Pennsylvania Supreme Court puts hold on primary petition gathering, which was supposed to start Tuesday; doesn’t change date of primary

The period for candidates and their supporters to circulate petitions to qualify for Pennsylvania’s May 17 primary election was put on temporary hold Wednesday by the state Supreme Court.

The justices issued an order that applies to all races — congressional and legislative contests, as well as U.S. Senate, governor and lieutenant governor.

The three-week petition gathering period was set to kick off Tuesday and last for three weeks. Instead, the high court noted it was hearing oral argument Feb. 18 in a case that will determine the lines of congressional districts.

Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts spokesperson Stacey Witalec said the order pertains to all races and keeps the primary date intact. The order did not say when the court will produce a new petition gathering period.

A spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said the court’s order was under review.

Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough suggested that the court not change the primary date but delay the petition period by two weeks, to March 1, and compress it to two weeks so that it ends March 15. Pennsylvania has lost a congressional seat, so the current 18-district map can’t be used this year.

“Pennsylvania has lost a congressional seat, so the current 18-district map can’t be used this year.”

Which is a shame — for the Democrats after they worked so hard illegally implementing that gerrymander in 2018.

The idea that the RINO-controlled PA legislature ever controlled the redistricting process this time around was always an illusion; *anything* they passed would be (and was) automatically vetoed. Now the Democrats just run out the clock, knowing that the PA Democrat Supreme Court will simply implement another gerrymander. I doubt they’ll be happy to settle for a mere 9-8 win so look for something at least 10-7 or worse.

Whether the results actually turn out that way will be up to the voters (and corrupt vote counters, particularly in the Philly suburbs and the rest of urbanized eastern PA) in November, but the districting plan will heavily favor Democrat control of the PA Congressional delegation. Just like the new map for the state legislative districts does now.

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Prolly gonna push the Primary into June. You read it here first.

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