How political party insiders — not voters — dictate Pa. special election candidates – By Cynthia Fernandez (Philadelphia Inquirer) / Feb 24 2020
HARRISBURG — Voters in West Philadelphia will go to the polls Tuesday to fill a vacancy left by former state Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell, who resigned last year facing corruption charges. They will choose between a Democrat and a Republican — neither of whom were chosen by voters in a primary.
That’s because in Pennsylvania, party insiders and loyalists nominate candidates for special elections. Elected or appointed foot soldiers, handpicked party members, and bigwigs get the final say on who gets on the ballot.
In one special election last year, a Republican House candidate was picked by 17 members of the party — including his own father.
While few in number, special elections come with big implications: A person elected through the process is likely to stick around for years.
“You get someone elected with very low turnout — it could even be single-digit turnout — and the next time that person runs, he or she is an incumbent, and they have great advantages, generally speaking,” said David Thornburgh, president and CEO of the good-government group Committee of Seventy. “You could be on a path to longtime office-holding.”
Frustrated lawmakers from both parties are calling for changes to make the process more open and transparent.
Continue to article: https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/spl/pennsylvania-legislature-retirements-resignations-special-elections-20200224.html
