2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General election

Summary

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]

2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →
 
Nominee Josh Shapiro John Rafferty Jr.
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 3,057,010 2,891,325
Percentage 51.4% 48.6%

Shapiro:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Rafferty:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      50%
     No votes

Attorney General before election

Bruce Beemer
Democratic

Elected Attorney General

Josh Shapiro
Democratic

Democratic nominee and Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro defeated Republican state senator John Rafferty Jr. by a margin of 2.78%.

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Declared edit

Withdrawn edit

Endorsements edit

John Morganelli
Individuals
Josh Shapiro
Presidents
U.S. Senators
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
State executive officials
State legislators
Mayors and other municipal leaders
Labor unions
Organizations
Newspapers
Stephen Zappala
Individuals
Organizations
  • Western Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association[18]

Polling edit

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

Results edit

 
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 47.03%
Democratic Stephen Zappala 566,501 36.74%
Democratic John Morganelli 250,097 16.22%
Total votes 1,541,766 100.0%

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

Declared edit

Withdrawn edit

Declined edit

Results edit

 
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 63.82%
Republican Joe Peters 464,491 36.18%
Total votes 1,284,001 100.0%

General election edit

Predictions edit

Source Ranking
Governing[24] Tossup

Results edit

2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General election[25]
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 edit

  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. ^ 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. ^ a b Field, Nick (January 20, 2016). "BREAKING: Stollsteimer Drops Out, Endorses Shapiro". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  12. ^ a b c Calabrese, Chris (January 20, 2016). "Morganelli Gains Support of 3 Prosecutors". PoliticsPA. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  13. ^ 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. ^ 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 April 2, 2016.
  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. ^ a b "2016 Presidential Primary - Official Results". Pennsylvania Department of State.
  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. March 14, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  25. ^ "2016 Presidential Election - Official Results". Pennsylvania Department of State.
  1. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

External links edit

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