Pennsylvania

1.4 Million PA & 84,000 Bucks County Residents Can't Vote In The Primary Election – LevittownNow.com

Published

10 months ago

May 19, 2025

1.4 Million PA & 84,000 Bucks County Residents Can't Vote In The Primary Election – LevittownNow.com

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By Kate Huangpu | Spotlight PA

Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

Despite their growing numbers, 1.4 million independent and third-party Pennsylvania voters won’t be able to help decide which candidates advance to the general election during the upcoming May 20 primaries.

As of late April, Bucks County had 192,610 Democratic voters, 202,436 Republicans, and 84,399 who are no affiliation, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Pennsylvania is one of just 10 states with a closed primary system. That means only registered Democrats and Republicans participate in their respective parties’ spring elections. People who don’t belong to a major party can still vote on statewide referenda, local initiatives, and special elections that are on the ballot at the same time.

Some good-government advocates want Pennsylvania to open its primary system, arguing that voters who aren’t registered with a major party still pay taxes that fund elections, and the current system effectively disenfranchises them for opting out of partisan politics.

Shortly before the legislative session ended last year, the Democratic-controlled state House passed a bill with bipartisan support that would have opened partisan primary elections to unaffiliated voters.

However, chamber leadership hasn’t committed to bringing a similar measure up for a vote again this year. Republicans who control the state Senate have been similarly noncommittal about backing such a change.

At least one legislative supporter believes neither major party’s leadership is truly committed to open primaries, arguing they are more concerned about maintaining control of their chambers.

Over the past decade, the number of voters registered as independent or other has grown by more than 308,000 people, according to state voter registration archives. Some of the biggest growth has occurred in the southeast and south-central parts of the state.

Lara Putnam, a historian at the University of Pittsburgh who studies election data, believes at least part of the shift is due to a 2023 policy change in which people are automatically prompted to update their voter registration at the DMV.

David Thornburgh, chair of the pro-open primary group Ballot PA, believes letting independent and third-party voters participate in primaries could mitigate extremism and decrease hyperpartisanship.

He also thinks limiting voter participation in odd-year elections is “particularly egregious.” Candidates for local offices like school board and judge often cross-file, meaning they appear on both the Democratic and Republican primary ballots.

“That seems to be indicating that this should not be partisan,” Thornburgh, the son of the late Republican Gov. Dick Thornburgh, told Spotlight PA.

In areas with a strong partisan lean, some races, like those for state legislature, are effectively decided during the primary. Thornburgh says that shuts out unaffiliated and third-party voters. He pointed to this year’s mayoral race in Pittsburgh, where “most folks assume whoever wins the Democratic [primary] will win the election,” even though two Republicans are vying for the office.

These reasons were echoed by five of Pennsylvania’s most recent governors in a 2023 letter endorsing open primaries.

Opponents note that anyone in Pennsylvania concerned about being shut out of the process can change their registration before a primary and then change it back before the general election.

Legislative future

This legislative session, two bills have been introduced to open the primary system, one in each chamber.

In the state House, Rep. Jared Solomon (D., Philadelphia) has reintroduced a bill that would allow unaffiliated voters to participate in either the Democratic or Republican primary. The bill would require that a voter sign a certificate verifying their choice of ballot.

Solomon said voters who are registered to third parties would not be allowed to participate in primary elections under his bill.

“You’ve made a call, you’ve made a decision,” Solomon said. “So we’re going to keep you in that particular lane.”

To advance, Solomon’s bill needs to pass the chamber’s State Government Committee. Its chair, state Rep. Carol Hill-Evans (D., York), declined to comment and deferred to House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D., Montgomery).

A spokesperson for Bradford did not commit to running the bill, instead saying that the caucus is “open to considering any election reforms that make it easier for voters to cast a ballot and are reviewing the bill.”

In the state Senate, Sen. Lisa Boscola (D., Lehigh) was a co-sponsor on a similar bill last session, and she and a Republican colleague plan to reintroduce it this year. The bill would allow independent voters to choose candidates from either major party’s primary, but would not allow them to vote for party officers or party committee members. It also would not allow third-party voters to participate in primary elections.

