Battleground Politics Lauren Mayk Examines Tuesday’s Primary Election Results

Pennsylvania voters determined their party nominees for several key congressional seats and the gubernatorial race during primary elections held on May 19, 2026. The results establish the primary matchups for the general election in November, with particular focus on seats that may influence the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In the race for Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District, State Rep. Chris Rabb has been declared the winner of the Democratic primary. Rabb secured the nomination to fill the seat vacated by Congressman Dwight Evans, who decided not to run for re-election after four decades of public service. Other Democratic candidates in the race included Dr. Ala Stanford, Sen. Sharif Street and Shaun Griffith.

The outcome in Pennsylvania is viewed as significant due to the slim majority currently held by Republicans in the U.S. House. Democratic strategists have identified four competitive Republican-held districts within the state as primary opportunities to pick up seats and potentially flip control of the chamber in the upcoming November elections.

On the Republican side, several candidates secured their nominations without opposition. The following candidates were the projected winners of their respective Republican primaries:

• U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in the 1st Congressional District
• U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in the 7th Congressional District
• U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan in the 8th Congressional District
• U.S. Rep. Scott Perry in the 10th Congressional District

The primary results also clarified the contest for the governorship of Pennsylvania. Democratic incumbent Josh Shapiro and Republican Pennsylvania treasurer Stacy Garrity both ran unopposed in their respective party primaries. Shapiro and Garrity are expected to face each other in the general election in November.

Voting for the May 19, 2026, primaries began at 7 a.m. ET and concluded when polls closed at 8 p.m. ET. Participation was restricted based on party affiliation. only voters registered with a specific political party were permitted to vote in that party’s primary. Under these rules, Democratic voters could not participate in the Republican primary, and Republican voters could not participate in the Democratic primary. Independent or unaffiliated voters were ineligible to participate in either primary election.