Category: Bob Small

Socialist King Of New York City

By Bob Small

“The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire”

—Rock Master Scott & The Dynamic Three

Three Congressional candidates from New York endorsed by the uncrowned king of New York,Zohran Mamdani, won their primaries and are expected to be elected to congress in November.

They are Darializa Avila Chevalier (13th), Brad Linder (10th), and Claire Valdez(7th).

In addition to his loss, Congressman Dan Goldman was banned from his favorite coffee shop, Poetica Coffee, for his Pro-Israel stance.

Jeremy Carl, of the Claremont Institute, said that New York had become “a post-American city”. He went on to say, “The future of the Democrat party is radical and post-American in it’s (sic) orientation. “

Candidates endorsed by Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) –

also won in the New York State Legislature, including Eon Huntly (56^th), Samantha Katten (37^th), David Orkin (38^th), llapa Sairitupac (65^th). and Christian Tate (54^th). 5 takeaways from New York 2026 primary election results However, as this article points out, establishment Democrats had some wins, though less than usual.

Donald Trump is quoted as saying. America would “never be a communist country”. George Conway, the former husband of Kellyanne Conway, and a founder of the anti-Trump ran in the 12^th District. He received all of 6% of the vote.

Van Jones said “The roof is collapsing on the Democratic Party Establishment”. He has dubbed this“insurgency” as “a movement and a machine at the same time”, while also including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a co-architect.

It’s not just a New York “thing” anymore. The next Mayor of Washington, DC will be Janeese Lewis George, another DSA member. Also, DSA member Nithya Raman, will be in the general election for LA Mayor.

If you’re interested in the local affiliate, Home – delcodsa.org

The Democratic establishment managed to beat back the progressives in Maryland and Utah. It seems, in a counter to DSA, that AIPAC has also gotten involved.

Lastly, just because he’s such a good writer, see Zohran Mamdani and the Nitwit Revolution – by Matt Taibbi

Will Dem Senate Stunt Backfire?

By Bob Small

There’s been a lot of articulations about the candidacy of Daniel L. Osborn who’s achieved ballot status as an “independent” Nebraska Senate Candidate. He has approximately $3 million in funds. One of the major contributors is the WORKING FAMILIES PARTY PAC along with American Opportunity Action, both of which are aligned with Democrats. Strangely, this funding was not mentioned in most of the articles or podcasts on Dan Osborn.

Osborn left college and eventually became the president of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 50G. He led the successful 2021 strike at Kellogg’s Omaha Plant.

As a union member, we applaud that.

This year the Nebraska Democratic Party “fought hard to get Cindy Burbank  through a Senate primary against William Forbes.

The plan apparently was that Burbank would  immediately drop from the race clearing the way for an “independent” campaign by Osborn” who had 46% in his losing 2024 campaign. This article goes into other examples of what the British media site as “jiggery-pokery”.

The Democratic Candidate, Cindy Burbank, was not supposed to stay in the race, but…

Osborn, on his website, cites such positions as “protect our paychecks, social security, and healthcare”, “drain the Swamp”, and “defend our freedoms and the Constitution”, which the majority of us would agree with. H

He served in the United States Navy and is a former member of the Nebraska Army National Guard.

Among other contributors to his campaign are “the Fight Agency”, with it’s ties to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Nebraska hasn’t had a Democratic Senator in almost 15 years and their last Democratic Governor, E. Benjamin Nelson, left office in 1999.

Since Osborn is cited as the best hope to win in November, Burbank was supported in the Democratic Primary, with the understanding that she would drop out for the General Election.

That is not going as planned.

She actuallly may not be allowed to drop out.

Stay tuned.

See also
A slew of indie candidates are running for Senate in deep- …

U.S. Senate candidate Dan Osborn faces another election …

Dan Osborn, the Independent Senate Candidate Who …

Incumbent Crushed In Dem 22nd District Primary

By Bob Small

The saga of the Pennsylvania House 22^nd District in 2026 is a bit twisty, so bear with me. Democrat Josh Siegel resigned from the seat Dec. 17 because he had been elected Lehigh County Executive. The area Dems initially chose Julian Guridy to be the candidate, but questions were raised about his residency. They next chose Ana Tibuerico, though her petitions were challenged (see below). When the Feb 24 Special Election was held, she defeated GOP candidate Robert E. Smith with 67 percent of the vote.

