What to know: Pennsylvania’s primary will decide Democratic nominees targeting four Republican-held U.S. House seats seen as pivotal for control of the chamber. Polls close at 8 p.m. ET, and only party-registered voters can vote in their party’s primary. Nearly 9 million Pennsylvanians are registered to vote, with significant early ballots already returned. Counties vary in result reporting, and statewide races with margins of 0.5 percentage points or less trigger automatic recounts.
Pennsylvania Primaries: What To Watch As Democrats Target Four GOP U.S. House Seats
FILE - A polling judge, right, helps guide a voter's ballot into a voting machine during the Pennsylvania primary election, at Mont Alto United Methodist Church in Alto, Pa., on May 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Pennsylvania’s primary election will shape the fall battlefield as Democrats aim to flip four Republican-held U.S. House seats that could help determine control of the chamber next year. Polls close at 8 p.m. ET, and only voters registered with a political party may participate in that party’s primary.
Key contested House races: Democrats are focused on the 1st, 7th, 8th and 10th Congressional Districts. Incumbent Republicans in those districts — U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (1st), Ryan Mackenzie (7th), Rob Bresnahan (8th) and Scott Perry (10th) — face no primary opposition on the GOP side.
Lamont McClure, a candidate for the Democratic nomination in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, speaks speaks with attendees at a social event in Bethlehem, Pa., Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
In 2024, the 1st District narrowly favored Democrat Kamala Harris in the presidential ballot count, while former President Donald Trump carried the 7th, 8th and 10th by wider margins. Democrats have recruited prominent candidates to contest several of those seats this year.
Governor Josh Shapiro, who has no primary opponent as he seeks a second term, has spent time campaigning for Democratic congressional hopefuls. He endorsed Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie over Lucia Simonelli in the 1st District; backed retired firefighter and union leader Bob Brooks in the crowded 7th District primary (which also includes Ryan Crosswell); and supported former TV news anchor Janelle Stelson in the 10th. Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti is the unopposed Democratic nominee in the 8th.
Carol Obando-Derstine, a candidate for the Democratic nomination in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, speaks speaks with attendees at a social event in Bethlehem, Pa., Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Statewide and legislative contests are also on the ballot. Half of Pennsylvania’s 50 state Senate seats and all 203 state House seats will be decided before November. Democrats hold a slim majority in the state House; Republicans have an edge in the state Senate. The GOP nominee for governor, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, is likewise unopposed in her primary.
Voter registration, early voting and turnout context: As of May 11, Pennsylvania had nearly 9 million registered voters — roughly 3.8 million Democrats, 3.6 million Republicans and 1.2 million unaffiliated voters. In the 2024 presidential primaries, about 1.1 million Democratic primary votes and roughly 953,000 Republican primary votes were cast, even after the major-party nominees were settled. During the competitive 2022 U.S. Senate primaries, each party cast about 1.3 million votes.
Ryan Crosswell, a candidate for the Democratic nomination in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, speaks speaks outside a social event in Bethlehem, Pa., Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Early voting matters: about 45% of the 2024 Democratic primary vote and 17% of the Republican primary vote were cast before Primary Day. Ahead of this primary, roughly 385,000 Democratic primary ballots and about 129,000 Republican primary ballots had already been returned.
How results will be reported: Counties differ in how they release returns. Most report absentee and in-person Election Day results throughout the night; about one-third of counties release nearly all early and absentee results in their first update. In 2024 the first results were reported about a minute after polls closed, and the final update occurred around 2 a.m. ET with about 91% of votes counted.
Bob Brooks, a candidate for the Democratic nomination in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, speaks an event in Bethlehem, Pa., Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The Associated Press and other news organizations declare winners only when it is not reasonably possible for a trailing candidate to close the gap; races still too close to call will continue to be covered for developments such as concessions or candidate declarations, with explanations for why a call has not been made.
Recount rules: Pennsylvania requires an automatic recount for statewide races decided by 0.5 percentage points or less. For non-statewide contests, interested parties may petition county election boards or the courts to request a recount. The AP may still declare a winner in a race subject to recount if the lead is clearly too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the result.
Following Tuesday’s primary, there will be 168 days until the 2026 midterm elections.
Follow continuing coverage of the 2026 election at the AP’s elections hub.
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