Conestoga Township’s Brandi Tomasetti wants to challenge GOP favorite David McCormick in the U.S. Senate primary. She just has to figure out how to get on the ballot first.
When filing closed at 5 p.m. Tuesday, McCormick had met the qualifications to appear on the April 23 primary ballot. But Tomasetti, the secretary-treasurer of Conestoga Township, had not.
“Our campaign team was able to produce over 2,000 signatures to get on the primary ballot and have filed before the deadline,” the would-be candidate told DVJournal in a text message. “There is a minor issue with our petitions, which we will be filing an appeal for.”
The Pennsylvania Department of State will hear that appeal. Tomasetti said she isn’t sure when that appeal will happen.
Meanwhile, McCormick said he’s delighted with the “groundswell of support” that helped him get on the ballot.
“I’m proud that we’ve submitted over 22,000 signatures for my candidacy for the Senate representing all 67 counties…really a groundswell of support from across our great commonwealth,” said McCormick on social media. “I’m really excited to start this next phase of the campaign…and really make the case for why I need to replace Bob Casey in the Senate.”
McCormick, a successful businessman who narrowly lost a U.S. Senate GOP primary to Dr. Mehmet Oz in 2022, has been endorsed by the Pennsylvania Republican Party and 47 Pennsylvania sheriffs. A super PAC backing his candidacy has already raised more than $18 million.
McCormick calls Casey a career politician who wasn’t a leader and is “a rubber stamp for Joe Biden.”
Casey trumpeted his candidacy, saying his campaign turned in 25,000 signatures to secure his place on the ballot.
“The stakes of this race have never been higher,” he said in a campaign fundraising email. “We need to protect our democracy and voting rights, women’s rights, and workers’ rights…We need to stop fentanyl trafficking that’s devastating our communities and end China’s cheating practices that are harming our workers.”
Casey is unopposed in the Democratic primary.
If she makes it onto the ballot, Tomasetti will be one of several first-time candidates in the Republican primary.
Gabriella Mendez
Gabriella Mendez announced her entry into the GOP primary for 162nd District state representative. The Prospect Park resident said she wants to represent “the working-class citizens of Delco who share the dreams and aspirations of a thriving community.
“The 162nd District deserves new energy and a leader who solely focuses on local needs, not partisan politics,” she said before criticizing Democratic incumbent Rep. Dave Delloso. “He takes more than $225,000 a year from his state job and another job at the same time. Too many working people are grappling with high energy bills, out-of-control grocery bills, skyrocketing student debt, and runaway costs of living. Delloso isn’t doing enough to fix our local issues.”
Delloso is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Another first-time Republican candidate is Liz Piazza in Delaware County’s 165th district. She’s looking to
Liz Piazza
replace Democrat incumbent Rep. Jennifer O’Mara.
Piazza said she has support from Republicans across the district while vowing to be non-partisan. “We’ve seen almost no progress in Harrisburg over the past year; in fact, it took almost the entire year to fund our budget,” she said. “I think it’s because our representatives aren’t asking what we think…I am prepared to listen and be your voice.”
Her priorities include public safety, lowering costs for households, and ending gridlock.
O’Mara posted on social media that she “submitted more than double the number of required signatures…[with] more on the way!” She added that everyone who signed or circulated her petitions is “a part of history” because of their involvement in democracy.
She’s also running unopposed in the Democratic primary.
