District
No results are available in the Republican primary election between longtime incumbent Rep. Tina Pickett and high school business teacher and challenger Matthew Wayman.
7th Congressional District
No results are available in the Republican primary election between state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, Kevin Dellicker and Maria Montero.
* Unofficial Primary Election Results
Polls closed
At 8 p.m., polls are now closed and the votes are on their way to being counted.
Vote counts may be low as most local elections directors reported below-average turnout throughout the day.
Check WVIA News for regular updates on the results.
Unexpected low turnout, county voters weigh ballot question
Voter turnout was unusually low at the Hazle Twp. municipal building, according to Kristy Heiland, judge of elections for the Luzerne County ward.
Out of 934 registered voters in the district, Heiland said only 75 casted their ballots by around 2 p.m. on election day.
“Normally by this time, we’re well over 100 or 150,” she said. “I was expecting a lot more voters to come out today.”
Ann Russell voted with a mind toward “taking care of seniors.”
“I’m one of them, and it just keeps getting harder and harder,” she said. “My husband's now in the hospital, and it's rough. (I'm) trying to make arrangements to get him home. And, you know, out of pocket paying, it hurts.”
Deborah Victor hoped that her “picks” would make a difference on the economy and border security.
“The system is broken and needs to be fixed in that regard,” she said. “And the economy, the prices, just look at what’s happening in today’s world. So yeah, those two are the biggest two right now.”
Voters in Luzerne County also had an extra question on the ballot - whether or not to form a government study commission that could change the county’s system of government.
Russell said she was not well versed about the issue before arriving at the polls, but she voted in favor of the study.
“Maybe, if some... different people take a look at it, they would see maybe where they're spending money (and) where they don't need to,” she said.
Victor also voted in favor of the commission.
“I thought if a study is going to be conducted and it's going to be for the good of the community and the whole area, then do it for sure,” she said.
“Steady, steady" election day at the top of Lackawanna County
Cars pulled in and out the Jefferson Twp. Volunteer Fire Company before 3 p.m.
Inside, the fire company held a hoagie sale as voters filled out ballots at tables.
Michelle Bistran is elections majority inspector and Carol Fox-Wallace is the judge of elections.
“Steady, steady … It's been very steady for us,” they both agreed.
That’s average for Jefferson Twp. However, Bistran said the local elections usually bring out more voters.
Fox-Wallace said there's been no issue in the precinct.
Honesdale voters say they want to take Pennsylvania for the Republican party
Honesdale voters said they see the 2024 general election as their chance to fix domestic and foreign policy.
Jason Berkihiser said Pennsylvania’s votes in November will decide the nation’s future.
“With the push with Pennsylvania…it’s always been a purple state in my eyes. But, I think this is the year that we can make an impact,” said Berkihiser.
He voted Republican down the ballot.
Michael Strumsky did the same. He was motivated by two issues, immigration and the economy.
“The border is so wide open. There’s so many things coming that are not being checked and not being vetted, okay? And then with the economy, I see [problems] every day [when] I go to fill up my tank of gas and when I go to the grocery store or to go shopping anywhere else. Prices are outrageous. It’s ridiculous.” said Strumsky. “So, don’t ask who I’m voting for, I think you already know.”
Mike O’Day hopes Donald Trump will settle America’s divide on foreign policy. He said college campuses are in “chaos” over the Israel/Palestine War.
“I never thought I’d see that in this country where young people would be rooting for the bad guys.”
He expects Trump will punish pro-Palestine student protestors.
“They should be expelled from school. And if they’re in this country from another country, they should be deported,” said O’Day. “They don’t want to be Americans. They don’t believe in equality, except [for] themselves.”
Feelings mixed on Trump and Biden
Voters slowly trickled into Lycoming County precincts where political signs promoting candidates dotted the outdoor landscape. They came and went quickly.
County elections director Forrest Lehman expected low voter turnout.
“Our mail ballot numbers are relatively low. The call volume anecdotally feels relatively low too,” Lehmann said.
Lehman was unsure how many Republicans and Democrats voted. Historically, he said half of each party’s voters turn out.
