Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta emerged victorious in Tuesday’s Democratic primary election for auditor general, securing the nomination for the state’s financial watchdog position. Kenyatta will now face off against incumbent Republican Tim DeFoor in the November general election, who ran unopposed in the GOP primary.
As polls closed at 8 p.m., results started rolling in and will be updated below as they are confirmed. Please note that all results are unofficial until certified by election officials.
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With approximately 56% of the vote counted, Kenyatta, hailing from Philadelphia, defeated two-term Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley in the Democratic primary, according to the Associated Press.
Kenyatta’s progressive platform aims to utilize the auditor general’s office as a voice for the marginalized populations in Pennsylvania. His agenda includes advocating for stronger LGBTQ rights, stricter gun control, raising the minimum wage, and conducting more rigorous school audits. Additionally, Kenyatta plans to establish a bureau of labor and worker protections to tackle wage theft, employee misclassification, and union infringements.
Furthermore, Kenyatta is running for reelection to his Pennsylvania House seat in the 181st District, representing Philadelphia. In addition to clinching victory in Tuesday’s primary against Democratic challengers Naderah Griffin and Lewis Nash, he expressed excitement about engaging in debates with DeFoor leading up to the November election.
“Pennsylvanians will see that my vision for this office is to serve all of them, not abandon them for the special interests of one,” Kenyatta stated. “I am confident that when voters review our track records, they will elect me as their next auditor general.”
Pinsley, on the other hand, campaigned on the promise of tracking “dark money” in Harrisburg to scrutinize undisclosed funds that impact Pennsylvania politics. He also pledged to conduct a thorough audit of schools, evaluate workforce development programs, and seek potential cost savings in the state’s healthcare expenditure.
The role of auditor general carries a four-year term and involves overseeing program spending, analyzing inefficiencies, and uncovering instances of government fraud.