March 21, 2023Deborah Kunselman, Daniel McCaffery, Carolyn Carluccio photos via candidate Facebook pages; Patricia McCullough photo via 2021 campaign website.Pa. primary election 2023: A complete guide to the candidates for state Supreme Courtby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PADuring the May 16 primary election, Democrats and Republicans will vote for candidates to fill an open seat on Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court. The winners will face off in November.
March 9, 2023Courtesy Pennsylvania Capital-StarKey Pa. senator’s record has Democrats, voting advocates worried passing election reform will be difficultby Carter Walker of VotebeatCris Dush, who chairs the state Senate committee that considers voting bills, rejected the results of the 2020 presidential election and led Republicans’ investigation attempt.
Feb. 28, 2023Kent M. Wilhelm / For Spotlight PAPa. judges offer conflicting opinions on whether fraud evidence is needed for recount requestsby Carter Walker of VotebeatRecount petitions have become an increasingly common tool for those seeking to question results, leading to delays in certification and fresh doubts about the integrity of the elections.
Feb. 28, 2023Monica Herndon / Philadelphia InquirerSee how your Pennsylvania county ranks on voter friendlinessby Spotlight PA StaffUse Spotlight PA and Votebeat’s interactive scorecard to find out your county’s policy on drop boxes, fixing mail ballots, and more.
Feb. 21, 2023Leise Hook / For Spotlight PAUnequal election policies disenfranchised Pennsylvania voters in 2022by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA and Carter Walker of VotebeatPennsylvania counties make their own policies on drop boxes, fixing mail ballots, and more, creating an uneven landscape that gives people additional voting options based on where they live.
Feb. 15, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAWhy election problems continue to plague this northeast Pa. countyby Carter Walker of VotebeatLuzerne County’s unique government structure and high turnover in key positions are causing repeated errors in elections administration, observers say.
Feb. 14, 2023Steven M. Falk / Philadelphia InquirerShapiro sat courtside at a Sixers game with a donor. His campaign called it a ‘political meeting.’by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAA spokesperson for Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wouldn't say who paid for the pricey tickets, but said the expenses will be reported as an in-kind campaign contribution.
Feb. 9, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PACourt won’t force Pa. to release voter info for 2020 election inquiry. That doesn’t mean it’s over.by Carter Walker of VotebeatIt’s uncertain where the decision leaves the state Senate GOP’s 2020 election review, which has languished for much of the past year while the subpoena dispute has moved through the courts.
Feb. 7, 2023Jose F. Moreno / Philadelphia InquirerDemocrats sweep special elections, affirming first Pa. House majority in 12 yearsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PADemocrats have won three special elections for Pennsylvania’s state House, which means they officially control the chamber after a month-long impasse with Republicans.
Jan. 13, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PASpecial elections to fill Pa. House seats vacated by Democrats should be held Feb. 7, court rulesby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Carter Walker of VotebeatDemocrats and Republicans have been at odds in recent weeks over which party had the authority to schedule three special elections in the chamber.
Jan. 13, 2023Carter Walker / VotebeatNo significant changes found in hand recount of 2020 presidential election in Pa.’s Lycoming Countyby Carter Walker of VotebeatCounty commissioners agreed to the recount after being pressured by activists associated with election conspiracy groups.
Jan. 8, 2023Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAThis Pa. county is about to start a hand recount of its 2020 presidential election resultsby Carter Walker of VotebeatCounty commissioners ordered the recount under pressure from activists associated with an election conspiracy group and against the advice of the local election director.
Jan. 5, 2023CHARLES FOX / Philadelphia InquirerGov.-elect Josh Shapiro taps Trump target Al Schmidt to be Pa.’s top election officialby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe Republican Philadelphia city commissioner famously stood up to former President Donald Trump’s claims of election fraud in 2020 while receiving death threats.
Dec. 29, 2022Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PACentury-old law let voters file baseless recount petitions and delay Pa.’s election certificationby Carter Walker of VotebeatElection experts and advocates say the Pennsylvania legislature should update an outdated 1927 law that was written for an era of machine politics.
Dec. 29, 2022Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAThe Pennsylvania legislature is getting a major infusion of new blood this Januaryby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThe nearly 50 new members of the state House will have to navigate a messy power struggle between Democrats and Republicans shortly after they are sworn in.
