Pennsylvania’s 2021 municipal primary took place yesterday (Tuesday, May 18). Statewide, Pennsylvania officials sent out 820,757 mail and absentee ballots. As of 5/18, voters had returned roughly 69% of these ballots. With vote tallying still ongoing, all results are UNOFFICIAL.

Statewide Ballot Questions

Four statewide ballot questions were on the primary election slate for Pennsylvania voters to decide; including three that would make changes to the state’s constitution. The questions included two specific referendums that address how future state of emergencies will be handled in Pennsylvania.

• Question one asked voters to amend the state constitution to limit all state of emergencies issued by a governor to 21 days. 53.61% voted YES. 
• Question two asked voters to give the state’s General Assembly authority to extend or terminate a governor’s initial order. 53.58 % voted YES 
• Question three asked voters to amend the state constitution to specifically prohibit restricting or denying a person’s equal rights on the grounds of race or ethnicity. 71.36% voted YES
• The last question asked voters to authorize permission for paid municipal fire and medical rescue companies to apply for loans from a state program that currently provides funding only for volunteer fire and EMS agencies. 72.19% voted YES 

Statewide Judicial Races (Candidates leading in RED)
Justice of the Supreme Court: 2021- One Vacancy

• Democrat Maria McLaughlin was running unopposed in the primary and will advance to the General Election.
• Paula Patrick, Kevin Brobson and Patricia McCullough were running for the Republican nomination. Brobson will advance to the General Election.

Judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania: 2021- One Vacancy

• Jill Beck, Timika Lane and Bryan Neft were running for the Democrat nomination. Lane will advance to the General Election.
• Republican Megan Sullivan was running unopposed in the primary and will advance to the General Election.

Judge of the Commonwealth Court: 2021- Two Vacancies

• Lori Dumas, Sierra Street, David Spurgeon, Amanda Green Hawkins were running for the Democrat nomination. Dumas and Spurgeon will advance to the General Election
• Republicans Drew Crompton and Stacy Marie Wallace were running unopposed in the primary and will advance to the General Election.

Special Elections- State House & State Senate (Candidates leading in RED)
Four special elections were held during the primary to fill vacant seats in the General Assembly. Once election results are certified, the winners will be sworn-in and immediately take over the vacant seat.

• A special election was held for the 59th House District left vacant after the death of state Rep. Mike Reese, R-Mt. Pleasant. The district includes parts of Westmoreland and Somerset counties. Democrat Mariah Fisher, Republican Leslie Baum Rossi and Libertarian Robb Luther were on the ballot. The unofficial winner is Leslie Baum Rossi.
• A special election was held in the 60^th House District left vacant after the retirement of Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Ford City. The district includes parts of Armstrong, Butler and Indiana counties. Republican Abby Major, Democratic Frank Prazenica, and Libertarian Andrew Hreha were on the ballot. The unofficial winner is Abby Major.
• A special election was held in the 48^th Senate District left vacant after the death of Sen. Dave Arnold. The district includes Lebanon and parts of Dauphin and York counties. Republican candidate Christopher Gebhard, Democrat Calvin Clements, Independent Ed Krebs and Libertarian Tim McMaster were on the ballot. The unofficial winner is Christopher Gebhard.
• A special election was held in the 22^nd Senate District left vacant after the retirement of Sen. John Blake, D.  The district includes parts of Lackawanna, Luzerne and Monroe counties. Republican Chris Chermak, Democrat Marty Flynn (current state representative), Libertarian Nathan Covington and Green Party Marlene Sebastianellli were on the ballot. The unofficial winner is Marty Flynn.

County/local Races Receiving Statewide Attention

• In Allegheny County, Pittsburgh voters headed to the polls to choose their party’s candidate for Mayor. Shortly after midnight, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto conceded defeat to state Rep. Ed Gainey in a four-way Democratic primary race for mayor, positioning Gainey to become the first Black mayor in the city’s history.
• In Dauphin County, there was a 5-way contest for the Democrat nomination for Harrisburg mayor. Incumbent Mayor Eric Papenfuse, seeking a third term, City Council President Wanda Williams; former city Councilman Otto Banks; retired media executive Dave Schankweiler; and Kevyn Knox. The sole candidate on the Republican ballot is businessman Timothy Rowbottom. The unofficial winner of the Democrat primary is Wanda Williams. As of this 11a.m. this morning, Williams was holding a 56 vote lead over Papenfuse.
• In Philadelphia, voters picked their party nominee for district attorney, city controller, and several judgeships. Incumbent DA Larry Krasner will win the Democrat nomination for District Attorney.

Link to results.