HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Opinions between Pennsylvania's two political parties in the state House and Congressional delegation are nearly even, and that won't change when next week's primary results come in.
But in November, candidates for both parties' April 23 picks for hundreds of Congressional seats will disrupt long-standing policy paralysis in Harrisburg and similar partisan gridlock in Congress. There is a possibility that it will change.
kAm%96 DE2E6VD G@E6CD H:== 2=D@ 42DE AC:>2CJ 32==@ED 7@C E9:D J62CVD >2CBF66 4@?E6DED 7@C AC6D:56?E 2?5 & ]$]$6?2E6]s6>@4C2E:4 :?4F>36?ED y@6 q:56? 2?5 q@3 r2D6J 2?5 #6AF3=:42? 492==6?86CD s @?2=5 %CF>A 2?5 s2G6 |4r@C>:4< 2C6 D9@@\:?DE@ 2AA62C @? E96 72== 32==@E]k^Am
kAmq@E9 A2CE:6D H:== A:4< 42?5:52E6D 7@C DE2E6 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=[ H9:49 H2D :? #6AF3=:42? 92?5D 367@C6 s6>@4C2ED H6?E @? 2 H:??:?8 DEC62< DE2CE:?8 :? a_`a]k^Am
kAmx? E96 EH@ @E96C DE2E6H:56 “C@H @77:46” 4@?E6DED[ #6AF3=:42?D $E24J v2CC:EJ[ E96 EC62DFC6C[ 2?5 %:> s6u@@C[ E96 2F5:E@C 86?6C2=[ H:== 7:?5 @FE H9:49 s6>@4C2ED H:== ECJ E@ F?D62E E96> 😕 E96 72==]k^Am
k9amvt}t#p{ p$$t|q{*k^9am
kAmxE E@@< >@?E9D 2?5 D6G6C2= DA64:2= 6=64E:@?D 367@C6 s6>@4C2ED H6C6 23=6 E@ ?2:= 5@H? E96:C C6EFC? E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^ ^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^A@=:E:4D\FD\C6AF3=:42?\A2CEJ\A9:=256=A9:2\A6?? DJ=G2?: 2\C625:?8\c624gbh6326efbdb6hbhahb_d6333f4hQm>2;@C:EJ 4@?EC@=k^2m @7 E96 DE2E6 w@FD6 =2DE J62C[ 6=6G2E:?8 @?6 @7 E96:C @H? E@ DA62<6C 😕 2 492>36C H96C6 E96 A2CE:D2? 3C62<5@H? 😀 ?@H `_a\`__] ~?6 D62E[ 😕 2 !@4@?@D 5:DEC:4E H96C6 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^A6??DJ=G2?:2\9@FD6\A2CEJ\4@?EC@=\252>D\C6D:8?D\6_e_6ffh_dge3hhcc4d63ecf76`33e6aQm#6AF3=: 42? C6D:8?65:? u63CF2CJk^2m[ 😀 G242?E 2?5 H:== 36 7:==65 3J DA64:2= 6=64E:@? @? AC:>2CJ 52J]k^Am
kAm(:E9 E96 6?E:C6 492>36C @? E96 32==@E E9:D J62C[ #6AF3=:42?D H@F=5 =@G6 E@ 7=:A :E 324<[ 56?J:?8 s6>@4C2E:4 v@G] y@D9 $92A:C@ =68:D=2E:G6 =6G6C286 😕 A@=:4J 2?5 3F586E 32EE=6D]k^Am
kAmx? E96 DE2E6 $6?2E6[ H96C6 #6AF3=:42?D 9@=5 2 ag\aa >2;@C:EJ[ s6>@4C2ED H@F=5 ?665 E@ 7=:A 2E =62DE E9C66 D62ED 😕 @C56C 7@C s6>@4C2E:4 {E] v@G]pFDE:? s2G:DV E:6\3C62<:?8 G@E6 E@ 8:G6 E96> 4@?EC@=]k^Am
