Pennsylvania’s 2026 primary elections are now in the books, and the results from Tuesday, May 19, go a long way toward defining what will be one of the most consequential political battlegrounds in the country this November. The 2026 Pennsylvania primary election produced clear nominees across a range of competitive races, from targeted congressional districts to pivotal contests up and down the General Assembly.

At the top of the ticket, the general election matchup for governor is set. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, will face Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who was similarly uncontested on her side. On the lieutenant governor side, Democratic Lt. Gov. Austin Davis ran unopposed, while Jason Richey, an Allegheny County attorney endorsed by Garrity, defeated John Ventre to secure the Republican nomination.

Down the ballot, control of both chambers of the Pennsylvania General Assembly is in play. Democrats hold the state House by a single-vote margin, and Republicans have a four-seat edge in the state Senate. Control in both chambers is considered up for grabs this November. And at the federal level, Pennsylvania sits at the center of the battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives, with four congressional districts expected to be among the most closely watched in the country.

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Congressional Primary Races

Four of Pennsylvania’s 17 congressional districts are considered competitive in November. All four Republican incumbents ran unopposed in their primaries. The action on primary night was on the Democratic side.

PA-1: Bucks County (Fitzpatrick vs. Harvie)

In Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District, covering Bucks County in suburban Philadelphia, Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie won the Democratic primary over first-time candidate Lucia Simonelli. Harvie had the backing of both Gov. Shapiro and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). He will face five-term incumbent Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in November. Fitzpatrick has repeatedly won competitive and contested elections in a district that votes Democratic at the presidential level, making this one of the most-watched races on the national map. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rates the November race as lean Republican.

PA-3: Philadelphia (Open Seat — Rabb Wins Crowded Field)

Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District in Philadelphia produced the most crowded Democratic primary of the night. With retiring Rep. Dwight Evans not seeking reelection after more than four decades in public service, four Democrats competed for the seat. State Rep. Chris Rabb, backed by progressive national figures, defeated state Sen. Sharif Street, pediatric surgeon Dr. Ala Stanford, and Shaun Griffith. Unofficial results showed Rabb winning with more than 20 percentage points separating him from Street after mail ballots were tallied. No Republican filed for the seat.

PA-7: Lehigh Valley (Brooks vs. Mackenzie)

In Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, covering Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, and part of Monroe County, Bob Brooks won the Democratic nomination in a four-way primary. With roughly 74 percent of the vote counted, Brooks led with approximately 41 percent. He defeated former federal prosecutor Ryan Crosswell, former Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure, and former legislative aide Carol Obando-Derstine. Brooks, who was endorsed by Gov. Shapiro, the DCCC, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), centered his campaign on his working-class background.

Brooks, a retired City of Bethlehem firefighter and president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association, will face freshman Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in November. Mackenzie, who flipped the seat in 2024 by defeating then-Rep. Susan Wild, by less than one point, is in his first reelection test. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rates the November race as a toss-up.

PA-8: Scranton Area/NEPA (Cognetti vs. Bresnahan)

In Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, covering the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination. She will face Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan in November. Bresnahan also ran unopposed in his Republican primary. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rates the November race as lean Republican.

PA-10: South Central Pennsylvania (Stelson vs. Perry — Rematch Set)

In the 10th Congressional District, former television news anchor Janelle Stelson decisively defeated Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas for the Democratic nomination. With an estimated 71 percent of the vote in just after 11 p.m., Stelson led Douglas approximately 69 to 31 percent. Gov. Shapiro and the DCCC endorsed Stelson, while Douglas ran as a progressive challenger.

Stelson will now face incumbent Republican Rep. Scott Perry in a rematch of their 2024 contest, which Perry won by roughly 5,100 votes — one of the slimmest margins of any U.S. House race nationally that year. Perry, who is in his seventh term, ran unopposed in the Republican primary. The 10th District race, which covers parts of Dauphin, Cumberland, and York Counties, including the City of Harrisburg, israted as a toss-up by Sabato’s Crystal Ball.

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Pennsylvania State Senate Primary Races

Half of the 50 seats in the Pennsylvania State Senate are up for election this year. Republicans currently hold a 27-23 edge in the Chamber. Notably, several incumbent senators faced significant high-profile primary challenges, including three backed by money connected to the skill games industry.

Skill Games Spending Fails to Unseat Three GOP Incumbents

The most expensive legislative primary battles of the night centered on the skilled gaming industry’s effort to oust three Republican state senators who have supported higher tax rates on skill games. Skill games companies and their allies spent heavily against Republican Senators Lisa Baker, Camera Bartolotta, and Chris Gebhard, while sports betting interests spent to defend all three. Combined spending in these races topped at least $8 million.

All three incumbents survived. Sen. Gebhard, who represents the 48th District in south-central Pennsylvania and sponsored legislation the skill games industry opposes, defeated professional cowboy and horse breeder Clovis Crane. Combined spending in that race alone exceeded $1 million. Sen. Bartolotta of the 46th District, who faced a challenge from Al Buchtan, also held on, as did Sen. Baker. The AP called all three races for the incumbents with comfortable margins.

SD-16: Lehigh Valley (Pinsley Wins Democratic Primary)

In the 16th Senate District, which spans Lehigh County and into Bucks County, Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley declared victory over school board member and social studies teacher Bradley Merkl-Gump in the Democratic primary. The race drew significant outside spending from both skill games and sports betting interests. Merkl-Gump conceded late Tuesday night. Pinsley will face incumbent Republican Sen. Jarrett Coleman in November in one of the more competitive Senate general elections on the fall map.

