Fitzpatrick cruises in the 8th; sets eyes on Murphy

DOYLESTOWN—Mike Fitzpatrick is ready to face the man who took his job four years ago.

The former congressman easily won the Republican nomination in the 8th District Tuesday, capturing more than three-quarters of the vote in the four-way field. Local committeewoman Gloria Carlineo was a distant second with about 15 percent of the vote, after running a campaign fiercely critical of Fitzpatrick and his shifts on a plethora of issues. In the end, Fitzpatrick’s superior…

Marino tops GOP rivals, will face Carney

Former U.S. Attorney came out on top in a three-man Republican primary for Congress in the 10th District, setting up a competitive general election contest with incumbent Democrat Chris Carney.

Marino won 41 percent of the vote, besting Luzerne County chiropractor David Madeira’s 31 percent and Snyder County Commissioner Malcolm Derk’s 28 percent. It was a primary that the party had largely allowed to play out unfettered, and while no candidate significantly separated himself from…

Kanjorski prevails, will face Barletta again

Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) is heading for a re-re-match against Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta.

The longtime incumbent beat Lackawanna Commissioner Corey O’Brien in the Democratic primary Tuesday, winning about 49 percent of the vote, according to preliminary returns. O’Brien had run an energetic albeit underfunded race, and may have prevailed under different circumstances. But a third candidate in the primary, Brian Kelly, won more than 11,000 votes, numbers that would have meant the difference to…

Toomey easily wins Senate primary

BETHLEHEM—Republican Pat Toomey, the former congressman who became a Pennsylvania conservative icon, easily won his party’s Senate nomination Tuesday, capturing more than 80 percent of the vote and setting up a November contest against Democrat Joe Sestak.

Almost three hours after the polls closed, Toomey rallied about 150 supporters at the Best Western hotel here, and with his wife and children by his side, celebrated the landslide win over conservative activist Peg Luksik.

And he…

The ultra-super-mega primary night live-blog

PHILADELPHIA—Good evening, political junkies, live from Senator Arlen Specter’s primary night party at the Center City Sheraton, where we’ll be bringing you all the breaking news from races up and down the ballot.

We have 16 reporters on the ground in 13 cities, and this live blog will serve as something of a central copy desk for all the news coming in. Full Story

Late-night election updates (Updated)

Hey there night-owl political junkies. We’re synthesizing a truck-load of news right now and will have much more for you shortly. In the meantime, here’s a rundown of where everything is.

It’s Joe Sestak vs. Pat Toomey for Senate.

It’s Dan Onorato vs. Tom Corbett for Governor.

The primaries for Lieutenant Governor are close, with Republicans Jim Cawley locked in a close contest, and Democrats Jonathan Saidel and Scott Conklin surprisingly neck-and-neck.

Democrat Mark Critz…

An Arlen Specter musical review

PHILADELPHIA—This review of the music being played right now at Senator Arlen Specter’s primary night party comes from pa2010.com reporter Daniel McQuade. Enjoy.

Arlen Specter was born on Feb 12, 1930. The music selection at his election-night party Tuesday night fits his age well.

For a while, Specter HQ was playing old swing standards, including the instrumental “Sing Sing Sing (With a Swing),” first recorded in 1936, when Specter was six.…

Van Hollen’s Statement on Congressman-Elect Mark Critz’s Victory in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District

By THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen released the following statement on Mark Critz’s victory in the Special Election in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District to fill the seat held by the late Congressman Jack Murtha:

“Congratulations to Congressman-elect Mark Critz on his extraordinary victory. Voters in this election responded to Mark Critz’s commitment to providing independent leadership that puts Pennsylvania jobs first.

“This was the only race in the country today…

Patrick Murphy Challenges Fitzpatrick to Debates, Requests FitzFlop Clarifications

By PATRICK MURPHY FOR CONGRESS

(Bristol, PA) — On Tuesday May 18, 2010, Patrick Murphy sent the following letter to Mike Fitzpatrick challenging the former Congressman to at least eight public debates during the fall election season.

Murphy also asked Fitzpatrick to clarify which candidate he should expect to show up at the debates: Former Congressman Mike “Top 25 Most Liberal Republicans” Fitzpatrick or the new Mike “Tea-Party” Fitzpatrick. Murphy asked Fitzpatrick to explain where…

Late-evening polling and turnout reports: ‘Calm’ in Philadelphia

As polls were set to close Tuesday night, the preliminary consensus based on anecdotal reports from political operatives was that turnout remained mostly light throughout the state, especially in Philadelphia. There were isolated patches of significantly higher turnout, particularly in the 12th Congressional District and parts of central Pennsylvania. But there were reports of lower turnout in Cambria County, critical for Democrat Mark Critz.

But in Philadelphia, so critical to Senator Arlen Specter, turnout appeared…