“Based on what we’re seeing, I’m not sure we’re going to get to 50% today,” he said.
Outside the polling place at the Lycoming College Recreation Center on Mulberry Street in Williamsport, Charles Muffley strongly voiced support for Trump. His biggest concern was the border crisis.
“People coming in from all over and you don’t know who they are. It’s between God and Donald J. Trump to fix it,” Muffley said.
The Huffman family stood outside the Thompson Professional Development Center at Penn College shared their worries about Trump winning election again. They did not elaborate.
“So, I’ll be voting for Biden,” Kevin Huffman said.
Marianne Huffman, his mother, doesn’t like Trump, but cut herself off before saying more about why.
“I have a reservation about Biden. But he is the only one running that I will vote for because I don’t believe in Trump,” she said.
Paul Huffman, Kevin’s father, said he won’t vote for Trump either.
“I’m not voting for Trump. I don’t like Trump and I don’t like his attitude,” he said.
Richard Brown spoke outside the Monsignor Fleming Parish Center polling place on 4th Street in Williamsport.
He’s worried about inflation and the high prices of gasoline and housing.
“All the prices doubled six months ago. Gas is almost $5 a gallon. And housing, the rent around here used to be $450 and now it’s $1,200 monthly,” he said.
Brown was conflicted on the two-party system. He had concerns about another Biden vs. Trump election.
“My mom was a Democrat all her life. She had me pinned against the Republicans and vice versa. But they’re (Republicans and Democrats) fooling the American people. They’re saying one or the other, but they’re all working together collectively to throw a facade over the American people,” he said.
Bradford County couple votes on issues regardless of party
As voters trickled in to vote at the Wysox Municipal Building mid-morning, Mary Martin said, "I'm not voting for Donald Trump."
She was pleased with the foreign aid package that the U.S. House passed last week.
"I think they finally did the right thing and worked together. And once you get elected and you're in D.C., your job is to work with everybody to make sure we all benefit," she said. "You're not there to be a Democrat or Republican ... I think they need to get away from politics and get back to where they're supposed to be."
Wilson Martin said he voted to reelect State Representative Tina Pickett (R-110th) for a 13th term.
"I trust her and I believe she's doing an excellent job," he said.
The couple added that they are both pro-choice.
"What a woman does with her body is up to her and her doctor," Wilson Martin said.
With slow start to primary in Lackawanna County, voters in Scranton voice concerns about social issues
Voters slowly trickled into Scranton High School to cast votes around 11 a.m.
Susan and Tim O’Hearn believe U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and President Joe Biden — all Democrats — can make a difference.
"I would be interested in the abortion issue, you know, in the fight," said Susan.
Tim never missed a vote in his life.
"Well, just to do my duty as an American citizen, that's the first thing." he said.
Lauren Kulick voted for Dean Phillips. She found out today he dropped out of the race. She’s a registered Democrat. Tuesday was the first ballot she’s ever cast in a presidential election.
"If I can be completely honest, I don't want Joe Biden to be the president or Trump," she said.
Social issues are on the ballot for her.
"It's definitely important for like, for women, for people that aren't white, everybody, transgender people, LGBTQ+ community ... we need solid people in the government that are going to be supporting those issues," she said.
Kulick is concerned that the people in top positions are in their 80s and 90s despite the younger age of the majority of the country.
"That's what needs to be reflected in our government," she said.
The choice of candidates is discouraging her from voting in the general election. But Kulick said ultimately if it comes down to Biden and Trump in November, she will cast a vote for Biden.
Maria Santomauro shared that sentiment.
"I have this innate belief that we really need to start stepping aside and letting in the young people, and I just wish that there were more viable candidates in that age group," she said. "I believe it's time to pass the baton.”
She cast a vote for Joe Khan for PA Attorney General.
"He seems like he's got a heart," Santomauro said.
At the Lackawanna County Government Center, employees are opening, pre-canvassing and canvassing 11,000 mail-in and absentee ballots.
Voters have until 8 p.m. to drop off their mail-in ballots to the center on Wyoming Avenue in downtown Scranton, said Beth Hopkins, elections director.
