Winners & Losers

This week’s biggest Winners & Losers

Winners & Losers

Winners & Losers

By City & State

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Pennsylvania truly never has a dull week, as evidenced by the recent news surrounding state Sen. Doug Mastriano. Mastriano, a potential 2022 gubernatorial hopeful, revealed during a radio appearance this week that former President Donald Trump asked him to run for governor, pledging to support Mastriano if he launches a campaign. And while that’s likely good news for Mastriano, who has molded himself into a Trump-esque politician in Pennsylvania, he also is having to grapple with continued associations with the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Mastriano, who was present in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, has routinely stated that he did not enter the U.S. Capitol and left soon after things went awry. However, Mastriano made headlines again this week after he recently posed for photos with Samuel Lazar, a man now wanted by the FBI for taking part in the insurrection. Not a good look.

Scroll down for more of this week’s winners and losers!

WINNERS:

Tyler Titus -

After winning the Democratic primary for Erie County Executive, Tyler Titus is a win in the general election away from becoming the first openly transgender county executive in the nation. He holds a Doctorate of Social Work from the University of Southern California and has worked in Erie County Office of Children and Youth and Erie City School Board. He could make history in November, but has said his campaign is about fighting for working class families above all else.

Wanda Williams -

In what some have characterized an upset victory, Harrisburg City Council President Wanda Williams won the Democratic primary for mayor, setting her up, in all likelihood, to be the next mayor of Harrisburg. Williams beat incumbent Mayor Eric Papenfuse for the nomination, as well as Democratic challengers Dave Schankweiler and Otto Banks, both of whom spent significantly higher amounts of money in their quests for the office. Plus, Williams will likely be the second Black and second female mayor of Harrisburg — a historic feat for Williams and the Capital City.

John Walsh -

John Walsh, the president and CEO of the King of Prussia-based UGI Corporation, this week signed on to the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, a CEO-driven effort to improve diversity within the workplace. UGI now joins more than 2,000 companies that have signed on the pledge, and Walsh said UGI’s involvement will help the corporation “influence change, empower our employees, and strengthen our work environment.” UGI’s commitment to foster diversity within its ranks comes after the company also made a commitment to reduce its Scope I greenhouse gas emissions by 55% over the next five years in an effort to align its sustainability efforts with the Paris Climate Accord. A win for diversity and a win for sustainability.

LOSERS:

Tom Wolf -

Gov. Tom Wolf and his administration did not get the result they were hoping for this week, as Pennsylvania voters issued a rebuke of Wolf’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic by approving constitutional amendments that will curb gubernatorial power for years to come. The constitutional changes limit the length and scope of a governor’s powers under emergency declarations, and one Republican is already looking to do away with Wolf’s COVID-19 emergency declaration entirely.

Bill Peduto -

It was a tough week for incumbent mayors in big cities. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, seeking a third term, lost the Democratic primary to state Rep. Ed Gainey. Once allies, Peduto and Gainey were pitted against each other in this municipal election. Peduto’s Twitter account shows he may be taking the loss well, but a combination of changing demographics and calls for progressive reforms led him to losing much of his base.

Carlos Vega -

The most heated municipal primary in Philadelphia was the battle for District Attorney. Carlos Vega, a former city prosecutor, fell short in his attempt to unseat incumbent Larry Krasner. Vega’s support from the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, and his moves to direct blame toward Krasner for the city’s rising gun violence, proved to be his downfall. In a city looking for better police-community relations, Vega bet on the wrong side.

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