To make a long story short Democrats won big in Amish country. There have been many articles in the local paper: "How did Democrats win so big in the city?" and "Gray's stunning win highlights big day for local Democrats."
Rick Gray, Democrat, beat 2-term incumbent Charlie Smithgall by big numbers:
Lever Candidate Votes
12A Gray Rick 5033
12B Smithgall Charlie 3710
I had hope for Rick, but didn't think the win would be THIS big. There really wasn't a divisive issue. Republicans blasted Gray for defending an owner of a puppy mill but for obvious reasons that didn't resonate with city voters and it was ironic to say the least.
Here are the hard numbers for Lancaster city council:
Lever Candidate Votes
15A Williams Louise B 5011
16A Urdaneta Jose 4752
17A Saunders Kendra J 4713
18A Roschel Tim 4798
15B Diamantoni Stephen 3664
16B Stoltzfus Harry 3192
17B Duncan Gene Jr 3245
18B Martin Travis 2855
Write-In 0
Besides, sweeping the city in all races including a treasurer and controller race, Democrats won in areas where historically it was a lost cause.
Clay Twp has 17% registered Democrats but well-liked Democratic incumbent, Jon Price, slaughtered his competition by more than 2 to 1:
Lever Candidate Votes
12A Price Jon 655
12B Starr Vaughn C 263
Moreover, Drumore Twp elected a Democrat 179 to 120. Democrats won a seat in West Hempfield, Lancaster Twp, May or Mountville borough, and Millersville borough where Democrat Phil Lastowski was the 2nd highest vote getter and the highest in 3 of 4 precincts. Democrats lost a squeaker by one vote in the 2 year position in Millersville borough. Since managed the candidates in Millersville, I must say that's a heartbreaker!
Perhaps the disappointment for Democrats in Lancaster was losing the local judge race; now, Lancaster hasn't had an elected judge who was a Democrat since the Civil War, so I wasn't holding my breath but the Bar Association highly recommended the Democratic candidate, Sam Mecum, and said that the Republican, Dennis Reinaker, was not qualified. Despite this, Republican registration edge and attacks on Mecum for doing pr bono work for Planned Parenthood and the ACLU kept him under the 50% mark:
Lever Candidate Votes
01A Mecum Samuel M 31449
01B Reinaker Dennis 36411
Whew, I hope all of you politicos have caught up on your sleep since Tuesday!
Re: Lancaster Dems working hard
I know how hard the Lancaster area Dems worked for Rendell in 2002 and Kerry in 2004. You guys are building a real grass roots
organization out there. Good work and congrats!
pd
Re: Lancaster Dems working hard
Philly is clearly our starting point but it’s becoming increasingly clear that the model of starting a the ward and precinct level and working out to municipalities is the model that is working for the party. Philly’s machine has mastered it and has been our reliable point for statewide wins for years. But now, w/ the general assembly gerrymandered districts, we need to find another way to win the state government back. If it can work in Lancaster then it can happen in other parts of the state.
The good fight is under way.
Re: Lancaster Dems working hard
In rural areas in PA, there are many municipalities that are on the precinct level. Ie. only have on one polling place.
Post new comment