State Senate races highlight Tuesday’s primary election
Elections officials are hoping for better than average turnout for Tuesday’s primary despite few competitive races on the ballot.
The polls open at 7 a.m., and all mail-in ballots must be received at a voter’s county elections office before the polls close at 8 p.m.
The biggest races this primary election fall on the Republican side of the ballot, with two incumbent state senators facing challengers from their own party.
State Sen Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll, is facing challenger Al Buchtan of Cumberland Township as she tries to retain her seat in the 46th Senate District that includes all of Washington and Greene counties, along with the southern sliver of Beaver County. The winner of that race is expected to run against Democrat Evan Snyder of Nottingham Township in the Nov. 3 general election.
In Fayette County, state Sen. Pat Stefano, R-Bullskin, is running to hold his seat against Harry Young Cochran of Connellsville for the 32nd Senate District, which also includes Somerset and Bedford counties, along with a tiny sliver of southern Westmoreland County. The winner of that race will then face Democrat Jacob Cecil of Somerset County in the fall election.
State Rep. Bud Cook of West Pike Run is being challenged in the Republican primary by Ben Humble of Waynesburg. The winner in that Republican race for the 50th House District, which includes all of Greene County and several Mon Valley communities in Washington County, will then face Democrat Lois Bower-Bjornson of North Bethlehem Township in the general election.
The only competitive Democratic primary in this area is between Elizabeth Township residents Kellianne Frketic and Dylan Altemara for the 39th House District seat that includes mid-Mon Valley communities in Allegheny and Washington counties. The winner will then face Republican state Rep. Andrew Kuzma of Elizabeth in the general election.
Despite so few competitive races, Washington County Elections Director Melania Ostrander said the number of mail-in ballots requested in her county for this primary has exceeded the number from the last mid-term in 2022. There were 13,247 requested in this primary – compared to 11,455 sent out in 2022 – and so far two-thirds of them have been returned.
She thinks the annual letter sent out to “permanent” mail-in ballot voters informing them to apply for a ballot has helped drive those numbers up as people have become accustomed to the no-excuse vote by mail process that went into effect in 2020.
“They’re in the habit,” Ostrander said. “They fill it out and send it in and they get a ballot regardless of who is running on the ballot or not. They’ve gotten into the habit of filling that application out.”
Democrats once again are leading the mail-in ballot requests with 9,501, although GOP voters have bolstered their ranks in recent elections, with 3,746 being sent out to Republicans this primary.
In Fayette County, the number of mail-in ballots requested aren’t as many, but they’re being returned at a faster clip. Election Director MaryBeth Kuznik said they sent out 7,448 mail-in ballots to voters, and have received about 70% of them back. Democrats have received 5,455 of those mail-in ballots while Republicans have requested 1,993.
“It’s not a huge amount requested,” Kuznik said. “There are not a lot of contested or competitive races on this ballot from either party. It seems some people are sitting this one out, but they shouldn’t because it’s an important election. So stay involved.”
She noted that there are changes to some polling places, and suggested people check their voter registration cards or go online to Pennsylvania’s official election website at www.vote.pa.gov to check their status.
“Make a plan before you go,” she said. “Know where to go before you vote because there have been some changes.”
Ostrander is hoping for above-average turnout with nice weather expected as temperatures are expected to reach the high 80s.
“I’m thinking it might be a little better than usual with nice weather expected Tuesday,” Ostrander said. “I think people will still come out regardless of what the races are. It’s supposed to be a nice day, so please get out and vote.”