2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General election explained

Election Name:	2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General election
Country:	Pennsylvania
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2012 Pennsylvania Attorney General election
Previous Year:	2012
Next Election:	2020 Pennsylvania Attorney General election
Next Year:	2020
Election Date:	November 8, 2016
Image1:	File:Comms Broida III (cropped 1).jpg
Nominee1:	Josh Shapiro
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	3,057,010
Percentage1:	51.4%
Nominee2:	John Rafferty Jr.
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	2,891,325
Percentage2:	48.6%
Map Size:	250px
Attorney General
Before Election:	Bruce Beemer
Before Party:	Pennsylvania Democratic Party
After Election:	Josh Shapiro
After Party:	Pennsylvania Democratic Party

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]}

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• John Morganelli, Northampton County district attorney, candidate for Attorney General in 2000 and 2004 and nominee in 2008^[3]
• Josh Shapiro, chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors and former state representative (2005–2012)^[4]
• Stephen Zappala, Allegheny County district attorney^[5]

Withdrawn

• David Fawcett, former Allegheny County councilman^{[6] [7]}
• Kathleen Kane, incumbent attorney general^{[8] [9]}
• Jack Stollsteimer, former Delaware County assistant district attorney and former assistant United States Attorney^{[10] [11]}

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	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

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Joe Peters, former federal and state prosecutor and nominee for Pennsylvania Auditor General in 2004^[12]
• John Rafferty, state senator^[13]

Withdrawn

• Todd Stephens, state representative^[14]

Declined

• Heather Heidelbaugh, former Allegheny County councilwoman^{[15] [6]}

Results

General election

Results

External links

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

Notes and References

1. News: Maher . Kris . Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane Charged With Obstruction, Perjury . . August 6, 2015 . August 10, 2015.
2. News: Bacon . John . Pa. attorney general charged with perjury, obstructing justice . . August 6, 2015 . August 10, 2015.
3. News: John Morganelli says he'll run for Pennsylvania attorney general. The Morning Call. December 15, 2015. January 28, 2016.
4. News: BREAKING: Report: Shapiro to Run for Attorney General. PoliticsPA. Field. Nick. January 11, 2016. January 28, 2016.
5. News: Zappala Kicks Off AG Campaign. PoliticsPA. Field. Nick. December 16, 2015. January 28, 2016.
6. News: Pittsburgh attorney David Fawcett to run for state attorney general. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Potter. Chris. November 19, 2015. January 28, 2016.
7. News: Fawcett Drops Out of AG Race. PoliticsPA. Field. Nick. January 19, 2016. January 28, 2016.
8. News: Kane Now Says She'll Run for Re-Election. PoliticsPA. Field. Nick. January 9, 2016. January 28, 2016.
9. News: BREAKING: Kane Announces She Won't Run for Re-Election. PoliticsPA. Field. Nick. February 16, 2016. February 16, 2016.
10. News: Stollsteimer to Run for AG. PoliticsPA. Addy. Jason. August 13, 2015. January 28, 2016.
11. News: BREAKING: Stollsteimer Drops Out, Endorses Shapiro. PoliticsPA. Field. Nick. January 20, 2016. January 28, 2016.
12. News: 2nd Republican seeks nomination in state attorney general race. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Aupperlee. Aaron. February 4, 2016. February 16, 2016.
13. News: Rafferty Announces Attorney General Campaign. PoliticsPA. Addy. Jason. June 17, 2015. January 14, 2016.
14. News: BREAKING: Stephens Drops Out of AG Race. PoliticsPA. Field. Nick. December 19, 2015. January 14, 2016.
15. News: Heidelbaugh says one term is enough on Allegheny County Council. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Aupperlee. Aaron. January 12, 2015. January 28, 2016.
16. Web site: 4 States Have Competitive Attorney General Races in 2016 . governing.com . 2016-03-14 . 2016-04-27.