"From what we are getting ... from the judges of election, it's kind of a slow day so far, slow start," she said. "Hopefully that will pick up as the day goes on."
Near Montrose, border security, women's rights - and soup - on the minds of voters
Voter turnout can be measured by pints and quarts of soup at the Montrose Library. During more contested races, especially general elections in November, soup for a library fundraiser is gone by lunchtime.
Shortly before noon on Tuesday, containers of chili, carrot ginger and other varieties still sat in a cooler for sale. The soup, made by volunteers, raises about $700 during each election.
Bruce and Eileen Baessler arrived to the library at 6 a.m., setting up the soup just outside the polls. The couple made split pea and in honor of late librarian Sue Stone, cooked the soup she had made for years: leek and potato.
“Some people buy a lot because they like frozen soup for their freezer,” Eileen Bassler said. “Other people just buy a pint. They’re going to take it home and have it for lunch. But it's a nice little fundraiser for the library.”
As people visited the polls for Bridgewater Twp., just outside of Montrose, soup wasn’t the only thing on their minds.
Cheryl Kerr, a retired teacher, thought about her grandchildren as she voted.
“I’m mad about the border, I’ll tell you that,” she said. “I'm mad about what's going on in our cities and just want a better place for my grandkids, to have them grow up like how I grew up. It was great living here. I can't imagine living in the big cities.”
Susan Chance had women’s rights on her mind.
“I'm feeling that we've backtracked,” she said. “We need to make sure we've got women on equal footing as the men … and to make sure that women have the right to make their own decisions about their bodies. It's very important to me. Critically important.”
Election day 'under control' in Luzerne County
In Wilkes-Barre, Marymount School at Our Lady of Hope Parish houses two voting wards. Judge of Elections Shirley Redick said one has been busier than the other, but by 11 a.m. on election day, things were running smoothly.
“The machines worked,” she said. “The new pollbooks work.”
Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo said everything was under control for the election just after 10 a.m. The county has dealt with various issues in recent elections, and the U.S. Department of Justice was monitoring today’s election in the county.
Redick expects more voters “after work,” as always, but said they’ll most likely see even more this year for the presidential primary.
Beth Ann Stair was one voter at the Wilkes-Barre polling place this morning. Among her chief concerns - the economy and border security.
“I could go on, there’s just so much,” she said. “Corruption, corruption is huge.”
She voted for former president Donald Trump in the presidential primary because she said he can make a difference with the border. But, she said, she’s not sure what local and state candidates will do about her concerns.
“Local and state, I’m not sure. I have my ifs about all of them because I don’t really know them,” she said. “I’m never sure how they’re going to be until they get in there and then you’re either happy or sorry.”
WVIA News Team out and about in the region
Follow along today as the WVIA News Team brings you updated election news from Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania.
We are asking voters about the most critical issues that concern them and why.
A quiet polling place in Susquehanna County
Shortly after 10 a.m., 11 people had cast ballots at the Hop Bottom Borough Building.
In a borough of about 300 residents, and without hotly contested races, that's about average, poll workers said.
"We have a small but very dedicated group of voters who are here every year," said Tim Potter, judge of elections. "Depending on how busy things are, how big the election is, we will get more people in."
The borough in southern Susquehanna County has 177 people registered to vote.
Sunny skies, and a slow start in Kingston?
It was sunny and 45 degrees at the Kingston Rec Center around 8:30 a.m., but despite favorable conditions voting seemed to be off to a slow start this morning.
Campaign workers handing out leaflets said they had seen a handful of people since the polls opened.
While it's perhaps too early to say for sure, they wondered if many in the community's large Jewish population might have opted to vote by mail-in ballot due to Passover.
In addition to legislative races, all registered voters in Luzerne County can cast ballots on whether the county should empanel another government study commission. The commission would consider possible changes to the current form of government, which went into effect in January 2012. Candidates for the commission are also on the ballot.
Local issues were definitely on the mind of Kingston resident Christian Krupsha as he left the polls.
"In Kingston, I'm worried about the tax base, and in Luzerne County it's the government study commission," Krupsha said, though he politely declined to elaborate on his thoughts about the study commission.
Krupsha did say he felt it was essential to vote in person.