kAmp>@?8 E96 ad $6?2E6 D62ED FA E9:D J62C[ ?62C=J 92=7 E96 E@E2=[ @C `a :?4F>36?E D6?2E@CD[ 7246 ?@ @AA@?6?ED E9:D J62C]k^Am
kAm%96C6 2C6 4@?E6DE65 $6?2E6 AC:>2C:6D 😕 3@E9 A2CE:6D 7@C ?@E23=6 G242?4:6D 😕 2 #6AF3=:42?\96= 5 D62E 😕 E96 w2CC:D3FC8 2C62 2?5 2 s6>@4C2E:4\96=5 D62E 😕 !:EED3FC89]%96 E9:C5 G242?4J 😀 2 #6AF3=:42? >2; @C:EJ 5:December:4E 😕 ?@CE96C? *@C< r@F?EJ]k^Am
k9am{tvx${p%x't $wpzt&!k^9am
kAms6>@4C2E:4 #6A]}:4< !:D4:@EE2?@[ @7 p==6896?J r@F?EJ[ :D =62G:?8 E96 w@FD6 E@ CF?[ 2=@?8 H:E9 EH@ @E96C s6>@4C2ED 2?5 EH@ #6AF3=:42?D[ 7@C 2 DE2E6 $6?2E6 D62E 36:?8 G242E65 3J C6E:C:?8 $6?] y:> qC6HDE6C[ s\p==6896?J]k^Am
kAm#6A]s2H? z6676C[ #\*@C<[ 😀 56A2CE:?8 E96 =@H6C 492>36C 😕 2 CF? E@ DF44665 C6E:C:?8 $6?] |:<6 #682?[ #\*@C<] p?@E96C w@FD6 56A2CEFC6 :D #6A]!2EEJ z:>[ @7 s2FA9:? r@F?EJ[ 724:?8 @77 282:?DE 2?@E96C s6>@4C2E 7@C E96 ?@>:?2E:@? 😕 E96 E9:C5 $6?2E6 5:DEC:4E :?G@=G:?8 2 C6E:C6>6?E[ E92E @7 $6?] y@9?s:$2?E@[ #\s2FA9:?] %H@ #6AF3=:42?D 2=D@ 2C6 GJ:?8 E@ DF44665 s:$2?E@]k^Am
kAms:$2?E@VD D62E :DH:56=J D66? 2D E96 $6?2E6 s6>@4C2EDV 36DE 492?46 7@C 2 A:4
kAm$6?]s2G6 pC82==[ @7 $49FJ=<:== r@F?EJ[ H9@ 9625D E96 v~!VD $6?2E6 42>A2:8? 677@CE[ D2:5 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^A6??DJ=G2?:2\D6?2E6\6=64E:@?D\6=64E:@?D\4@FCED\acdca_e4a_3c3454a2hfc6fehfd75h3cQmC2K@C\4= @D6H:? 7@C qC6HDE6Ck^2m 7@FC J62CD 28@ >2<6D E92E 2 32EE=68C@F?5[ 3FE E96:C 677@CED E@ DE2J :? E96 >2;@C:EJ 2C6 H:56C]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 32EE=6D 2== 24C@DD E96 DE2E6[ 3FE :EVD DE:== AC6EEJ 62C=J E@ AC65:4E H9:49 @?6D 2C6 8@:?8 E@ C:D6 E@ E96 E@A @7 E96 =:DE[Q pC82== D2:5]k^Am
kAm{2H>2<6CD :? ?62C=J 92=7 @7 E96 a_b w@FD6 D62ED[ 2?5 D=:89E=J >@C6 s6>@4C2ED E92? #6AF3=:42?D[ 92G6 ?@ AC:>2CJ @C v6?6C2= t=64E:@? @AA@?6?ED E9:D J62C 2?5 42? A=2? @? D6CG:?8 2?@E96C E6C> DE2CE:?8 :? y2?F2CJ]k^Am
