Borello officially on ballot in 46th state Senate race against Bartolotta
Independent candidate challenging three-term Republican senator
Independent 46th state Senate District candidate Jodi Borello is officially on the ballot in her bid to unseat Republican state Sen. Camera Bartolotta after no one challenged her nominating petitions by Monday’s deadline.
Borello traveled to Harrisburg on two separate occasions over the last month to deliver multiple batches of nominating petitions with well over the 1,566 signatures she needed from registered voters to get on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
State Department of State candidate records show Borello’s candidacy was formally approved by election officials on July 17, but her campaign waited until Tuesday to make the official announcement since any registered voter in the district had until Monday to challenge her filing.
“Democrats, Independents, Republicans, and voters from across the political spectrum are tired of the status quo that puts big corporations over the people of this district,” Borello said in a written statement. “When I’m in Harrisburg, my priority will always be my constituents, not billionaires, data center developers, and large corporations.”
Borello said she secured about twice the number of signatures needed to get on the ballot, which came from any registered Republican, Democrat or non-affiliated party voters living in the district since Borello is running as an independent candidate.
“I’m proud of the grassroots movement we’ve built in the 46th District, collecting over 3,000 petitions from voters who are clear that they want a new Independent voice instead of more of the same,” Borello said.
Borello, of South Franklin, began collecting signatures for her run as an independent in late May about a month before Evan Snyder of Nottingham Township withdrew from the race on June 22 after running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Democratic Party officials in Washington County said in June that Snyder was a placeholder so Bartolotta could not get a political ally to run for the Democratic nomination to ensure her seat was safe.
“I know she’s been out there close to three months (getting signatures),” Bartolotta said in a phone interview Tuesday. “She changed to an independent moments before the primary and replaced the Democrat on the ballot. They pulled the Democrat off and put her on.”
Borello was a longtime Republican until she registered as an independent in 2008, and then registered again with the GOP in 2017 before switching back to independent in March, according to voter registration records. Borello is currently a community organizer with the Center for Coalfield Justice environmental group based in Washington, which Bartolotta said should be concerning to those living in the region who rely on natural gas or coal jobs to make a living.
“Everyone I’ve spoken with – all the folks through numerous industries and groups I’ve spoken to – know the Center for Coalfield Justice and how extreme these folks are,” Bartolotta said. “She’s got one agenda to put a lot of people out of work who are in the energy industry … and I don’t think that is a message that resonates with Southwestern Pennsylvania.”
Bartolotta, a three-term incumbent from Carroll Township, defeated challenger Al Buchtan of Cumberland Township by a 53.5-46.5% margin during the bruising Republican primary on May 19. She will now face Borello in the general election for the 46th State Senate District, which includes all of Washington and Greene counties, and the southern sliver of Beaver County.