Sept. 2, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesPennsylvania Democrats recruit high-profile congressional candidates in bid to help flip U.S. Houseby Associated PressThe ranks of Democrats now running for Congress in Pennsylvania include a prominent mayor and a state labor leader.
Aug. 26, 2025Matt Smith / For Spotlight PACourt orders Pa. to stop rejecting mail ballots solely over incorrect datesby Associated PressA federal appeals court on Tuesday ruled it unconstitutional for Pennsylvania to toss mail ballots with inaccurate dates on the return envelope.
Aug. 26, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesRepublican Garrity has snagged Democratic donors in the past. That won't happen if she faces Gov. Shapiro in 2026.by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAIn a head-to-head contest for governor in 2026, Shapiro would likely have an advantage over Garrity with key donors.
Aug. 25, 2025Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAMunicipal Elections 101: Tax collectors, auditors, and other key local finance positions on Pa.’s November ballotby Amanda Fries of Spotlight PAOn Nov. 4, you may be asked to consider candidates who want to be in charge of collecting taxes or auditing local finances. Here’s what you need to know.
Aug. 21, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesPennsylvania rebuffs federal request for voter rolls containing personal databy Carter Walker of VotebeatThe state says sensitive information such as Social Security and driver’s license numbers is off limits to federal officials.
Aug. 18, 2025Marc Levy / APRepublican Stacy Garrity seeks to challenge Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s reelection bidby Associated PressGarrity, a former Army reservist, could have a contested primary. Losing 2022 GOP candidate Doug Mastriano is also teasing a run.
Aug. 14, 2025Jared Wickerham / For Spotlight PAStricter voter ID rules in Pa. wouldn’t have stopped most ballot fraud cases in recent years, analysis findsby Carter Walker of VotebeatOver the past decade, there were 14 instances in which at least one fraudulent ballot was cast, according to law enforcement.
Aug. 8, 2025Jose Luis Magana / APTrump administration seeks more Pa. voter information, raises potential legal concernsby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe Justice Department’s letter seeks Pennsylvania’s voter rolls, and may encompass social security and driver’s license numbers.
Aug. 4, 2025Fred Adams / For Spotlight PAVoting machines rarely malfunction during Pa. elections, new data showby Carter Walker of VotebeatAn analysis of three recent statewide elections found that problems with voting machines were rare and easily fixed.
July 17, 2025Jose Luis Magana / APDOJ requests for voter data from Pa., other swing states raise concerns among election law expertsby Carter Walker of Votebeat and Jen Fifield of VotebeatThe agency has asked states for voter rolls, information on election crimes, and procedures for checking voter eligibility, among other records. State officials question the scope of the requests.
July 16, 2025Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAIndependents ask Pa. Supreme Court to let them vote in closed, partisan primariesby Carter Walker of VotebeatIn a legal filing to the state’s high court, a group of voters argues closed primaries are unconstitutional because they leave millions of voters out of contests that often decide general elections.
July 14, 2025Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPennsylvania redesigns envelopes for provisional ballots to cut down on rejectionsby Carter Walker of VotebeatA similar move for mail ballots sharply cut the number that were disqualified over technical errors.
July 9, 2025Jose Luis Magana / APTrump administration presses Pennsylvania for answers on how it manages voter rollsby Carter Walker of VotebeatSeveral other states are also facing new scrutiny as the U.S. Department of Justice refocuses election-law enforcement.
July 9, 2025Carter Walker / VotebeatSupport for early voting, voter ID grows among voters who participated in bipartisan discussionsby Carter Walker of VotebeatFindings from a ‘deliberative poll’ show a possible path to broader consensus on election reform proposals.
June 30, 2025Associated PressUS Rep. Evans announces 5th term in Congress will be lastby Associated PressThe Philadelphia Democrat, who served in the Pennsylvania House for three decades before being elected to Congress, said “the time is right” to retire at the end of his term in 2027.
June 27, 2025Marc Levy / APFormer rival Lamb emerges as progressive alternative to embattled Sen. Fettermanby Associated PressConor Lamb lost to John Fetterman in the U.S. Senate primary in 2022. Will he run again?
June 18, 2025Kriston Jae Bethel / For VotebeatFederal judge delivers prison time to former local Pa. officials who tried to steal mayor's raceby Carter Walker of VotebeatFederal investigators charged the men with multiple counts of fraudulent voter registration and related crimes in a failed scheme to steal a mayoral election.
June 17, 2025Courtesy of Keep Our RepublicCounty election officials for Pa. talk 2024 lessons, share reform wish listsby Carter Walker for VotebeatAt a Q&A with Votebeat, officials said they need more time for pre-canvassing and an earlier deadline for mail ballot applications, plus have concerns about drop boxes, voter ID.
June 13, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesGOP looking for strong candidate to challenge Josh Shapiro as party seeks to keep control of U.S. Houseby Associated PressThe GOP faces long odds against beating Josh Shapiro, but finding a strong candidate is also important for the U.S. House majority.
June 13, 2025Carter Walker / VotebeatHow would ordinary voters resolve Pennsylvania’s big election policy debates?by Carter Walker of VotebeatAs part of a civics project, a group of citizens gathered to discuss pre-canvassing, early voting, and voter ID. Their deliberations could shape pending legislation.
May 27, 2025Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. is the last state to elect poll workers. Local officials say they're short 1000s of candidates.by Carter Walker of VotebeatIn Allegheny County alone, 3,500 of the roughly 4,000 elected poll worker positions on the November ballot will lack a candidate.
May 21, 2025Leise Hook / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2025: The State College school board candidates advancing to Novemberby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeState College voters will choose from six school board candidates in the fall — four registered Democrats and two registered Republicans.
May 21, 2025Kriston Jae Bethel / For VotebeatA failed plot to steal a local Pa. election shows how hard it is to pull off fraudby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe case serves as a reality check amid a raging national debate over election security and the threat of voter fraud, especially in swing states like Pennsylvania.
May 20, 2025Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2025: The Commonwealth and Superior Court candidates advancing to Novemberby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAVoters this fall will also consider whether to give five appellate judges, including those on state Supreme Court, additional 10-year terms.
May 20, 2025Gene J. Puskar / APPittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey loses Democratic primary to challenger Corey O’Connorby Associated PressBecause of Democrats’ voter advantage in Pittsburgh, the winner of the primary election will likely triumph in November.