All of this led to the May 19 Democrat Primary where Tiburico lost to Ce-Ce Gerlach 56 to 44 percent.

Gerlach and Smith, who won the GOP primary are now slated to face off in the Nov. 3 General Election.

The 22^nd House District. covers parts of Lehigh County, including parts of Allentown and Salisbury Township.

Gerlach has been leading the “Allentown Jobs First” initiative and advocates for affordable housing. She has a degree in Elementary Education from Cedar Crest College.

“The problems that we face are systematic, so there must be systematic solutions,” she said.

It turns out that the local chapter of the Working Families Party supported Gerlach in the primary. WFP almost always supports Democrats in the general.

The challenge against Tibrucio’s Petitions — this is Pennsylvania, after all –was withdrawn on March 24.

The 22^nd District “is the most partisan state House seat in the Lehigh Valley. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district 2.5-to-1, giving them a sizable advantage in the district. “

Gerlach became an Allentown City Councilperson in 2019. She has a degree in Elementary Education from Cedar Crest College.

See also:

MEET CE-CE | State Rep Site
Incumbent Ana Tiburcio concedes 22nd House District …

Humble Win In 50th District Primary

By Bob Small

In the third of four Pennsylvania house incumbents to lose to a Primary Challenger, Republican Bud Cook lost by over 300 votes to Waynesborough Council President Ben Humble in the primary for the 50th District.

Humble is the project manager with Humble Flooring and Decorating Center.

Cook, first elected in November 2016, was seeking his sixth term.

The 50^th District consists of Greene County, along with four townships and 20 boroughs of Washington County.

The Democratic candidate will be Lois Bower-Bjonson of Scenery Hill.

Cook sponsored legislation that would Primary results spell the end for four PA House incumbents, “bar public officials from lobbying if they’re convicted of a crime”.

Humble wants to create a state-level DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency.

Cook also sought to replace property taxes with “alternative funding models” to raise money.” He previously was a council member in West Virginia, etc.

Cook echoes many with his concerns “ about the strain large data centers can place on our energy grid, water resources, and local infrastructure, especially in rural communities. “

Ben Humble has a diploma from Jefferson-Morgan High School and 30 years experience as a businessman, and a volunteer fireman.

State Senator Camera Barlotta (R- 46) gave the Humble campaign $1,030, but the money was returned. See also below.

In 2020, Bud Cook was among 26 Pa House Republicans who called for“the reversal of Joe Biden’s certification as the winner of Pennsylvania’s 2020 electoral votes in the 2020 United States Presidential election”.

For a discussion of the Barlotta “alleged influence” for Ben Humble, see Why is local politics in Washington County so cutthroat?

Also see

I had high hopes for Ben Humble. He screams he is not …

Meet Ben Humble

Was Keith Harris Too Conservative For The 195th?

By Bob Small

Keith Harris (D-195) becomes a one-term state representative following this year’s primary. He was defeated by social worker Sierra McNeil. The third candidate was Kenneth Walker, Jr, formerly a public school teacher and an assistant program manager for the Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Public Safety.

McNeil received 53.4% to Harris’s 27.3%. .This is the general election in that the GOP has neglected to run anyone for this office and any alternative party candidate has little chance.

According to his campaign website, Harris “earned a certificate in Liberal Arts education through the Act Now program at Philadelphia Community College from in 1982.” He also mentions his work on the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network. He was previously sergeant at arms for The Philadelphia City Council.

Sierra McNeil had the support of the Philadelphia Working Families Party, which masquerades as an independent party, but actually votes with the Democrats.

Harris stopped following the party line on Immigration and other bills, which may have led to his defeat.