kAm%96C6 2C6?VE >2?J w@FD6 G242?4:6D E9:D 4J4=6i ;FDE ?:?6 D62ED 96=5 3J #6AF3=:42?D 2?5 7@FC 3J s6 >@4C2ED]#6E:C:?8 >6>36CD :?4=F56 q6C< #@KK:[ H9@ DA6?E 2 3C:67 3FE ?@E23=6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^A@=:E:4D\A6??DJ=G2?:2\F?:E65\DE2E6D\9@FD6\@7\C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D\ff7_hhaggfhg5ch` 4aggadbeadfe2f5_QmE:> 6 2D w@FD6 DA62<6Ck^2m 62C=J =2DE J62C 367@C6 76==@H s6>@4C2ED 4@F=5 >FDE6C E96 G@E6D E@ 6=64E E96:C 7:CDE 49@:46 E@ =625 E96 492>36C[ $A62<6C y@2??2 |4r=:?E@? @7 !9:=256=A9:2]k^Am
kAm#6AD]#J2? |24<6?K:6[ @7 {69:89 r@F?EJ[ 2?5 #@3 |6C4FC:[ @7 p==6896?J[ 2C6 C6=:?BF:D9:?8 w@FD6 D62ED E@ CF? :? #6AF3=:42? AC:>2C:6D 7@C s6>@4C2E:4\96=5 4@?8C6DD:@?2= D62ED] w658:?8 E96:C 36ED 2C6 #6A]#J2? q:KK2CC@[ @7 tC:6[ 2?5 #6A] y2C65 $@=@>@?[ @7 !9:=256=A9:2[ D66<:?8 C66=64E:@? 😕 E96 DE2E6 w@FD6 2?5 CF??:?8 😕 s6>@4C2E:4 AC:>2C:6D 7@C DE2E6 EC62DFC6C 2?5 DE2E6 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=[ C6DA64E:G6=J]k^Am
k9amr~}v#t$$x~}p{ st{tvp%x~}k^9am
kAmp== `f @7 !6??DJ=G2?:2'D :?4F>36?E >6>36CD @7 E96 &]$]w@FD6 @7 #6AC6D6?E2E:G6D 2C6 CF ??:?8 7@C 2?@E96C E6C>[ 6249 H:E9 2E =62DE @?6 @AA@?6?E 😕 E96 AC:>2CJ @C 72== 6=64E:@?D] r@FCE\@C56C65 C65:DEC:4E:?8 27E6C E96 a_a_ r6?DFD AC@5F465 2 h\g s6>@4C2E:4 6586[ 2?5 H96? E96 :?4F>36?ED C2? 7@C C66=64E:@? EH@ J62CD 28@[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^a_aa\>:5E6C>\6=64E:@?D\A:EED3FC89\A6??DJ=G2?:2\gcg_`g4b`52e4775bge`ffba226ha626Qm2== `f H6C6 C66=64E65k^2m]k^Am
kAmx? p==6896?J r@F?EJ[ 7C6D9>2? &]$]#6A]$F>>6C {66 92D 2 s6>@4C2E:4 AC:>2CJ @AA@?6?E[ q92G:?: !2E6=[ 2D H6== 2D 2 #6AF3=:42? A@D:E:@?65 E@ E2<6 @? E96 s6>@4C2E:4 H:??6C 😕 }@G6>36C]k^Am
kAmx? 2 5:DEC:4E s6>@4C2ED 9@A6 E@ 7=:A[ 2 C246 ?@CE9 @7 !9:=256=A9:2 4@F=5 D:8?2= 9@H >F49 A@H6C E96 23@CE:@? :DDF6 92D 😕 E96 DF3FC3D] &]$]#6A]qC:2? u:EKA2EC:4[ 2 46?EC:DE #6AF3=:42?[ 92D 2 AC:>2CJ @AA@?6?E H9@D6 2?E:\23@CE:@? A@D:E:@? H@F=5 ?@E A6C>:E 6I46AE:@?D 7@C C2A6 @C :?46DE]k^Am
kAm%96C6 😀 2 E9C66\H2J Wow! AC:>2CJ 7@C E96 ?@>:?2E:@? E@ E2<6 @? {69:89 '2==6J s6>@4C2E:4 &]$]#6A]$FD2? (:=5 😕 E96 72==](:=5'D AC6G:@FD EH@ H:?D H6C6 3J D:?8=6\ 5:8:E >2C8:?D]#6A]|2EE r2CEHC:89E[ 2 s6>@4C2E 7C@> E96 $4C2?E@? 2C62 H9@ 2=D@ 92D 366? C6A62E65=J E2C86E65 😕 C646?E J62CD[ 92D ?@ AC:>2CJ @AA@?6?E[ 3FE 2 #6AF3=:42? =@@<D E@ 492==6?86 9:> 😕 }@G6>36C]k^Am
