No endorsement by Dems in U.S. Senate race
HERSHEY (AP) – Pennsylvania’s Democratic Party committee members are divided over who to endorse in a contested primary race for U.S. senator, and the candidates will run without the party’s explicit backing.
Katie McGinty came closest to winning the endorsement vote at Saturday’s meeting in Hershey. Her strongest support came from the Philadelphia delegation, as she scored 173 votes to Joe Sestak’s 149 votes on a second ballot that didn’t include two other candidates.
Also seeking the nomination are John Fetterman and Joe Vodvarka.
The primary election is April 26.
Even if a candidate can get the two-thirds majority vote required, an endorsement doesn’t guarantee success. The party endorsed Bob Casey for governor in 2002 and Arlen Specter for U.S. senator in 2010. Both were beaten in the primaries.
Democrats this year want to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey and keep a Democrat in the attorney general’s office. Embattled Attorney General Kathleen Kane isn’t seeking re-election.