Stunning organized labor and the Commonwealth's "T zone" (the middle section of the state) of voters, former Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell handily won the 2002 Democratic nomination for Governor by a 56 percent (663,310 votes) to 44 percent (530,100 votes) victory with 98 percent of the vote counted.
Rendell's strategy of turning-out-the-vote in the Philadelphia area worked - he carried all nine counties in the Philadelphia region, and held a slim margin in Centre County. While Auditor General Bob Casey, Jr. carried the other 57 counties, it was not enough to carry him to victory. Voter turnout was low (not exceeding the 30 percent-range) in the larger western counties of Allegheny, Beaver and Westmoreland - counties where Casey was projected to need a good showing. Additionally, the Rendell campaign received a higher percentage of the vote in that area than originally anticipated.
Over 25,000 registered Republicans became what the media called "30-day Democrats" for this Primary election. It is assumed by pundits that most of these voted for Rendell, but others cite Casey's stances on abortion and gun control as reasons why they voted for him.
On the Republican side, neither gubernatorial nominee Attorney General Mike Fisher nor his running mate state Sen. Jane Earll faced Primary opposition. In his victory speech, Fisher vowed to move forward with his campaign to outline his vision for Pennsylvania.
Since former State Treasurer Catherine Baker Knoll won the Democratic Primary for the Office of Lieutenant Governor, Pennsylvania is now guaranteed to have a woman in the second-position.
The Primary election will go down as the most expensive in Pennsylvania history - the combined expenditures of the Democratic gubernatorial candidates exceeds $30 million.
In other election news...
...in hotly contested battle in the center of the Commonwealth, two incumbent Democratic Congressman battled it out - and Congressman Jack Murtha (D-formerly of Indiana, Somerset, Cambria, Westmoreland, Armstrong) handily defeated Congressman Frank Mascara (D-formerly of Greene, Washington, Fayette, Westmoreland, Allegheny) to win the newly-drawn Congressional district...
...freshman Congressman Todd Platts (R-York, Adams, Cumberland) wins the Republican nomination. Currently, Congressman Platts is unopposed, and he is expected to retain his seat in November...
...the controversy surrounding former Rep. John Barley (R-Lancaster) did not keep voters away in deciding the new occupant of the 100th House seat - Gibson Armstrong, Jr., son of state Sen. Gibson Armstrong (R-Lancaster, York), won the Republican nomination...
...a former Barley aide named Dave Hickernell beat incumbent Rep. Thomas Armstrong (R-Lancaster) for the 98th House district seat...
...Roy Baldwin beat incumbent Republican Rep. Jere Strittmatter (R-Lancaster) for the nomination for the 97th House district seat...
...former Rep. Katie True (R-Lancaster) won the Republican nomination for a newly-created House district seat...
...Jake Wheatley beat incumbent Democratic Rep. Bill Robinson (D-Allegheny) for the 19th House district seat in the Pittsburgh area...
...while he will not be the next Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, Sen. Jack Wagner (D-Allegheny) WILL retain the Democratic nomination for his 42nd Senate district seat...
...Flo Fabrizio beat incumbent Democratic Rep. Gayle Wright for her Erie House seat...
...Rob Wonderling won the Republican nomination to replace retiring state Sen. Ed Holl (R-Montgomery)...
...Jim Ferlo (a Pittsburgh City Councilman) beat Bonnie DiCarlo for the Democratic nomination to replace retiring state Sen. Len Bodack (D-Allegheny)...