Category: Election 2026

Jesse James Runs Again

By Bob Small

The GOP primary race n Pennsylvania’s 17^th Congressional District are Sheriff Tony Guy vs Jesse James Vodvarka.

Sounds like an old-west election but it’s actually in Allegheny County.

The 17^th Congressional District was redrawn by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Since 2023, the representative has been Democrat Chris Deluzio.

Previous representatives have been Allen E. Ertel and Connor Lamb.

The redrawn disrict tilts Democrat.

Deluzio participated in a video urging “American Service people not to follow illegal orders.”

Sheriff Guy is a long-time Trump supporter. He was a State Trooper from 1984 to 2010 and has been Beaver County sheriff since 2016.

Guy has been involved in controversies.

Jesse Vodvarkas is head of the Vodvarkas Springs Company. See the voter guide for information.

Vodvarka is a second-generation gadfly. His father, Joseph, has run at least five times between 2010 and 2020 for offices and collected almost 20 percent of the vote in 2012.

Meanwhile in the Philly 3^rd Congressional District 17 Dems and 2 GOP have been challenged down to four Dems and zero GOP!

In too many of the congressional primaries races, there is a distinct lack of choice.

See also Beaver County Sheriff Tony Guy Launches Campaign For …

Yet Another Secondary Primary Choice

By Bob Small

Yes, there is a Doug Mastriano write-in Campaign for the May 19 Pennsylvania Primary. No, he did not start it.

Ernie Springer of Lancaster and Joshua Day (Clinton County) hatched a write-in campaign with it’s requisite website (see below). Mastriano denies involvement with the website, but would accept the nomination.

if he somehow won.

Stacy Garrity, who’s on the ballot, was endorsed by the State Party back in September, which some consider as a decision to prevent Mastriano from attaining ballot status.

Note: He lost his the 2022 gubernatorial effort by 15 percentage points and many consider him as too MAGA to win a statewide election in Pennsylvania.

Mastriano announced his withdrawal from a second run at Shapiro in January.

But he then downplayed Garrity’s chances, “claiming the “only way” for her to win would be if he were her lieutenant governor running mate.”

Downplaying the early endorsement, the website   made the point that “The people decide the nominee, not the establishment, “and that he “won that year’s primary with nearly 45 percent of the vote. “ Among his stands are being against Covid mandates and against biological males in female sports. See the websites for a full list.

In a recent article , Mastriano rails against “ Pride festivals that close Lincoln Square, rainbow flags across storefronts and the growing prominence of activist messaging”. There goes the Log Cabin Republican vote,

As a recovering Green Party member, (Co-Chair of Delco Greens), we always argued against write-in campaigns for any office above, Judge of Elections. Generally, these write-in campaigns used up time, money, and energy with, usually, a negative result. In this case, it can only hurt Garrity.

If Mastriano did, somehow win, Shapiro would have a second term, no question.

Though we agree with parts of Mastriano’s program, we, and I suspect most of Pennsylvania, would rather have a Governor Garrity then another four years of “Prince Joshua”. A second term could lead to Presidential consideration which, to paraphrase a local sign, “ The Democrats are doing the best they can…..and that’s truly frightening”.

The Write-in Campaigners are going door-to-door in various towns and cities, though none have been sighted in Swarthmore.

GOP Lt Gov Race in 2026

By Bob Small

When Pa. GOP Voters arrive at the Polls on Primary Day (or earlier if by mail), they will have two choices for lieutenant governor choices.

The Lt. Governor serves as the presiding officer of the PA Senate and may cast deciding votes when the Legislative votes are tied. Some of the previous Lieutenant Governors have gone on to higher office, such as Governor or Senator.

The GOP-endorsed candidate is Jason Richey (Allegheny County) , whereas John Ventre is the challenger candidate. In 2026, only the GOP gives its state-wide voters this choice.

Jason Richey chairs the Allegheny County GOP and attempted a gubernatorial race in 2022.

Richey graduated Magna Cum Laude from Allegheny College and was also a three-time NCAA Academic All-American Wrestler. He then attended and graduated from the Ohio State College of Law. JAmong his clientele are many of the elite professional wrestling.

He lives with his wife Melissa in Sewickly and have three sons; Justin, Logan and Marcus.

In his 2019 Campaign website Ventre 4 Lt Governor John Ventre describes himself as MAGA but “never Socialist”. He describes himself as Pro-Constitution, Pro-Freedom, Pro-God, Pro-Gun and Pro-Life. He also lists “53 reasons why Shapiro is a bad choice for Governor” and includes the bon mot that “The only Pennsylvania Josh is interested in is Pennsylvania Ave” .

He cites work experience in 3 states for US Crisis Management and his degree in Criminal Justice. He also lists 12 similarities between himself and one Donald J. Trump.

He has been a serial candidate Who is running for Pennsylvania Lt. Governor?for various offices.

See also

Hempfield man announces candidacy | News

John Ventre

Upsets happen. Ask Viktor Orban.