When members of the state Democratic Committee meet in Hershey today, they’ll decide whether to endorse any of the statewide candidates competing in the April 26 primary. And while the candidates squared off in a Friday evening forum in a final bid for support, it’s unclear whether the debate made the committee’s choice any easier.
On the state level, the marquee race is for U.S. Senate, where three Democrats have been battling for a chance to take on Republican Pat Toomey in November: Braddock Mayor John Fetterman, Katie McGinty, the former chief of staff to Gov. Tom Wolf, and former Congressman Joe Sestak, a retired admiral. As in previous discussions, the candidates refrained from attacking each other, and their positions on a variety of issues, including support for increased veterans spending and concern about racial injustice, overlapped.
But they were joined — for the first and potentially last time — by Joseph Vodvarka, a 72-year-old Robinson resident who described himself as a staunch supporter of gun rights and “the working man.” He said he would fight imports by restoring a national tariff imposed in 1789, and endorsed cutting off foreign aid to every country except Israel. The money, he said, should be spent on a “Manhattan-style Project” to cure diseases.
After the debate, Mr. Vodvarka said he had not been permitted to participate in previous forums, and it remains to be seen whether he will be eligible for future debates: His nominating petitions are being challenged by Mr. Sestak.
The debate among the three Democrats running for attorney general also followed a familiar path. Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli and Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. both touted their law-enforcement experience. Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro, who does not have a background as a prosecutor, cited his own reputation as a reformer in local government and the state Legislature.
There were few policy differences between the men, who each pledged to support tougher hate-crime laws, and touted their history hiring diverse staff, among other similarities. But while all three pledged to ensure access to abortion clinics and to uphold abortion rights, Mr. Morganelli described himself as a “pro-life Democrat,” while Mr. Shapiro said he’d been a staunch abortion-rights supporter.
Mr. Zappala did not express a personal view on abortion, though spokesman Marty Marks later said, “Steve is personally pro-choice.”
Previous debates between the candidates have featured some sharp exchanges. Those were largely absent during Friday’s forum, where the rules discouraged rebuttals.
Democrats also heard from Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, who is running for re-election without a primary election rival, and Joe Torsella, the party’s lone candidate for state treasurer. But it’s not clear whether the committee will endorse a candidate in either of the contested races. Winning the committee’s endorsement requires a two-thirds vote, a difficult hurdle to clear with multiple candidates in contention.
State party chair Marcel Groen said he hoped the committee would not hold an endorsement vote at all. The committee endorsement has only symbolic importance he said.
“We’ve been successful [at picking the eventual winner] 50 percent of the time,” he said, “which means you do just as well without it.”
Still he said, “I’m much happier with our candidates than I think the other side is with theirs.”
Chris Potter: cpotter@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2533.
First Published: March 5, 2016, 5:00 a.m.
