Pennsylvania state executive official elections, 2020
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| Pennsylvania state executive official elections |
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| Election details |
| Filing deadline: February 18, 2020 |
| Primary: June 2, 2020 General: November 3, 2020 |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting in Pennsylvania |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2020 Impact of term limits in 2020 State government trifectas and triplexes |
| Other state executive elections |
Three state executive offices were up for election in Pennsylvania in 2020:
Auditor
Attorney General
Treasurer
Candidates and election results
Auditor General
General election
General election for Pennsylvania Auditor General
Timothy DeFoor defeated Nina Ahmad, Jennifer Moore, and Olivia Faison in the general election for Pennsylvania Auditor General on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Timothy DeFoor (R) | 49.4 | 3,338,009 |
 | Nina Ahmad (D) | 46.3 | 3,129,131 | |
 | Jennifer Moore (L) | 3.1 | 205,929 | |
 | Olivia Faison (G) | 1.2 | 78,588 | |
| Total votes: 6,751,657 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pennsylvania Auditor General
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania Auditor General on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Nina Ahmad | 36.4 | 551,144 |
 | Michael Lamb | 27.1 | 410,556 | |
 | Christina Hartman | 14.0 | 211,281 | |
 | Tracie Fountain | 9.0 | 136,130 | |
 | H. Scott Conklin | 7.5 | 112,952 | |
 | Rosie Davis | 6.0 | 90,558 | |
| Total votes: 1,512,621 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Pennsylvania Auditor General
Timothy DeFoor advanced from the Republican primary for Pennsylvania Auditor General on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Timothy DeFoor | 100.0 | 1,042,092 |
| Total votes: 1,042,092 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Cris Dush (R)
Attorney General
General election
General election for Attorney General of Pennsylvania
Incumbent Josh Shapiro defeated Heather Heidelbaugh, Daniel Wassmer, and Richard Weiss in the general election for Attorney General of Pennsylvania on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Josh Shapiro (D) | 50.9 | 3,461,472 |
 | Heather Heidelbaugh (R) | 46.3 | 3,153,831 | |
 | Daniel Wassmer (L) | 1.8 | 120,489 | |
 | Richard Weiss (G) | 1.0 | 70,804 | |
| Total votes: 6,806,596 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Watch the Candidate Conversation for this race!
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Pennsylvania
Incumbent Josh Shapiro advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Pennsylvania on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Josh Shapiro | 100.0 | 1,429,414 |
| Total votes: 1,429,414 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Attorney General of Pennsylvania
Heather Heidelbaugh advanced from the Republican primary for Attorney General of Pennsylvania on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Heather Heidelbaugh | 100.0 | 1,055,168 |
| Total votes: 1,055,168 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Treasurer
General election
General election for Pennsylvania Treasurer
Stacy Garrity defeated incumbent Joseph Torsella, Joseph Soloski, and Timothy Runkle in the general election for Pennsylvania Treasurer on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Stacy Garrity (R) | 48.7 | 3,291,877 |
 | Joseph Torsella (D) | 47.9 | 3,239,331 | |
 | Joseph Soloski (L) | 2.2 | 148,614 | |
 | Timothy Runkle (G) | 1.2 | 81,984 | |
| Total votes: 6,761,806 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pennsylvania Treasurer
Incumbent Joseph Torsella advanced from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania Treasurer on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joseph Torsella | 100.0 | 1,381,763 |
| Total votes: 1,381,763 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Pennsylvania Treasurer
Stacy Garrity advanced from the Republican primary for Pennsylvania Treasurer on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Stacy Garrity | 100.0 | 1,047,510 |
| Total votes: 1,047,510 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
The tables below contain data from financial reports submitted to state agencies. The data is gathered and made available by Transparency USA.
Attorney General of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Auditor General
Pennsylvania Treasurer
Context of the 2020 elections
Party control in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Party Control: 1992-2024
One year of a Democratic trifecta • Twelve years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | R | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D |
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Pennsylvania utilizes a closed primary process. Voters are required to register with a political party to vote in the primary election.[1][2]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In Pennsylvania, all polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[3]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in Pennsylvania, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the next election, a resident of the district in which he or she is registering for at least 30 days before the next election, and at least 18 years old by the day of the next election.[4] The deadline for registering to vote is 15 days before the election.[4] Registration can be done online, in person, or by mail. Prospective voters can register in person at the county voter registration office or at a number of state agencies, including Pennsylvania Department of Transportation centers. The Pennsylvania voter registration application is available online and can be mailed to the county voter registration office.[5] On September 19, 2023, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) announced that the state had implemented automatic voter registration.[6]
Automatic registration
Pennsylvania practices automatic voter registration.[7]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Pennsylvania implemented an online voter registration system in 2015.[8] Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
Pennsylvania does not allow same-day voter registration.
Residency requirements
Prospective voters must be residents of the district in which they are registering for at least 30 days before the next election.
Verification of citizenship
Pennsylvania does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[9] As of November 2024, five states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, and New Hampshire — had passed laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, only two of those states' laws were in effect, in Arizona and New Hampshire. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections as of November 2024. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The Pennsylvania Department of State allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.
Voter ID requirements
Pennsylvania does not generally require voters to present identification while voting. However, a voter who is voting at a polling place for the first time must present identification.[10]
Voters can present the following forms of identification. This list was current as of October 2024. Click here to ensure you have current information.
| “ | Approved forms of photo identification include:
If you do not have a photo ID, you can use a non-photo identification that includes your name and address.
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” |
Early voting
Pennsylvania voters can cast mail ballots in person. According to the Pennsylvania Department of State's Office of Communications and Press, "Once a county’s ballots are finalized and printed, a registered voter can apply for their mail ballot in person at their county election office, complete it, then submit it all in one visit. Voters should check their county's website to see when they have final ballots available and what hours their election office is open."[12] For more information, visit this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
Beginning with the April 28, 2020, primary election, all Pennsylvania voters are eligible to cast absentee ballots. The change came about as a result of SB421, an omnibus election law bill which Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (D) signed into law on October 31, 2019.[13][14]
Past elections
2018
The following elections took place in 2018:
- Pennsylvania gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
- Pennsylvania state executive official elections, 2018
- Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2018 (May 15 Republican primary)
- Pennsylvania lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (May 15 Republican primary)
- Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2018 (May 15 Democratic primary)
- Pennsylvania lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (May 15 Democratic primary)
See also
| Pennsylvania | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures Website, "State Primary Election Types," accessed September 24, 2024
- ↑ Casetext, "25 Pa. Stat. § 299," accessed September 24, 2024
- ↑ Department of State, “First Time Voters,” accessed March 21, 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Department of State, “Voter Registration Application,” accessed March 21, 2023
- ↑ Department of State, “Contact Your Election Officials,” accessed March 21, 2023
- ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, "Governor Shapiro Implements Automatic Voter Registration in Pennsylvania, Joining Bipartisan Group of States That Have Taken Commonsense Step to Make Voter Registration More Streamlined and Secure," September 19, 2023
- ↑ NBC, "Pennsylvania rolls out automatic voter registration," September 19, 2023
- ↑ The Patriot-News, “Thousands take advantage of new online voter registration in Pennsylvania,” September 2, 2015
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Department of State, "First Time Voters," accessed March 21, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Janie Valentine, "Email communication with Amy Gulli," September 10, 2024
- ↑ PennLive, "Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf signs historic election reform bill into law," October 31, 2019
- ↑ Pennsylvania.gov, “Voting in Pennsylvania,” accessed October 1, 2019
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