Normally 'sleepy' Pennsylvania lieutenant governor primary packed with personalities

[RandySF]

Nine people — five Democrats and four Republicans — are pursuing the traditionally low-profile office of lieutenant governor in Pennsylvania this year.

Some of them are dumping money into their campaigns. Three of the Democrats are expected to spend a combined total of nearly $1 million on TV ads by Tuesday's election, while overall spending by Jeff Bartos, a Republican businessman, had surpassed $900,000 at the end of April.

Democrats started jumping into the race after a scandal that resulted in incumbent Lt. Gov. Mike Stack publicly apologizing for verbally mistreating state workers. Gov. Tom Wolf ordered an Office of Inspector General investigation of his conduct but hasn't publicly released the report the office produced. Wolf hasn't endorsed a candidate in the race.

Two of the Republican candidates have said they are each campaigning with two of the candidates for governor, despite the fact that in Pennsylvania lieutenant governor nominees are elected separately in primaries from governor nominees. Whoever wins the primary in each party will appear on a single ticket with the nominees for governor in the fall.

The lieutenant governor is first in the line of succession when the governor no longer can serve. The position pays about $160,000 per year. The officeholder serves as president of the state Senate, where he or she can cast tie-breaking votes, and as chair of the Board of Pardons.

“I've never seen a race like this for lieutenant governor,” said Chris Borick, a professor of political science at Muhlenberg College in Allen­town. “I end up talking about them every few years, and it's usually: Does anybody know they're happening at all? They're sleepy races for a sleepy position, but this year for the individuals involved, there are a lot of personalities and there's a lot of underlying stories that I think has made it more dramatic than you might normally see.”


http://triblive.com/politics/politicalheadlines/13633379-74/normally-sleepy-pennsylvania-lieutenant-governor-primary-packed-with-personalities

[Hortensis]

1. I read about another state with unexpected competition

for, and money invested, in the lieutenant governor position. I don't remember the other state, and no real explanation was offered.

However, I notice here:

"president of the state Senate, where he or she can cast tie-breaking votes"

I wondered if this was partly about the midterms possibly creating closely divided legislatures/assemblies? And which party gets that tie-breaker vote? Seems like it would stay mostly a quiet party choice in that case. Or have eager candidates just come to see this as an entry path to power? ??

Btw, here's some of Ballotpedia's explanation of power in the PA senate (not house).

HIGHLIGHTS
In the 2016 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the Pennsylvania State Senate from 31-19 to 34-16, giving them the two-thirds majority needed to override gubernatorial vetoes. Democrats need to gain one seat to break the Republican two-thirds majority.

Because state senators in Pennsylvania serve four-year terms, winning candidates in this election will serve through 2022 and play a role in Pennsylvania's redistricting process. In Pennsylvania, congressional district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. State legislative district lines are drawn by a politician commission. Read more below.

Pennsylvania has been under divided government since 2014, and, as of September 2017, it was one of 18 states with a divided government. While Republicans have controlled both legislative chambers since 2010, Governor Tom Wolf (D) was elected to a four-year term in 2014, breaking the state's Republican trifecta. Pennsylvania will hold an election for governor in November 2018. As of June 2017, the race was rated as Lean Democrat according to projections from five separate outlets.

[RandySF]

3. It matters if gov died or resigns

[Hortensis]

5. Sure, but that's always been the case. I'm just

wondering if there's new interest in this position for some significant reason. (Although there seems to be increased danger of getting kicked out for #MeToo and other slimy reasons of course. )

[liberaltrucker]

4. With Casey and Wolf running unopposed,

Lt Gov and Congress are the only reasons to vote in the primary.
I'm supporting John Fetterman for Lt Gov and Susan Boser for
Congress in the new PA-15 district.

[Hortensis]

6. Well, good luck sending good candidates to the general.

I was reading a complaint earlier from a Repub official about voters in Thompson's former district. Apparently they're soooo confused because they're not voting for him, which he said was the PA supreme court's intention. Uhuh. When they're unhappy, I'm happy.

[liberaltrucker]

8. I'm just happy that Mike Kelly will no longer be my Rep

[Hortensis]

9. This Mike Kelly? :)

Link to tweet

Congrats.

Mine's more of the same or worse, but no real chance losing him in this strongly gerrymandered dark-red district. Sigh...

[liberaltrucker]

10. Yep!

Rep Waters certainly put that asshole in his place.

[Hortensis]

11. Yes. And the chair, who tried to double-team silencing her.

[Freedomofspeech]

7. We are also supporting John Fetterman..

We met him at a Conor Lamb fundraiser. Fetterman sent us a handwritten note for donating to his campaign...he holds a Masters Degree from Harvard.