Pennsylvania Democrats turned their backs on President Barack
Obama’s endorsed candidate and chose Joe Sestak over incumbent Arlen Specter to
be their U.S. Senate candidate. Sestak will face former Republican Congressman Pat
Toomey in the November election.

Sestak, the current U.S. Rep. for the 7^th
Congressional District won 54 percent of the state-wide vote to upset Specter,
a 30-year U.S. senator who switched from Republican to Democrat last year. Sestak
scored 68.6 percent of the vote in Delaware County and 60.5 percent in Chester
County.

Specter carried only three of the state’s 67 counties.

In his concession speech, the incumbent said he would
support Sestak in the general election. Sestak called the victory “a win for
the people.”

Chadds Ford Democratic Party Chairman Peter Jesson, a Sestak
supporter, said in an early morning phone interview the day after the election
that Sestak’s victory was “The most astounding victory” in history.

“He had every piece of the machine, except for Delaware
County, from the federal government on down, fighting him,” Jesson said. “For a
guy who had no name recognition statewide, [the win] is just absolutely
stunning.”

In a follow-up e-mail later in the day Jesson said, "The
campaign strategy and execution where close to perfect, particularly
the husbanding of funds in order to mount a devastating set of TV
commercials
in the last couple of weeks. All
of this bodes ill for Pat Toomey in the November Election;
the chances of him beating Sestak are slim to none"

Toomey defeated Peg Luksik, 81.5 percent to 18.5 percent to
secure the Republican nomination in the May 18 primary election.

Other races
Stephen Barrar, the incumbent Republican state representative for the 160^th
Legislative District will face Democrat Nick DiGregory, a former high school
teacher.

State Rep. Chris Ross, R 158, will be challenged by Democrat
Susan Rzucidlo, founder and executive director of SPEAK Unlimited Inc.,
a nonprofit organization that supports, educates and serves public safety
professionals and the community.

Democrat Bryan Lentz, current state representative for the
161^st Legislative District, will face former U.S. Attorney
Republican Patrick Meehan for the 7^th District seat being vacated by
Sestak.

In the 16^th Congressional District, incumbent
Republican Joe Pitts will again be challenged by Lois Herr.

In the gubernatorial races, Democrats chose Allegheny County
Executive Dan Onorato among a field of four while Republicans went with state
Attorney General Tom Corbett over Samuel Rohrer.