Well, it’s primary Election Day in Pennsylvania. There is only one race I can vote in with more than one person actually on the ballot, not counting party leader elections. For the first time since 2002 I am not seeking (either on the ballot or by write-in) a seat on either the county or state committee, and I’m quite happy about that. While I will remain in the Democratic Party as an active primary voter, committee people are bound by rule to support all Democratic nominees, and there are simply an increasing number of candidates that regardless of how bad their Republican opponent is, I cannot vote for. Here in the Lehigh Valley, I will not be casting a vote for Bob Brooks in the Fall, regardless of the results tonight. I would not support Graham Platner or Abdul Al-Sayed if I lived in their states. I’m not sure I could stomach NJ-12 candidate Adam Hamawy’s relationship to the “Blind Sheikh” who was convicted of the first World Trade Center bombing, though the rest of his story is pretty good. I’d really struggle to support a lot of what the party is starting to accept, and that’s even while saying I wouldn’t vote for any Republican in 2026 because of Trump, and I’d be fine with even some of the more progressive challengers out there (James Talarico, for instance). I’m happy to be free of having to bullshit. I’m also not working for any candidates today, only for independent expenditures this year. So all I have to do is vote today.

So the biggest news from my ballot is who I’m leaving off, not who I’m for. So let’s dig into it.

I’m leaving Governor blank. I’m going to vote for Josh Shapiro in the Fall, he’s a smart guy and quite competent, and his opponent Stacy Garrity is nuts. His term as Governor is largely a continuation of Tom Wolf’s policies, which is just fine for me. What were his two big pushes though as Governor? An attempt at school vouchers and data centers? None of that is enough to make me want to vote against him in November, as that would be harmful to many people in this state if it worked out. But tomorrow both the Governor and Lt. Governor are running unopposed. Given the Governor’s decision to not only endorse Bob “Crooksy” Brooks, but then to appear with him, I’ll decline today to vote for him. I’ll remember in 2028 too. I will vote for Austin Davis for Lt. Governor though, despite his mostly quiet endorsement in the race. Austin is the future of the party right now, really the only statewide Democratic elected that I suspect we’ll see running for another Pennsylvania office soon. I hope the future is better than the present.

As I said before, I’ll be voting for Lamont McClure. He’s got the right government experience to combat the Trump/Mackenzie cuts to essential services (like Medicaid) and he knows how to win here. The assertion of the receptionist in DC and other backers of Crooksy that McClure is the weakest Democratic candidate to beat Mackenzie is silly. We know general election voters like him, they’ve voted for him. This idea that we should care who raised the most money is completely stupid. Any of the four candidates will raise hundreds of thousands of dollars by July 1st if nominated. Give me the guy who has won elections over the deadbeat.

I’ll be voting for Lisa Boscola. No, I’m not writing in Taiba Sultana. I doubt many people will be. This campaign is nonsense, and we should treat it as such.

I’ll be voting for Jeff Warren. Jeff is running for PA-137 in the House and I think he’ll do a good job.

I’m going to decline to endorse in the state committee races. I have a lot of friends running. I wish them all well.

That’s my ballot. I doubt it shocks anyone. Good luck to almost all today, and everyone go vote.