Wednesday, May 17, 2006
The Fallout From the Primary Election
So, just how significant were the results of Tuesday’s primary election? With the legislature’s July 2005 pay grab on the minds of voters, there was a real increase in the number of primary challengers to incumbents than in previous years. That, coupled with retirements prior to election time, held the promise for change.
The biggest impact was the defeat of the Senate’s top two leaders, who were linked with the pay raise. The House leadership—the Speaker, minority leader, and minority whip—all held their seats, meaning that stewardship of that chamber remains firmly in place. The vote count in the races for the minority leaders (both won with roughly 60 percent of the vote) shows that voters in those districts are more concerned with having officials who can bring home the bacon, regardless of how self-serving the actions of those leaders were.
In the region, there were twelve House incumbents (11 Democrats and 1 Republican) that voted for the pay raise and faced primary opposition. Four of those twelve lost their seats and will not return to Harrisburg. It is interesting to note that the 1 Republican was one of the four.
It is hopeful that some incumbents will not be returning to the Capitol. But the fact that so many of those in support of the pay raise will be going back makes us wonder if any long-term progress will be made.
The biggest impact was the defeat of the Senate’s top two leaders, who were linked with the pay raise. The House leadership—the Speaker, minority leader, and minority whip—all held their seats, meaning that stewardship of that chamber remains firmly in place. The vote count in the races for the minority leaders (both won with roughly 60 percent of the vote) shows that voters in those districts are more concerned with having officials who can bring home the bacon, regardless of how self-serving the actions of those leaders were.
In the region, there were twelve House incumbents (11 Democrats and 1 Republican) that voted for the pay raise and faced primary opposition. Four of those twelve lost their seats and will not return to Harrisburg. It is interesting to note that the 1 Republican was one of the four.
It is hopeful that some incumbents will not be returning to the Capitol. But the fact that so many of those in support of the pay raise will be going back makes us wonder if any long-term progress will be made.