Like the state House legislation, Boscola’s bill needs to pass her chamber’s State Government Committee to advance. Its chair, Cris Dush (R., Jefferson), told Spotlight PA in 2023 that he did not support last session’s measure. He declined to comment on whether he would call up the bill.

Republican leadership has also been noncommittal. A spokesperson for state Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R., Indiana) said that the caucus was focused on “measures which uphold voter confidence and prioritize the integrity of the electoral process,” and called discussions surrounding open primaries “ongoing.”

Boscola was critical of both Democratic and Republican leadership, saying they lack the political will to advance a proposal that polling shows is popular with Pennsylvanians. Leaders want to keep control of their chambers, she said, and allowing independent voters to participate in primaries may shift election results in a way that changes the status quo.

“If you add independents into the mix, what’s that going to do for certain districts? So they look at that,” Boscola said of legislative leaders in both chambers. “In Harrisburg, maintaining control of your chamber is the most important thing.”

Despite these challenges, Thornburgh is optimistic about open primaries becoming a reality in Pennsylvania.

“The tide doesn’t come in all at once. It comes in bit by bit,” Thornburgh said. “It was a significant victory in the House. We think the tide is going to come in a little further.”

Implementation challenges

Even if lawmakers find a way to get an open primary bill to Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, implementing such a system would be a lot of work, county election directors have warned.

Thad Hall, election director of Mercer County, said that he would want at least a year’s notice to be able to properly prepare his poll workers for the change in procedure.

He said it would take time to train them to use pollbooks to mark which party’s ballot an independent voter chooses. Counties would also need to print significantly more ballots, he said.

Hall noted that he’s not against the change, but said it’s not high on his list of priorities for improving election policies. He’d rather have the legislature pass a bill that clarifies the state’s policy on requiring signatures on mail ballots or one that gives counties more time before Election Day to process mail ballots.

“I generally think that there are a million other problems on elections that are way more important than this one,” Hall said.

BEFORE YOU GO… If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.

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Pennsylvania

3 dead in apparent murder-suicide spanning from Pennsylvania to Illinois, police say

Published

4 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

3 dead in apparent murder-suicide spanning from Pennsylvania to Illinois, police say

Madeline Bartos,

Jennifer Borrasso

Updated on: March 5, 2026 / 2:16 AM EST
/ CBS Pittsburgh

Two women are dead in Pennsylvania and a man is dead in Illinois after an apparent murder-suicide, police said on Wednesday.

According to a report from the Pennsylvania State Police, the investigation began in Hillside, Illinois, when police there were dispatched after a man reported two women dead in Jackson Township, Pennsylvania. Police said that when officers got to Hillside, about 15 miles west of Chicago, they found that the man had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

After identifying him, troopers said Hillside officers contacted police from Jackson Township to request a welfare check at the man’s home on Dior Drive, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Map shows distance from Hillside, Illinois, to Zelienople, Pennsylvania

KDKA

Police said officers used forced entry to get into the home and found two women dead from apparent gunshot wounds. It’s believed the two women were family members of the man who died by suicide in Illinois, investigators said.

Pennsylvania State Police said they’ve assumed control of the case and are “actively investigating” what happened surrounding the three deaths.

Police didn’t release any names, saying the process of formal identification and notification of next of kin hasn’t been completed. Sources told KDKA that the victims were a husband, wife and their daughter.

“At this time, investigators believe there is no ongoing threat to the public, and law enforcement is not searching for any additional individuals in connection with this incident,” police wrote in the public information release report. “This remains an active and ongoing investigation.”

State police didn’t release any other details on Wednesday but said more information will be made public when it’s available.

“My first reaction was shocked because this is such a close-knit neighborhood, and to think something that horrible could happen here is very tragic because they were such a good family,” neighbor Danielle Sporer said on Wednesday.

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Pennsylvania

Top Pennsylvania 2027 quarterback enrolls into Coatesville (Pa.)

Published

16 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Top Pennsylvania 2027 quarterback enrolls into Coatesville (Pa.)

