2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General election

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For related races, see 2016 United States attorney general elections.
2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →
  Comms Broida III (cropped 1).jpg John Rafferty.jpg
Nominee Josh Shapiro John Rafferty Jr.
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 3,057,010 2,891,325
Percentage 51.4% 48.6%
2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General Election Results.svg
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

Elections in Pennsylvania
Federal government
State government
Elections by year
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Lancaster
Allentown
Harrisburg
Category Government
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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%.

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

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Withdrawn[]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[]

hide
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]
hide
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
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]
hide
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[]

Candidates[]

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. ^ Jump up to: a b 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. ^ Jump up to: a b Field, Nick (January 20, 2016). "BREAKING: Stollsteimer Drops Out, Endorses Shapiro". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c Calabrese, Chris (January 20, 2016). "Morganelli Gains Support of 3 Prosecutors". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an Who’s supporting who? The Pa. endorsements you need to know about before Tuesday
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b c 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. ^ Jump up to: a b c 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
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