SD-36: Lancaster County (Jones Wins Republican Primary)

In the 36th Senate District in Lancaster County, state Rep. Tom Jones (who declined to run for re-election to his House seat to run for the Senate seat) won the Republican primary over Jere Swarr, a former township commissioner. Jones will face Democrat Sen. James Malone in November. In a special election last year to fill the seat once held by former Sen. Ryan Aument, Malone won in a historic upset, becoming the first Democrat to represent Lancaster County in the chamber since 1889.

SD-4: Philadelphia/Montgomery (Haywood Defeats Cogbill)

Democratic Sen. Art Haywood, facing his first primary challenge since winning the seat in 2014, defeated Philadelphia-area organizer Michael Cogbill 86 to 14 percent in the 4th District. Haywood will face Republican Aurora Stuski in November.

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Pennsylvania State House Races

All 203 Pennsylvania House seats were on the primary ballot Tuesday. Democrats hold the chamber by a single vote. The night produced notable results across several targeted districts, with numerous incumbents losing their primaries. There was also a special election held to fill the seat held by former state Rep. Seth Grove (R-York).

HD-196: York County Special Election (Margetas Wins Grove’s Seat)

Running concurrently with the primary, a special election was held Tuesday in York County’s 196th House District to fill the seat vacated by Republican Rep. Seth Grove, who resigned in January. Grove had held the seat since 2008. Republican George Margetas, a West Manchester Township supervisor and attorney, defeated Democrat Ron Ruman, also a West Manchester Township supervisor, to win the seat. Margetas will serve out the remainder of Grove’s term through November. Both candidates will appear on the November general election ballot as well, meaning York County voters in the 196th effectively cast ballots for this seat twice on the same day — once in the special election, open to all registered voters regardless of party, and once in their respective party primaries.

HD-22: Lehigh County (Gerlach Defeats Tiburcio)

In the 22nd House District, which covers Allentown and surrounding communities, Allentown City Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach declared victory over incumbent Democratic Rep. Ana Tiburcio. Unofficial results showed Gerlach leading 56 to 44 percent. Tiburcio, who had only been sworn in after winning a February special election, had the backing of party leaders. The 22nd is a heavily Democratic, majority-Latino district; Gerlach will face Republican Robert Smith in November.

HD-45: Allegheny County (Bloam, Julius Win Nominations for Kulik Seat)

In the 45th House District in suburban Pittsburgh, attorney Brittany Bloam won the Democratic primary over Allegheny County Council President Patrick Catena. The seat was open following the retirement of longtime Democratic Rep. Anita Kulik. The AP called the race for Bloam at 10:51 p.m., with more than 63 percent of the vote for her and 94 percent of ballots counted. Bloam had the endorsement of retiring Rep. Kulik. Catena conceded late Tuesday night. On the Republican side, James Julius emerged from a two-way primary over Rocco Cozza to claim the Republican nomination. Bloam and Julius will face each other in November.

HD-166: Delaware County (Vitali Upset by Trombetta)

In the 166th House District, covering parts of Delaware and Montgomery Counties, Judy Trombetta, a Haverford Township commissioner and former legislative staffer, appears to have unseated Democratic Rep. Greg Vitali, the longest continually serving member of the Pennsylvania House. The AP called the race for Trombetta just before midnight, with unofficial results showing her winning approximately 62 to 38 percent. Vitali has held the seat since 1993 and chaired the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. The district skews heavily Democratic, making the primary the decisive contest.

HD-195: Philadelphia (McNeil Defeats Harris)

In Philadelphia’s 195th House District, the Associated Press projected social worker Sierra McNeil as the winner over incumbent Democratic Rep. Keith Harris.

HD-50: Greene/Washington Counties (Humble Defeats Cook)

On the Republican side, one incumbent fell. In the 50th House District in southwest Pennsylvania, Waynesburg Borough Council President Benjamin Humble defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Bud Cook, 56 to 44 percent. Humble will face Democrat Lois Bower-Bjornson in November.

HD-91: Adams County (Moul Survives Two-Way Challenge)

Republican Rep. Dan Moul, who has held the 91st District seat since 2007, turned back two challengers — Conewago Valley School Board member Lindsay Krug and Littlestown Area School Board President Nick Lovell — winning with 62 percent of the vote. Moul will face Democrat Kathleen Pratt in November.

HD-117: Luzerne County (Walsh Defeats Jones)

Republican Rep. Jamie Walsh, who won his seat by just four votes in a contested 2024 primary, turned back a challenge from former United Way of Wyoming Valley CEO Bill Jones in the 117th District, winning 72 to 28 percent. Walsh will face Democrat Jeremy Benscoter in November.

HD-159: Delaware County (Kazeem Defeats Kirkland)

Democratic Rep. Carol Kazeem defeated challenger Brian Kirkland in the 159th District primary, winning 78 to 22 percent. She will advance to the general election.

HD-88: Cumberland County (DeLozier Seat — Clark Narrowly Leads Martin)

With longtime Rep. Sheryl DeLozier not seeking reelection after representing the 88th District since 2009, two Republicans competed for her Cumberland County seat: veteran and retired law enforcement officer Jeff Clark and government affairs professional Savannah Martin. Clark appears to have bested Martin by fewer than 100 votes, 2,786 to 2,714, per unofficial Cumberland County results. Barring a significant recount, Clark will face Democrat Sara Agerton, who ran against DeLozier in both 2022 and 2024, in November.

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Looking Ahead to November

The results of Tuesday’s 2026 Pennsylvania primary elections set the table for what is expected to be one of the most competitive statewide political environments in the country. Pennsylvania will feature a high-profile governor’s race at the top of the ticket, four U.S. House districts rated as competitive or toss-up by national forecasters, and legislative battles in both chambers that will determine which party controls Harrisburg heading into the next redistricting cycle.​

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