One of the top 2027 Pennsylvania high school quarterbacks from the 2025 season has announced that he’s leaving for a new home.

Per an announcement by Class of 2027 signal caller Mikal Shank Jr., the quarterback has left Harrisburg (Pa.) and is now at Coatesville (Pa.) for his senior season. Shank Jr. last season started 14 games for the Cougars and is arguably one of the state’s top returning players behind center heading into the 2026 campaign.

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Rankings Before 2026 PIAA States – FloWrestling

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Rankings Before 2026 PIAA States – FloWrestling

Is Pennsylvania the most wrestling-centric state in the country? Does the Keystone State have the most talent? Or even the top talent? Is it harder to win a state title there than anywhere else?

These all are terrific questions, and the answers may vary depending on who you ask and where they’re from, much like our nation’s great pizza debate, where the answers will vary by region.

What we do know for sure, is that Pennsylvania is well-represented in the 2025-2026 FloWrestling High School Wrestling Rankings, but with the 2026 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships on the horizon, where do the competitors rank amongst their peers?

If you follow high school wrestling, you’ve probably already heard many of the names, whether it was at past PIAA events, national tournaments, international competition, college recruiting news or signings, etc.

Now, here they are listed by weight class in FloWrestling’s latest Pennsylvania-only rankings.

Among the most recognizable are Bishop McCort senior Bo Bassett (152 pounds), his brother and teammate Melvin Miller (172 pounds) and Adam Waters (189 pounds) from rival school Faith Christian Academy.

As you get ready to see who takes home the titles at the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships, set for March 5-7 at GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, here’s a look at where everyone falls in the pecking order:

What Are The Weight Classes For High School Wrestling In Pennsylvania?

Boys: 107, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 285
Girls: 100, 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 170, 190, 235

Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Rankings Before 2026 PIAA State Championships

As of Feb. 22, 2026

Boys

Girls

When Are The 2026 PIAA Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships?

The 2026 PIAA Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships will take place March 5-7, live on FloWrestling and the FloSports app.

The first girls wrestling champions in PIAA action were determined in 2024.

The road back to GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, began with regional competition across 12 sites (eight boys, four girls) in February (Feb. 20-21; Feb. 22; Feb. 27-28; Feb. 28)

Among the highlights at the 2025 event was Bassett winning his second individual PIAA state championship and helping Bishop McCort to a Class AA runner-up finish behind Faith Christian.

Read more: 2025 PIAA Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets

How To Watch The 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships

Live coverage of the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships on March 5-7 will be broadcast on FloWrestling and the FloSports app, with news, notes, stats and more available on both platforms.

Archives will be available immediately following the conclusion of each match.

If you’re going to be in the area and want to catch the action in person, click here for spectator and ticket information.

Read more: 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Schedule & Brackets

2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Brackets

Here’s where you’ll be able to find the brackets for the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships:

2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Schedule

Here’s a look at when everything is going down:

All Times Eastern

Wednesday, March 4

4-7 p.m. – Media registration
4-7 p.m. – School registration (AA/Girls/AAA)
4-7 p.m. – Qualifying wrestlers’ workout (AA/Girls/AAA) (six mats)
6 p.m. – Officials’ meeting

Thursday, March 5 (Session 1)

7:30 a.m. – Media registration
7:30 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA)
7:30 a.m. – Late school registration (AA)
7:45 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA)
8 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA)
9 a.m. – Preliminaries and first round (AA), six mats (52/104 matches)
12:30 p.m. – First-round consolations (AA), six mats
12:30 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (Girls)
12:30 p.m. – Late school registration (Girls)
12:45 p.m. – Skin condition check (Girls)
1 p.m. – Weigh-ins (Girls)
2 p.m. – First round (Girls), six mats (104 matches)
3 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AAA)
3 p.m. – Late school registration (AAA)
3:15 p.m. – Skin condition check (AAA)
3:30 p.m. – Weigh-ins (AAA)
3:30 p.m. – First-round consolations (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
4:30 p.m. – Preliminaries and first round (AAA), six mats (52/104 matches)
8 p.m. – First-round consolations (AAA), six mats (52 matches)

