News & Brews May 20, 2026
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Shapiro-Davis vs. Garrity-Richey = U.S. House?
In the Democrat and Republican primaries for governor and lieutenant governor, only one race—for the Republican LG—was contested. In that race, Allegheny County attorney and GOP Chair Jason Richey bested challenger John Ventre. CP had endorsed Richey. He will join Republican Stacy Garrity on the GOP ticket challenging incumbent Gov. Josh Shapiro and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Meanwhile, the Inquirer notes that while the top-of-the-ticket Shapiro v. Garrity race is technically for governor, it could also impact which party controls the U.S. House. “Shapiro … wants to deliver Democratic control of the U.S. House to flex his political muscle….Garrity will need to generate excitement that draws GOP voters to the polls in key congressional districts to stop Democratic midterm gains….”
Incumbent GOP trio sweeps Senate primaries
In the state Senate primaries, three Republican races were particularly closely watched. Sens. Lisa Baker, Camera Bartolotta, and Chris Gebhard all faced primary opponents backed by the skills games industry, which spent millions in hopes of unseating the incumbents. Their efforts failed, as all three incumbents won their primary races.
And in the contested Dem congressional primaries
Democrats had their share of contested congressional primary races yesterday. In the 10th district, Democrat Janelle Stelson once again won her party’s nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Scott Perry. In the 1st district, Bob Harvie won the Democrat nomination and will face Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. In the 7th district, Bob Brooks won the chance to face GOP U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie. And in the 3rd district in Philly, progressive state Rep. Chris Rabb defeated Sen. Sharif Street and two other candidates to win. Gov. Shapiro had endorsed in three of these races (and his candidates won), but he didn’t publicly endorse in the Philly race, although Axios reported that behind the scenes, he worked against Rabb.
Yesterday’s results & the future of the Dem party
POLITICO considers what yesterday’s congressional primary results—particularly two in Pennsylvania—suggest about the future of the Democrat Party. First, “The ‘Squad’ picked up a new member” with the nomination of progressive Chris Rabb in Philly. And in both Rabb and Democrat Bob Brooks, who won the 7th congressional district primary, “Democrats desperate to win back working-class voters who’ve drifted toward Trump elevated a pair of candidates … who centered economic populism in their campaigns… Their wins will give a boost to progressives’ argument that economic populism is the answer to Democrats’ midterms messaging.”
Philly DA gets kicked out of Election Day lunch
And in some non-election Election Day news, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner was booted from an Election Day lunch yesterday after getting into a public altercation with Ryan Boyer, the head of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council. The Inky reports that the animosity stemmed from last year’s race for DA, when Boyer endorsed Krasner’s opponent.
Johnny Doc again pleads for early release
With his brother, state Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty, in the room, convicted former Philly labor leader and Democrat political power player John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty again asked a judge for early release from prison to care for his ailing wife. The judge has previously denied his requests. The Inquirer reports, “Assistant U.S. Attorney Bea L. Witzleben said an untold number of families across the country would undoubtedly benefit from having an incarcerated defendant released to provide care for loved ones. But she said: ‘The standard is, “Is he the only available caregiver?” and with due respect, he has not shown that, and they [other witnesses] frankly cannot show it.’”