2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General election

The Pennsylvania Attorney General election of 2016 took place on November 8, 2016, to elect a new Pennsylvania Attorney General. Democratic incumbent Kathleen Kane originally indicated her intention to seek re-election, but dropped out after she was criminally charged with violating grand jury secrecy laws stemming from alleged leaks of grand jury investigation details to embarrass a political enemy.[1][2] Democratic nominee and Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro defeated Republican state senator John Rafferty Jr. by a margin of 2.78%.

2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General election

November 8, 2016

Nominee Josh Shapiro John Rafferty Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 3,057,010 2,891,325 Percentage 51.4% 48.6%

County results Shapiro:      50–60%      60–70%      80–90% Rafferty:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Attorney General before election Bruce Beemer Democratic Elected Attorney General Josh Shapiro Democratic

Democratic primary

Declared

• John Morganelli, Northampton County District Attorney, candidate in 2000 and 2004 and nominee in 2008[3]
• Josh Shapiro, chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors and former state representative[4]
• Stephen Zappala, Allegheny County District Attorney[5]

Withdrawn

• David Fawcett, former Allegheny County Councilman[6][7]
• Kathleen Kane, incumbent attorney general[8][9]
• Jack Stollsteimer, former Delaware County Assistant District Attorney and former Assistant United States Attorney[10][11]

Endorsements

John Morganelli

Individuals

• Jean Engler, Carbon County District Attorney[12]
• Anthony Rosini, former Northumberland County District Attorney[12]
• Cal Shields, former Schuylkill County District Attorney[12]

Josh Shapiro

Presidents

• Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States[13]

U.S. Senators

• Bob Casey, Jr., United States Senator from Pennsylvania[13]

Former Assistant U.S. Attorneys

• Jack Stollsteimer, former Delaware County Assistant District Attorney, former Assistant United States Attorney and former 2016 Attorney General candidate[11]

Governors

• Ed Rendell, 45th Governor of Pennsylvania[13]
• Tom Wolf, 47th and current Governor of Pennsylvania[13]

State executive officials

• Eugene DePasquale, Auditor General of Pennsylvania[13]

State legislators

• Leslie Acosta, state representative[13]
• Donna Bullock, state representative[13]
• Tina Davis, state representative[13]
• Art Haywood, state senator[13]
• Vincent Hughes, State Senator and former state representative[13]
• Stephen Kinsey, state representative[13]
• Leanne Krueger-Braneky, state representative[13]
• Daylin Leach, State Senator and former state representative[13]
• Joanna E. McClinton, state representative[13]

Mayors and other municipal leaders

• Kim Bracey, Mayor of York[14]
• Blondell Reynolds Brown, Philadelphia City Councilwoman[13]
• Darrell L. Clarke, Philadelphia City Council President[15]
• Rick Gray, Mayor of Lancaster[14]
• Derek Green, Philadelphia City Councilman[13]
• Bill Greenlee, Philadelphia City Councilman[13]
• Helen Gym, Philadelphia City Councilwoman[13]
• Kenyatta Johnson, Philadelphia City Councilman and former state representative[13]
• Eric Papenfuse, Mayor of Harrisburg[14]
• Cherelle Parker, Philadelphia City Councilman and former state representative[13]
• Maria Quiñones-Sanchez, Philadelphia City Councilwoman[13]
• Marian Tasco, Philadelphia City Councilwoman[13]
• Jewell Williams, Philadelphia Sheriff[13]

Labor unions

• AFSCME 13[13]
• Laborers District Council[13]
• PASNAP[13]
• Plumbers Local 690[13]
• PSEA[13]
• UFCW Local 1776[13]

Organizations

• Chester County Democratic Committee[13]
• Delaware County Democratic Committee[13]
• Democracy for America[13]
• Equality Pennsylvania[13]
• Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5[13]
• League of Conservation Voters[13]
• Liberty City Democratic Club[13]
• Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club[16]
• Montgomery County Democratic Committee[13]
• Planned Parenthood PA PAC[13]

Newspapers

• The Philadelphia Inquirer[13]
• Philadelphia Tribune[13]

Stephen Zappala

Individuals

• Mike Stack, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania[17]

Organizations

• Western Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association[18]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Kathleen Kane	John Morganelli	Josh Shapiro	Stephen Zappala	Other	Undecided
Harper Polling	January 22–23, 2016	640	± 3.81%	31%	9%	13%	18%	–	30%
				–	12%	19%	20%	–	49%