Dec. 12, 2022Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PADespite midterm losses, Pa. Republicans appear unlikely to abandon combative agendaby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAAfter losing marquee races for governor and U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania Republicans are sticking to their combative agenda.
Dec. 10, 2022Commonwealth Media ServicesWith majority at stake, Pa. House Republicans sue to block Democratic-scheduled special electionsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PADemocrats are eager for the contests to take place and presumably cement their majority, while Republicans seek to maintain some measure of power.
Dec. 10, 2022Jessica Griffin / Philadelphia InquirerCost of Pennsylvania governor’s race sets new record amid ‘campaign finance arms race’by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe $100 million total price tag, more than half of which was spent by Democratic Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro, underscores the state’s notoriously weak campaign finance laws.
Dec. 9, 2022Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAWolf administration seeks to finish off Pa. Senate GOP’s languishing 2020 election inquiryby Carter Walker of VotebeatPennsylvania Senate Republicans requested partial Social Security and driver’s license numbers as part of a yearslong attempt to audit the 2020 election.
Dec. 7, 2022Alejandro A. Alvarez / Philadelphia InquirerDispute over Pa. House special elections, control likely heading to courtby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PADemocrat Joanna McClinton says she is now in control of the Pennsylvania House, a claim Republican leaders say amounts to a “paperwork insurrection.”
Dec. 1, 2022Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAUnprecedented number of recount requests delay election certification in at least 3 Pa. countiesby Carter Walker of VotebeatElection officials and courts are being forced to resolve more than 100 petitions apparently from right-wing activists, most without evidence of fraud.
Dec. 1, 2022Heather Khalifa / Philadelphia InquirerThe teams helping Josh Shapiro prepare to become Pa.’s governor include wealthy donors, Republicansby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe Democrat is not the only governor-to-be who has given donors plum positions ahead of his inauguration, but some say the practice highlights the need to get money out of politics.
Nov. 29, 2022Matt Smith / For Spotlight PARejecting undated mail ballots disproportionately impacts communities of color in Pa., data showsby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that undated and incorrectly dated mail ballots should not be counted in the Nov. 8 midterm election, a decision that is now being challenged in federal court.
Nov. 24, 2022Commonwealth Media ServicesPennsylvania House Democrats will lose their majority for at least a few weeks. Here’s why.by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PATwo state lawmakers ran for reelection while also seeking different elected positions during the midterms. This totally legal strategy will put Pennsylvania House Democrats in a bind come January.
Nov. 23, 2022Commonwealth Media ServicesThe post-election review designed to give Pa. voters more confidence in the results, explainedby Carter Walker of VotebeatFollowing the 2022 midterms, all 67 Pennsylvania counties were required to participate in a "risk-limiting audit," which is designed to give statistical confidence in election results.
Nov. 23, 2022Heather Khalifa / Philadelphia InquirerHow Democrat Josh Shapiro won Pennsylvania’s 2022 election for governorby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PASupporters and detractors alike agreed Shapiro had a weak opponent, strong outreach to rural areas, and a pragmatic policy message.
Nov. 18, 2022Alejandro A. Alvarez / Philadelphia InquirerThe Democratic takeover of the Pa. House will be a little messy to start. Here’s why.by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAWhen the Pennsylvania House’s new session begins on Jan. 3, at least one Democratic seat will be vacant — complicating the election of the chamber’s speaker.
Nov. 16, 2022Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PADemocrats win control of Pennsylvania state House after picking up 12 seatsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PADemocrats have not controlled the chamber for more than a decade, and the win will allow lawmakers to advance policy priorities like raising the minimum wage.
Nov. 15, 2022Joe Lamberti / Philadelphia InquirerHave Democrats flipped the Pa. House? The latest on the deciding races.by Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAAttorneys for Democratic and Republican candidates in two close, still-uncalled races are haggling over whether to count several dozen provisional ballots.
Nov. 15, 2022Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAThis Pennsylvania county ran out of paper on Election Day. Now the district attorney is investigating.by Carter Walker of VotebeatOne week later, angry voters demand to know why Luzerne County polling places ran out of ballot paper.