Friday, March 6 (Session 2/Session 3)

6:30 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA)
6:45 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA)
7 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA)
8 a.m. – Quarterfinals (AA), three mats (52 matches)
8 a.m. – Second-round consolations (AA), three mats (52 matches)
10:15 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (Girls)
10:30 a.m. – Third-round consolations (AA), three mats (52 matches)
10:30 a.m. – Skin condition check (Girls)
10:45 a.m. – Weigh-ins (Girls)
11:45 a.m. – Quarterfinals (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
12:45 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AAA)
1 p.m. – Skin condition check (AAA)
1:15 p.m. – Weigh-ins (AAA)
1:15 p.m. – Second-round consolations (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
2:15 p.m. – Quarterfinals (AAA), three mats (52 matches)
2:15 p.m. – Second-round consolations (AAA), three mats (52 matches)
4:45 p.m. – Third-round consolations (AAA), six mats (52 matches)
6:15 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA)
7 p.m. – Semifinals (AA/Girls/AAA), 2/2/2 mats (26/26/26 matches)
9 p.m. – Fourth-round consolations (AA/AAA), 2/2 mats (26/26 matches)
9 p.m. – Third-round consolations (Girls), two mats (26 matches)

Saturday, March 7 (Session 4/Session 5)

8 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA)
8:15 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA/Girls/AAA)
8:30 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA/Girls/AAA)
8:45 a.m. – Skin condition check, finalists (AA/Girls/AAA)
9 a.m. – Weigh-in, finalists (AA/Girls/AAA)
9:30 a.m. – Fifth-round consolations (AA/AAA), 2/2 mats (26/26 matches)
9:30 a.m. – Fourth-round consolations (Girls), 2 mats (26 matches)
11:30 a.m. – Third-, fifth- and seventh-place matches (AA/Girls/AAA), 2/2/2 mats (39/39/39 matches)
11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA)
3:40 p.m. – Parade of Champions (AA/Girls/AAA)
4 p.m. – Championship Finals (AA/Girls/AAA), 1/1/1 mats (13/13/13 matches)

When Was The 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships?

The 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships took place Feb. 6-7 at the 1st Summit Arena in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and included 20 teams that survived the preliminary and first round of the tournament, which was held Feb. 3 at host schools across the state.

The advancing teams made their way to Johnstown for two more days of intense competition, with the 1st Summit Arena hosting the quarterfinals through the championship matches.

In Pennsylvania this year, there were 475 schools participating in boys wrestling.

They were divided into two classifications – 228 schools in AA and 247 schools in AAA – which are further split into 12 districts. Class AA is for schools with 1-308 male enrollees, and Class AAA wrestling includes schools with 309-9999 male students.

Read more: 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships Schedule & Brackets

Did You Know: PIAA Wrestling Has A Long History

The first state wrestling championships in Keystone State happened in 1938, while the girls were added to the action in 2024. The PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships debuted in 1999.

There are 14 four-time individual state champions in Pennsylvania. Another 30 have won three times.

2025-2026 FloWrestling High School Wrestling Rankings

Top 20 as of Feb. 18, 2026

Curious about how the top wrestlers from each state stack up against competitors from across the country?

Click here to see the latest high school rankings from FloWrestling.

FULL DUAL: Bishop McCort vs. Faith Christian | 2026 PIAA AA Team State Finals

Faith Christian has been dominant in team wrestling in Pennsylvania, and Bishop McCort keeps falling just short.

Trackwrestling Has Joined The New FloWrestling

Trackwrestling officially has merged with FloWrestling, bringing its powerful tournament tracking tools and live data into a modern, all-in-one platform.

Fans can follow every bout with pro-grade brackets, mat schedules, team rosters and detailed wrestler profiles—all seamlessly integrated within FloWrestling.

This move delivers a faster, smarter and more connected experience for the wrestling community. Through the updated FloSports app, users can track live results, explore brackets and even sign up for free alerts so they never miss a match.

FloWrestling Archived Footage

Video footage from all events on FloWrestling will be archived and stored in a video library for FloWrestling subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.