As the state’s legislative primary election approaches on May 18, one of the most closely monitored aspects of the election is the list of vacant or open seats, meaning those where the incumbent is not seeking re-election.
Some incumbents, like athletes, choose to retire. Either for personal reasons such as their family or health, political reasons, or some combination of the two, they fear defeat and decide to simply hang it up.
Many times their decision has a domino effect as others in the political chain then might have to decide whether to make their own political gamble and seek election to replace the retiring legislator.
Given the unusually bleak atmosphere at the state capitol on so many fronts, the list of open seats so far this year seems relatively short:
| House |
| District | Legislator | Registration |
| 41 | Katie True (R) | 34% D; 53% R; 13% O |
| 85 | Russ Fairchild (R) | 32% D; 56% R; 12% O |
| 107 | Bob Belfanti (D) | 53% D; 38% R; 9% O |
| 108 | Merle Phillips (R) | 34% D; 55% R; 11% O |
| 122 | Keith McCall (D) | 52% D; 37% R; 11% O |
| 137 | Rich Grucela (D) | 46% D; 38% R; 16% O |
| 141 | Tony Melio (D) | 62% D; 26% R; 12% O |
| 156 | Barb McIlvaine Smith (D) | 40% D; 45% R; 15% O |
| 194 | Kathy Manderino (D) | 68% D; 21% R; 11% O |
| 199 | Will Gabig (R) | 36% D; 51% R; 13% O |
| Senate |
| District | Legislator | Registration |
| 14 | Ray Musto (D) | 64% D; 28% R; 8% O |
| 46 | J. Barry Stout (D) | 62% D; 30% R; 8% O |
In addition, two more Pennsylvania House of Representatives members are running for higher office. Rep. Sam Rohrer is a candidate for governor in the Republican primary. Rep. Bryan Lentz is running for the US Congress in the Democratic primary. He would like to succeed Congressman Joe Sestak, the only member of Congress who is not running for re-election. Sestak is challenging incumbent Arlen Specter in the Democratic primary for US senator.
The recent death of Congressman John Murtha (12th district) means that his seat will be open in 2010 and contested both in a special election and in the primary election.
If you would like to replace any of these legislators, or run for any other open office, Feb. 16 is the first day for candidates to circulate and file petitions to appear on the May 18 primary ballot. The last day to file petitions is March 9.
The following will be on the 2010 ballot: All 19 seats in Pennsylvania’s delegation to the US House of Representatives; all 203 seats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives; 25 seats for even-numbered districts for the Pennsylvania Senate; and one of the two Pennsylvania seats in the US Senate will be on the 2010 ballot.