Results

2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General Democratic primary results

  Shapiro—80-90%

  Shapiro—60-70%

  Shapiro—50-60%

  Shapiro—40-50%

  Shapiro—30-40%

  Zappala—40-50%

  Zappala—50-60%

  Zappala—60-70%

  Zappala—70-80%

  Morganelli—30-40%

  Morganelli—40-50%

  Morganelli—60-70%

  Morganelli—70-80%

Democratic primary results[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Josh Shapiro	725,168	47.0
	Democratic	Stephen Zappala	566,501	36.8
	Democratic	John Morganelli	250,097	16.2
Total votes			1,541,766	100.0

Republican primary

Declared

• Joe Peters, former federal and state prosecutor and nominee for Pennsylvania Auditor General in 2004[20]
• John Rafferty, state senator[21]

Withdrawn

• Todd Stephens, state representative[22]

Declined

• Heather Heidelbaugh, former Allegheny County Councilwoman[23][6]

Results

2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General Republican primary results

  Rafferty—80-90%

  Rafferty—70-80%

  Rafferty—60-70%

  Rafferty—50-60%

  Peters—50-60%

  Peters—70-80%

  Peters—80-90%

Republican primary results[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Rafferty	819,510	63.8
	Republican	Joe Peters	464,491	36.2
Total votes			1,284,001	100.0

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking
Governing[24]	Tossup

Results

Pennsylvania Attorney General election, 2016[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Josh Shapiro	3,057,010	51.39%	-4.75%
	Republican	John Rafferty	2,891,325	48.61%	+7.05%
Total votes			5,948,335	100.0%	N/A
	Democratic hold

References

1. Maher, Kris (August 6, 2015). "Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane Charged With Obstruction, Perjury". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
2. Bacon, John (August 6, 2015). "Pa. attorney general charged with perjury, obstructing justice". USA Today. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
3. "John Morganelli says he'll run for Pennsylvania attorney general". The Morning Call. December 15, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
4. Field, Nick (January 11, 2016). "BREAKING: Report: Shapiro to Run for Attorney General". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
5. Field, Nick (December 16, 2015). "Zappala Kicks Off AG Campaign". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
6. Potter, Chris (November 19, 2015). "Pittsburgh attorney David Fawcett to run for state attorney general". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
7. Field, Nick (January 19, 2016). "Fawcett Drops Out of AG Race". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
8. Field, Nick (January 9, 2016). "Kane Now Says She'll Run for Re-Election". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
9. Field, Nick (February 16, 2016). "BREAKING: Kane Announces She Won't Run for Re-Election". PoliticsPA. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
10. Addy, Jason (August 13, 2015). "Stollsteimer to Run for AG". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
11. Field, Nick (January 20, 2016). "BREAKING: Stollsteimer Drops Out, Endorses Shapiro". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
12. Calabrese, Chris (January 20, 2016). "Morganelli Gains Support of 3 Prosecutors". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
13. Who’s supporting who? The Pa. endorsements you need to know about before Tuesday
14. Field, Nick (January 25, 2016). "Three Mayors Endorse Shapiro for AG". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
15. Field, Nick (January 14, 2016). "Clarke Endorses Shapiro for AG". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
16. "Official Endorsements". Libertycity.org. Retrieved 2016-04-02.
17. Field, Nick (February 16, 2016). "Stack Endorses Zappala for AG". PoliticsPA. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
18. Field, Nick (January 28, 2016). "Zappala Wins Support of Western PA Police". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
19. 2016 Presidential Primary Archived 2016-04-30 at the Wayback Machine
20. Aupperlee, Aaron (February 4, 2016). "2nd Republican seeks nomination in state attorney general race". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
21. Addy, Jason (June 17, 2015). "Rafferty Announces Attorney General Campaign". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
22. Field, Nick (December 19, 2015). "BREAKING: Stephens Drops Out of AG Race". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
23. Aupperlee, Aaron (January 12, 2015). "Heidelbaugh says one term is enough on Allegheny County Council". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
24. "4 States Have Competitive Attorney General Races in 2016". governing.com. 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2016-04-27.

External links

Official campaign websites

• Dave Fawcett for Attorney General
• Joe Peters for Attorney General
• John Rafferty for Attorney General
• Josh Shapiro for Attorney General
• Todd Stephens for Attorney General
• Jack Stollsteimer for Attorney General
• Stephen Zappala for Attorney General