McNeil is Pennsylvania President of the The National Association of Social Workers.

She supports HB 554 which would allow the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Social Work Licensure Compact . There are seven states in the SWLC, with twenty others having pending Legislation. This could eventually allow social workers to apply for multi-state licenses.

Not everyone thinks this is a good idea. The Social Work Compact is bad public policy .“ Psychotherapynotes.com feels that this removes participating states’ ability to ensure that a social worker has state-specific legal knowledge before being allowed to practice there. “. There are a number of other concerns brought up in this article,

For instance, would a Social Worker from Iowa know what a Wawa on “the pike” means, what a “Booth’s Corner” is, and wouldn’t they expect Delaware County to have a few hospitals?

Similarly, what would a Pennsylvania Social worker not know, that you don’t want to work in Vermont because they’re the only state without a Dairy Queen?

See also

Sierra McNeil

Pennsylvania Democrats and Republicans .

Greg Vitali loses!

By Bob Small

In one of the most stunning 2026 Primary upsets, the three -decade-plus legislative career of Greg Vitali comes to an end. He lost to Judy Trombetta, who is almost half his age.

The 69-year-old Vitali was backed by The Pennsylvania House Democratic Committee . However, the Delaware County Democratic Committee endorsed his challenger. She raised twice the amount Vitali did, $60,000, and spent $45,000, compared to the $14,000 he spent.

Greg Vitali has a BS (Cum Laude) in Economics from Villanova Rep. Greg Vitali | Homepage and a J. D, from The Villanova University School of Law. He then worked as a sole practitioner for a dozen years in Havertown. In 1992, he became the first Democrat ever elected to the 166^th.

At their forum, Vitali proposed that “climate change is the issue of our time”. Trombetta argued that “now is not the time for a single-issue candidate”. Trombetta is the president of the Haverford Board of Commissioners, the latest post in her 15 years of public service.

Judy Trombetta has a BSW from Temple and MSW from the U of. Pittsburgh. She has a past history of working to ban Marcellus Shale Drilling, while also being involved in marijuana legalization efforts. She lives in Haverford with her husband Brandon, a son and a cat.

PA District 166 includes Haverford Township along with parts of, Lower Merion, and Radnor.

Even AI couldn’t uncover any relationship information on Greg Vitali albeit a non-AI source with a good memory can say he was divorced shortly after his legislative career began.

See also

Greg Vitali

‘Grateful’ Trombetta talks about victory as Delaware County …

Vitali vs Trombetta: The Debate Recap and a Moment That …

Lastly, Joe Walker will be her GOP opponent in November.

Six Candidates for Pennsylvania’s 91^st

By Bob Small

Adams County, best-known for the Civil war turning point battle of Gettysburg, is the site of a less bloody but bruising primary battle going on for Pennsylvania’s 91^st House seat.

On the Republican side, Dan Moul has served as the 91^st House member since 2006. Since there is not a mandatory retirement age for members of the Pennsylvania Legislature, he can continue until he is defeated or decides to retire.

Linsay Krug, is a Conewago Valley School Board member along with being a member of the Adams County Technical Institute’s Joint Operating Committee. She said her top priorities are  “eliminating property taxes, protecting children from exploitation and trafficking, and holding politicians in both parties accountable.  “

On her website, she lists links addressing her plans and states that “I believe that every voice must count and every citizen must be heard.” She has children, but that’s all even AI can find out.

Nick Lovell priorities, include property tax reform. He is president of the Littletown School Area School District Board of School Directors.

On his campaign website, he mentions a twelve year limit for State Legislators.

Lovell states he’s a Christian, though, as with the previous GOP Candidate, a spouse remains unmentioned.

He says “If data centers can be located in places where they are not a detriment to the surrounding area or the community, and where there is local support, then they can be appropriate. “

Meanwhile, the three Democrats running for the 91^st are Tony Nunez-Guzman, Kathleen Pratt, and Darian Sundberg

For further information about these three, see 91st Democratic candidates center of forum | Local News and Three Democrats outline visions in 91st District forum