HARRISBURG, Pa. — This fall, Pennsylvania voters will weigh in on three significant statewide positions. One of these roles involves oversight of government operations, another concerns fiscal management for the state, and the third is dedicated to overseeing the work of numerous prosecutors.
Incumbents, Republican Treasurer Stacy Garrity and Auditor General Tim DeFoor, are both seeking to retain their offices. Meanwhile, the position of Attorney General has drawn in new contenders. Each of these statewide roles offers a salary of around $198,000 per year.
The competition for attorney general features Republican Dave Sunday, the District Attorney of York County, facing off against Democratic candidate Eugene DePasquale, a former auditor general and state legislator. Additionally, State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a Democrat from Philadelphia, is challenging DeFoor, while Erin McClelland hopes to unseat Garrity.
In the attorney general race, Sunday, a Navy veteran, touts his extensive experience as a prosecutor over the past 15 years in a Republican-leaning area of York County, which encompasses around 460,000 residents near the Maryland border. DePasquale brings a legal background along with prior roles as York City’s economic development director and three-term state representative. His tenure as auditor general raised awareness about critical issues, such as the backlog of untested rape kits, underperformance in Pennsylvania’s ChildLine child abuse hotline, and concerns surrounding nursing home conditions.
During a recent debate, Sunday claimed DePasquale’s experience as auditor general was not applicable to criminal law. In contrast, DePasquale, residing in Pittsburgh, has underscored his commitment to voter protection and has expressed strong support for abortion rights. Sunday, on the other hand, has stated he would upholding current abortion laws in Pennsylvania, insisting he would never take action against a woman for having an abortion, despite the fact that many of his Republican supporters advocate for an abortion ban. DePasquale has pointed out that Republican state legislatures attempted to introduce a constitutional amendment limiting abortion and funding rights.
Further discussion between the candidates brought attention to each one’s stance on capital punishment. While DePasquale revealed his trepidation regarding the death penalty, Sunday affirmed his support for it, especially in particularly severe cases. Notably, Kathleen Kane made history as the first woman and the first Democrat to be elected as attorney general when she took office in 2012, but her term ended in resignation amid legal troubles in 2016. Since then, Democrats have retained the office, with Gov. Josh Shapiro succeeding his predecessor and appointing Michelle Henry, who has since decided against running for reelection.
In the auditor general contest, Tim DeFoor, a previous Dauphin County controller, won the position by a narrow margin of around three percentage points in the election four years ago. His current focus is on enhancing financial literacy and establishing a forensic auditing unit that will address evidence of fraud or misconduct.
His recent decision to audit the state’s motor-voter registration system faced backlash from Governor Shapiro’s transportation secretary and Malcolm Kenyatta, who accused him of potentially fostering conspiracy theories and undermining electoral integrity. Kenyatta, who made history as the first openly gay person of color in the state House and previously ran for the U.S. Senate, is concurrently competing for reelection as a state representative.
DeFoor emphasized that his career has been dedicated to ensuring that taxpayer funds are allocated appropriately and governmental programs are effective. However, Kenyatta has criticized DeFoor for ceasing school audits that he felt could have been restructured rather than dismissed. While DeFoor conducted audits of school funding and state payments to pharmacy managers, Kenyatta contested the thoroughness and motivation behind these audits, advocating for a comprehensive review of school facilities and compliance with labor regulations.
In the treasurer’s race, incumbent Stacy Garrity, a retired Army Reserve colonel and veteran, previously upset the Democratic Treasurer Joe Torsella in a close election, winning by less than one percentage point four years ago. Garrity, who resides in Athens, Bradford County, has ardently promoted the return of unclaimed property and has made strides in managing savings programs tailored for individuals with disabilities and students. She has also pushed for an increase in the state’s rainy day fund.
On the other hand, Erin McClelland, who has experience in mental health and substance abuse counseling, criticizes Garrity for being too involved in national political disputes, asserting that the position of treasurer should remain apolitical. McClelland aims to act as a neutral advocate protecting taxpayers, rather than simply supporting one party’s agenda. In her campaign, Garrity has characterized McClelland as lacking seriousness in her approach. Garrity’s campaign has seen an influx of support following recent endorsements by Governor Shapiro for several Democratic candidates, although he did not endorse anyone in the treasurer’s race, a decision explained by his intention to back candidates with whom he can make the most significant impact.