Pennsylvania is garnering national attention and media coverage as the midterm elections come into view. The Democratic Senate majority in Washington, D.C. hopes to maintain control over the chamber after the 2022 midterm elections. The race to replace retiring Republican Senator Pat Toomey may provide the pivotal seat for the balance of power in the Senate.
The race for the Democratic nomination has largely been dominated by two candidates: Pennsylvania’s Lt. Governor John Fetterman, a progressive populist, has a clear lead on name recognition throughout the Commonwealth. Early fundraising numbers through January 2022 also show Fetterman with a sizable advantage over other Democrats in the field.
Congressman Conor Lamb, a moderate Democrat representing constituencies North and West of Pittsburgh, is competing with Fetterman as the frontrunner for the nomination. Lamb has the experience of defeating Trump-endorsed opponents in key congressional races. This experience may be what Pennsylvania Democrats need in a state that saw President Joe Biden edge out Donald Trump by just over one percent in the 2020 General Election.
Malcolm Kenyatta, a progressive state representative from Philadelphia, and Val Arkoosh, a doctor who chairs the Montgomery County Commission, are also notable names amongst the Democratic field.
The Pennsylvania Democratic Party committee failed to endorse any candidate at their meeting on Jan. 29th. Lamb finished in first place amongst the candidates, receiving 60 percent of the vote. Lamb fell just short of the two-thirds needed for the state party endorsement.
On the Republican side, a familiar face of television has entered the race for the party’s nomination. Dr. Mehmet Oz, best known as Dr. Oz to TV audiences, led the most recent poll by the Trafalgar Group in December. However, in the latest Central GOP straw poll held on Jan. 15 in Harrisburg, Oz failed to reach within the top two contenders in the polls held by party activists.
Jeff Bartos, a real estate developer from Montgomery County, won the GOP straw poll held by the Republican State Committee Central Caucus. Bartos is relying on a heavy grassroots ground campaign saying, “This campaign is focused on saving Main Street, Pennsylvania.” Bartos has been critical of fellow Republican candidates that are not known for their Pennsylvania ties, referring to Oz, McCormick and Sands as “political tourists.”
The most recent addition to the Republican field, former hedge fund executive David McCormick, kicked off his campaign in Lehigh County on Jan. 25th with a rally joined by Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz. McCormick has been critical of the Biden Administration’s handling of foreign and economic affairs. Although being the newcomer into the race, McCormick won the GOP straw poll held in the southwestern region of the state.
Activist Kathy Barnette finished in a strong second place within the Central Caucus GOP straw poll. Barnette, a former professor and political commentator, ran a campaign for Congress last year on the backs of the Second Amendment and school choice policies. If nominated and elected, Barnette would become the first Black, female senator in Pennsylvania history.
Other notable names within the crowded Republican field include Carla Sands, the Former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark under Trump, Sean Gale, a Montgomery County attorney, Martin Rosenfeld, a former deputy sheriff and George Bochetto, a Philadelphia-based attorney. Each received some support in recent party polling.
Former President Donald Trump has refrained from backing any candidate after his first endorsement, Sean Parnell, withdrew from the race amid a growing personal scandal. Sources around the former President say that he is likely to endorse a candidate once a clear frontrunner has been established in the race. This is leaving the state party to scramble to not endorse a candidate that may be at odds with Trump once that endorsement is distributed.
With more than 30 candidates in total vying for their party’s nomination during the 2022 Primary Elections on May 17th, it is anyone’s guess who will be representing each side in the 2022 Midterm Elections in November. However, this race will be closely watched around the country, as it is looking increasingly probable that Pennsylvania will determine the balance of power for the Senate during the 118th Congress.
