PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Like the rest of the country, Democrats did exceptionally well in the collar counties of Philadelphia, making inroads into offices that have long been held by Republicans.
For the first time, a Democrat won the Bucks County district attorney’s race, as Joe Khan beat incumbent Jen Schorn. Democrats swept the row offices in Bucks County, and Danny Ceisler beat incumbent Republican Sheriff Fred Harran.
Democrats also won in Republican strongholds, picking up seats in Trappe Borough and on the Souderton School Board.
“If you go across suburban Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley and you look at municipal races in places that are traditionally more Republican, Democrats had great nights. They came into seats they would rarely win,” said Muhlenberg College political science professor and polling director Chris Borick.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s election staff is trying to use the results to boost his campaign heading into next year’s gubernatorial race, noting all the candidates Shapiro supported won. Candidates backed by the Pennsylvania GOP and Republican gubernatorial challenger Stacey Garrity did not.
Borick said odd-year elections can be a decent indicator of what’s to come.
“Events can intervene. Economic changes could intervene. Candidates, quality could intervene. All those things could matter, but on the whole, off-year elections play a role in predicting what’s likely to happen the next year,” he said.
PA GOP Chairman Greg Rothman acknowledged it would be a tough election cycle, but he said Republicans will continue to fight and improve communications of their core principles.