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One statewide office on the ballot this year is Pennsylvania’s attorney general.
If someone breaks the law in Pennsylvania, they can answer to the state’s attorney general office. The office often cracks down on cases that might span across multiple counties, or even are more state specific— like environmental law or consumer protection.
If the state gets sued (for example, the numerous election lawsuits that have been filed since 2020), the attorney general's office defends the state in those litigations.
There are six candidates running for attorney general in the 2024 general election.
Constitution: Justin Magill
Forward: Eric Settle
Either Democrat Eugene DePasquale and Republican Dave Sunday are expected to win the race.
Both men were born and raised in Pennsylvania. Both have law degrees. Both even have some similar top priorities.
Sunday and DePasquale want to prioritize ending the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania and protect senior citizens from fraud. Both have also made mention of social media policy to protect youth.
There are some marked differences between the candidates.
DePasquale was a state representative in the 2000’s and then was elected Pennsylvania’s Auditor General from 2012 to 2020.
Sunday is the district attorney for York County, where he has worked for over a decade in the courtroom.
While the candidates have similar top goals, they do have a few differences in their priorities. DePasquale has focused on abortion rights in his race.
“If you need reproductive freedom, and one of your states is passing a draconian abortion law, pregnant women can come to Pennsylvania,” said DePasquale. "And these crooks that are trying to scam our seniors every single day. I want to make sure we're doing everything we can to protect consumers.”
Sunday has placed more emphasis on safe communities, saying the opioid epidemic is one part of a complicated problem.
“Gang violence, so gang gun violence, that's a huge issue that's cropping up all over Pennsylvania,” said Sunday. "As a prosecutor, we've lowered our homicide rate by 75%. We've lowered our gang gun violence rate by 80%.”
The attorney general runs an agency with around 700 lawyers and 300 staff. DePasquale says his experience running the state auditors office is critical.
“You're managing that complicated state agency. That's something I bring to the table right away,” said DePasquale. "You’re setting their priorities, you're setting the policies, and obviously you're bringing together a good team to help you implement many of those.”
Sunday says prosecutorial experience is key.
“As district attorney, I essentially oversee a law office,” said Sunday. “When you run a law office, everything you do could lead to a courtroom.”
Topics popular in national politics have crept into the state office race, like abortion.
Pennsylvania allows abortions up to 23 weeks, and after for exceptions of rape, incest, and the life of the mother. Both men have been pressed on what they would do if that law ever changed to something more restrictive.
“I will never prosecute a woman for having an abortion, and I'll never prosecute a doctor for performing one,” said DePasquale.
“I will support, enforce and defend the abortion statutes in Pennsylvania,” said Sunday. "And there's no world that exists where I would ever prosecute a woman for getting an abortion.”