"I think it's the only way to vote," he said, adding that mail-in voting makes it "too easy to game the system."
"We have a civic responsibility. We really need to show up and vote," Krupsha said.
Sunny and warm weather expected as voters head to the polls
Polls have opened for the primary election and will remain open until 8 p.m.
Voters in northeastern and central Pennsylvania can expect a sunny and warm election day with a high near 67 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Mail-in ballots must be received by county bureaus of elections by 8 p.m. to count.
Mostly, only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote today with a couple of notable exceptions.
In Luzerne County, all registered voters can cast ballots on whether the county should empanel another government study commission. The commission would consider possible changes to the current form of government, which went into effect in January 2012. Candidates for the commission are also on the ballot.
In parts of Pike and Wayne counties, voters will elect a new state representative for the 139th House District in a special election to replace Joe Adams. Adams resigned in February for personal reasons. Either Jeffrey Olsommer, the Republican candidate, or Robin Skibber, the Democratic candidate, will replace him through Nov. 30.
Both are also on the ballot for Republican and Democratic nominations in the primary. Skibber faces no opposition for the Democratic nomination, but Olsommer faces a challenge from Matthew Contreras. The Olsommer-Contreras winner will face Skibber in the Nov. 5 election unless a write-in candidate defeats Skibber. The winner will serve a two-year term beginning Dec. 1.
Republicans and Democrats will also formally nominate the presidential candidates, ex-President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, so they can be on the Nov. 5 election ballot.
Voters will also choose delegates to the Democratic and Republican presidential nominating conventions.
Democratic voters have a choice of candidates in contested races for state attorney general, auditor general and treasurer.
On the Republican side, only the attorney general’s race is contested. Incumbent state Treasurer Stacy Garrity and incumbent Auditor General Timothy DeFoor have no opposition.
In the attorney general’s race, York County District Attorney David Sunday has the state Republican Party endorsement against state Rep. Craig Williams of Delaware County.
Five seek the Democratic nomination – Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, former state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale of Allegheny County, state Rep. Jared Solomon of Philadelphia, former Philadelphia Chief Public Defender Keir Bradford-Grey and former Bucks County solicitor Joe Khan.
In the auditor general’s race, state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta of Philadelphia and Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley want the Democratic nomination and the chance to face DeFoor.
In the treasurer’s race, state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro of Erie County is matched up against Erin McClelland, of Allegheny County, a former substance abuse counselor and project manager for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. The winner will face Garrity, also a potential future governor candidate.
The only other statewide race this year is for U.S. Senate, but incumbent Democrat Bob Casey and Republican former hedge fund manager Dave McCormick are unopposed for the nominations.
Only four other state representative and no state Senate races in northeastern and north central Pennsylvania are contested.
In House District 109, which encompasses all of Columbia County, incumbent first-term Rep. Robert Leadbeter III faces a challenge from Benton Area School Director Matt Yoder, a teacher, for the Republican nomination. The winner will face Nicholas McGaw in November. McGaw is unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
In House District 110, which includes part of Bradford County and all of Wyoming County, longtime incumbent Rep. Tina Pickett faces Matthew Wayman for the Republican. No Democrat filed for the seat.
In House District 117, which covers roughly most of the western and southern parts of Luzerne County, incumbent first-term Republican Rep. Michael Cabell faces a stiff challenge from Jamie Walsh, a gutter installation company owner. No Democrat filed for the seat.
In House District 120, which includes much of Wyoming Valley west of the Susquehanna River, two Democrats and three Republicans seek the nomination. The Democrats are Fern Leard, a former certified nursing assistant and Exeter Council Vice President John Morgan.
The Republicans are Luzerne County Councilwoman Lee Ann McDermott, the co-owner of a real estate appraisal business; Patrick Musto, co-owner of a flooring sales company; and Brenda Pugh, the majority owner and CEO of a security systems installation company.
Only one congressional district has a contest. In the 7th Congressional District, state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, Kevin Dellicker and Maria Montero seek the Republican nomination and the right to face U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, a Democrat. The 7th includes parts of Monroe, Northampton and Lehigh counties.