Pennsylvania’s May 19 Primary: What Nonprofit Leaders Need to Know

The big picture:  Pennsylvania’s May 19 primary elections set the table for what is expected to be one of the most competitive political environments in the country this November. With the governor’s race at the top of the ticket, four U.S. House seats rated as toss-up or lean, and both chambers of the General Assembly in play, the organizations and officials nonprofits depend on for advocacy, funding, and policy are all facing potential change. Control of both the state House — currently held by Democrats by a single vote — and the state Senate — held by Republicans 27-23 — is considered genuinely competitive. 

Governor’s race:  Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, will face Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity in November. Both were uncontested. This race matters enormously for nonprofits: Shapiro has been a consistent advocate for nonprofit funding and a proponent of cannabis legalization as a budget revenue tool. Garrity has stated she would veto recreational marijuana legalization, eliminating one of the primary revenue proposals in Shapiro’s budget and widening the structural gap nonprofits are watching closely. 

Congressional races to watch:  Four Pennsylvania congressional districts are rated as competitive or toss-up by national forecasters — all four are in or adjacent to regions where PANO members operate: 

• PA-7 (Lehigh Valley):  Retired firefighter and PA Professional Fire Fighters Association President Bob Brooks won the Democratic primary and will face freshman Rep. Ryan Mackenzie. Rated toss-up. Brooks’s labor background may increase attention on workforce issues including minimum wage and paid leave. 

• PA-10 (South Central PA/Harrisburg):  Former TV news anchor Janelle Stelson — endorsed by Gov. Shapiro — won the Democratic primary and will face Rep. Scott Perry in a November rematch. Rated toss-up. The district includes the City of Harrisburg and is directly relevant to state budget advocacy. 

• PA-1 (Bucks County):  Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie will face five-term incumbent Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in November. 

• PA-3 (Philadelphia):  State Rep. Chris Rabb won a four-way Democratic primary for this open seat. No Republican filed. Rabb will succeed Rep. Dwight Evans. 

State legislature — what changed:  Several incumbents lost their primaries, reshaping both chambers heading into November. Notable outcomes: 

• In the state House, Rep. Greg Vitali — the longest continuously serving member, first elected in 1993 and chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee — was defeated in the Democratic primary in Delaware County’s 166th District by Haverford Township Commissioner Judy Trombetta. 

• In the 22nd House District (Allentown), Allentown City Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach defeated incumbent Democratic Rep. Ana Tiburcio, who had only been in office since winning a February special election. 

• In the 50th House District (Greene/Washington Counties), Waynesburg Borough Council President Benjamin Humble defeated Republican incumbent Rep. Bud Cook. 

• In York County’s 196th House District, a concurrent special election filled the seat vacated by Rep. Seth Grove. Republican George Margetas defeated Democrat Ron Ruman and will serve out the remainder of Grove’s term; both will also appear on the November ballot. 

• In state Senate races, three Republican incumbents targeted by skill games industry spending — Sens. Lisa Baker, Camera Bartolotta, and Chris Gebhard — all survived their primaries despite more than $8 million in combined spending. 

• In Senate District 16 (Lehigh Valley), Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley won the Democratic primary and will face incumbent Republican Sen. Jarrett Coleman in November — one of the Senate Democrats’ top targeted seats. 

Why this matters for nonprofit advocacy:  The primary results confirm that both chambers of the General Assembly are genuinely contested this November, and that multiple incumbents nonprofits have worked with will not be returning. Relationships built now — through PANO’s regional legislative breakfasts and direct outreach — are particularly valuable, since new members elected in November will arrive in January without established ties to the nonprofit sector. If your organization operates in or serves communities in any of the districts noted above, pay close attention to how these races unfold — the outcomes will directly shape the relationships and advocacy leverage available to you come January. The June 30 budget deadline will be resolved before November, but its outcome will define the sector’s financial position heading into a new legislative session in 2027. 

What to do now:  If you have not already contacted your state House member and state senator about the budget and impasse protection legislation, do so before June 30. Attend or reach out about PANO’s regional legislative breakfasts (email anna@pano.org). Begin thinking now about how your organization will engage with new legislators who may represent your district come January.