Pennsylvania primaries on Tuesday clarified key battlegrounds for November’s midterm elections, as Democrats target four districts essential for retaking the House. Sixteen of the state’s 17 US representatives are seeking re-election.
Donald Trump carried Pennsylvania by fewer than two points in 2024, and his return to the White House has sharpened Democratic focus on vulnerable constituencies. With Republicans holding a narrow House majority and redistricting giving the GOP advantages, Democrats treat every potential flip as critical.
Josh Shapiro, the Democratic governor, faces no primary challenger and will run for re-election against Republican treasurer Stacy Garrity, who also ran unopposed.
First District: Harvie vs. Fitzpatrick
Bob Harvie, vice-chair of Bucks County commissioners, defeated Lucia Simonelli in the Democratic primary. He will now challenge Brian Fitzpatrick, a moderate Republican who has served since 2017 and won re-election by nearly 13 points in 2024, even though Kamala Harris won the district. Fitzpatrick has broken with Trump on key issues, voting against the president’s ‘one big, beautiful bill’ and joining Democrats to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Tenth District: Stelson vs. Perry Rematch
Janelle Stelson, a former news anchor, defeated Justin Douglas in the Democratic primary. She will face Scott Perry, a Republican and former Freedom Caucus chairman, in a rematch. Stelson lost by just one point in 2024. Perry maintained that the 2020 election was stolen and introduced Trump to Jeffrey Clark before the January 6 insurrection. The Cook Political Report ranks the 10th and seventh districts among the most competitive nationwide.
Seventh District: Brooks Emerges in Lehigh Valley
Bob Brooks, a union leader and former firefighter, won a four-way Democratic primary, defeating Lamont McClure, Ryan Crosswell, and Carol Obando-Derstine. Endorsed by Shapiro and Bernie Sanders, he hopes to flip the seat after Ryan Mackenzie defeated Susan Wild in 2024. Out-of-state conservative PAC money poured into the district opposing Brooks.
Eighth District: Cognetti vs. Bresnahan
Scranton mayor Paige Cognetti won the Democratic primary in the eighth district, which includes Biden’s hometown. She will face Rob Bresnahan, the Republican who flipped the seat in 2024.
Third District: Rabb Wins in Philadelphia
In the deep blue third district, Chris Rabb, an ‘aggressively anti-establishment Democrat’, won a competitive primary against Sharif Street and Ala Stanford. Endorsed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ro Khanna, Rabb campaigned on universal healthcare and criticized US military aid to Israel. He is assured of victory in November, as Harris won 88% of the district’s votes in 2024.
Democrats also fight to retain their one-seat majority in the state House, while Republicans aim to hold the state Senate.
