MONONGAHELA, Pa. — Downballot primary results across Pennsylvania have revealed stark contrasts between Democrats and Republicans as they head into November’s midterm election cycle. The Democratic Party has shifted far left, while Republican candidates have retained strong support from their right-leaning bases.
In Washington County, Republican state Senator Camera Bartolotta easily defeated challenger Al Buchtan by a wide margin. Activists who sought to unseat Bartolotta organized a vote of no confidence in the race but failed to change the outcome.
In Pennsylvania’s 48th State Senate District—covering Lebanon and parts of Berks and Lancaster counties—Republican state senator Chris Gebhard soundly defeated challenger Clovis Crane with 67.4% of the vote compared to Crane’s 32.6%. The district reported nearly 92% of precincts.
Similarly, in the 32nd State Senate District—which includes parts of Bedford, Fayette, and Somerset counties and all of Bedford County—incumbent Republican state senator Pat Stefano handily defeated challenger Harry Young Cochran, a former Democrat who now identifies as a “MAGA conservative.”
On the Democratic side, candidates moved decisively leftward. In Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District, Chris Rabb, a Proud Democratic Socialists of America member and a state representative who described the Gaza conflict as “genocide,” defeated more establishment-oriented challengers to secure the Democratic nomination.
Rabb received significant backing from DSA activists, members of left-wing “The Squad,” and the Working Families Party. He also held a rally with political streamer Hasan Piker.
Chris Rabb’s campaign manager, Alon Gur, stated that the traditional Philadelphia party machine would be “replaced” following his candidate’s victory.
Governor Josh Shapiro, D-Pa., similarly won three Democratic House contests: Janelle Stelson, Bob Harvie, and Bob Brooks. Shapiro campaigned alongside the Working Families Party for Brooks, who previously served in the state House as a Democrat but now identifies as a “MAGA conservative.”
The polarizing stances of these officials have strained relationships with Shapiro, raising questions about whether Brooks will remain aligned with the governor or become more dependent on the Working Families Party.
Shapiro earned nearly 1.1 million Democratic primary votes compared to Republican candidate Stacy Garrity’s 630,000 in the general election race. Democrats faced more contested races than Republicans in the primary, and higher turnout among Democratic voters contributed to Shapiro’s strong showing.