kAm$:I s6>@4C2ED 2C6 @? E96 AC:>2CJ 32==@E 😕 2 5:DEC:4E 96=5 3J &]$]#6A]$4@EE !6CCJ[ 2 *@C< r@F?EJ #6AF3=:42? H9@ H2D 566A=J :?G@=G65 😕 677@CED 3J E96?\!C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^A6CCJ\6=64E:@?\:?G6DE:82E:@?\ECF>A\3:56?\;2?\e\_efdcbed7fc7dg2_2h2h5d_f2_g_d_dcQm@G6CEFC? %CF> AVD a_a_ 6=64E:@? 56762Ek^2m]!6CCJ'D AC@>:?6?EC@=6 😕 E96 F=EC2\C:89E uC665@> r2F4FD 😕 r@?8C6DD 2?5 D@>6 4=@D6 C66=64E:@? 4@?E6DED @G6C E96 A2DE D:I J62CD 2=D@ 2C6 >2<:?8 9:> 2 E2C86E 7@C s6>@4C2ED E9:D J62C]k^Am
k9am$%p%t(xst #~( ~uuxrt$k^9am
kAmp7E6C $92A:C@VD 6=64E:@? 2D 8@G6C?@C EH@ J62CD 28@ 4C62E65 2 G242?4J 😕 9:D 7@C>6C ;@3 2D DE2E6 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=[ 96 ?@>:?2E65 9:D AC@E686[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^D92A:C@\A@=:46\2EE@C?6J\86?6C2=\A6??DJ=G2?:2\2gcf_cc4b6hgbg54a2343g57edahhbf4Qm|:496==6 w6 ?CJk^2m[ E@ D6CG6 E9C@F89 E96 6?5 @7 E9:D J62C] $96 😀 ?@E D66<:?8 E@ DE2J :? E96 ;@3]k^Am
kAmu:G6 s6>@4C2ED 2C6 CF??:?8 7@C E96 ?@>:?2E:@?i !9:=256=A9:2 2EE@C?6J z6:C qC257@C5\vC6J[ 7@C>6C 2F5:E@C 86?6C2= 2?5 DE2E6 #6A] tF86?6 s6!2DBF2=6[ @7 p==6896?J r@F?EJ[ 7@C>6C AC@D64FE@C 2?5 qF4<D r@F?EJ D@=:4:E@C y@6 z92?[ !9:=256=A9:2 DE2E6 #6A] y2C65 $@=@>@? 2?5 s6=2H2C6 r@F?EJ s:DEC:4E pEE@C?6J y24< $E@==DE6:>6C]k^Am
kAm%H@ #6AF3=:42?D 2C6 CF??:?8i *@C< r@F?EJ s:DEC:4E pEE@C?6J s2G6 $F?52J 2?5 DE2E6 #6A]rC2 :8 (:==:2>D[ @7 s6=2H2C6 r@F?EJ] $F?52J C646:G65 9:D A2CEJVD 6?5@CD6>6?E[ H9:=6 (:==:2>D 92D 366? 96=A:?8 =625 w@FD6 #6AF3=:42?DV k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^A6??DJ=G2?:2\2EE@C?6J\86?6C2=\6=64E:@?\42>A2:8?\4C2:8\H :==:2>D\ef5bc6dg4ef3fd6cg34`_dhe7f`h43gfQm677@CED E@ C6>@G6k^2m 7C@> @77:46 AC@8C6DD:G6 !9:=256=A9:2 s:DEC:4E pEE @C?6J {2CCJ zC2D?6C[ 2 s6>@4C2E]k^Am
kAmu@C 2F5:E@C 86?6C2=[ DE2E6 #6A] |2=4@=> z6?J2EE2[ @7 !9:=256=A9:2[ 2?5 {69:89 r@F?EJ r@?EC@==6C |2C< !:?D=6J 2C6 E96 s6>@4C2ED D66<:?8 E@ CF? 282:?DE s6u@@C 😕 }@G6>36C] z6?J2EE2 7:?:D965 E9:C5 😕 E96 s6>@4C2E:4 &]$]$6?2E6 AC:>2CJ 😕 a_aa H@? 3J y@9? u6EE6C>2?]k^Am
kAmv2CC:EJ[ E96 DE2E6 EC62DFC6C[ 92D ?@ @AA@D:E:@? 😕 E96 v~! AC:>2CJ] s6>@4C2E:4 G@E6CD H:== 49@@D6 36EH66? q:KK2CC@ 2?5 tC:? |4r=6==2?5[ 2? 255:4E:@? C64@G6CJ 2?5 9F>2? D6CG:46D AC@76DD:@?2= 7C@> p==6896?J r@F?EJ]k^Am
Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.