How did Pa. Dems keep the state House during a red wave? Meet Frank Burns.

[Deminpenn]

3. The D row office candidates were underwhelming

Although he'd been elected statewide twice as Auditor General, DePasquale lost 2 years ago when he ran as the candidate for PA-10 (Scott Perry). The Dem primary for Atty Genl had about 8 candidates running. DePasquale got a plurality due to name recognition in western PA and won. There were Dem primary candidates who could've given Sunday, the R, a better run for the money imho.

Erin McClelland who ran for state treasurer was another gift from western PA voters in a contested primary. She has run before, but never won an election outside her hometown area. There was no enthusiasm for her and her campaign was invisible.

Malcolm Kenyatta was a good candidate, but largely unknown outside of SE PA. As a young, gay, AfAm man, he faces an uphill battle outside of the Phila/SE Pa area.

A lot of state house districts moved east in the last redistricting which is how Dems captured the state house in 2022. The fact is, incumbents are usually re-elected.