Pennsylvania
Three candidates for Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate seat remain on ballot following petition challenges • Pennsylvania Capital-Star
Three candidates remain on the ballot for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, after two were challenged and one withdrew.
Republican Brandi Tomasetti announced that she is withdrawing from the race ahead of the March 8 court hearing on a challenge to her nomination petitions. She posted a statement on social media that her campaign “discovered a number of issues” with her signatures, but wrote that “one concern is the process itself, and another is outdated voter information.”
She also claimed in her statement that Pennsylvania’s voter registration system is “outdated and has a history of unreliability.”
“Please consider writing in my name for U.S. Senate on April 23rd, Brandi Tomasetti. We will never surrender our country. We lost a battle but we will win the war.,” Tomasetti wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Joseph Vodvarka, a Republican seeking his party’s nomination for U.S. Senate, is also facing a challenge to his nomination petitions. It appears that his case remains unresolved as of Friday morning.
Walter S. Zimolong III and James J. Fitzpatrick are both listed as the attorneys on the objections to Tomasetti’s and Vodvarka’s nomination petitions.
If the effort to remove Vodvarka from the ballot is successful, David McCormick will be the only candidate on the Republican Party primary ballot in April.
On the other side of the aisle, Democrat Will Parker was removed from the ballot for U.S. Senate following a challenge to his nomination petitions. The deadline for Parker to appeal this decision is March 14.
Unless Parker successfully appeals the decision, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) will be the only Democrat on the primary ballot in April.
U.S. House challenges
Three candidates who were facing challenges to their petitions will not appear on the primary ballot, while a fourth challenge is still pending.
On Monday, Laurie MacDonald announced that she was withdrawing from the Democratic Party race for the 12th Congressional District as she was facing a challenge to her nomination petitions. Hours after announcing her withdrawal, claiming that Democrats are “deeply afraid of me as they have desperately kicked me off of the ballot,” she announced she would launch a write-in effort as a Republican candidate for the seat.
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (D-Allegheny) and Edgewood Councilmember Bhavini Patel will be the Democrats to appear on the primary ballot, while James Hayes will be the only Republican candidate on the primary ballot for the seat in western Pennsylvania.
Republican Dasha Pruett was removed from the ballot for the 5th Congressional District following a challenge to her nomination petitions. The deadline for Pruett to appeal the decision is March 16.
If an appeal is unsuccessful or Pruett decides not to appeal, Republican Alfeia B. DeVaughn-Goodwin and U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Delaware) will be the candidates on the primary ballot.
Republican Tim Kramer was also removed from the ballot for the 16th Congressional District following a challenge to his nomination petitions last week. U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Butler) will now likely face Democrat Preston Nouri for the seat in northwest Pennsylvania in November.
John Broadhurst, one of six Democrats running to challenge U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-York) in the 10th Congressional District, had a hearing this week on a challenge to his nomination petitions, but that case remains unresolved.
Hersheypark in Pennsylvaniacould be forced to close this summer amid a dispute between the site’s operators and union employees, according to a report.
The amusement park is scheduled to open seven days a week starting May 21 in a shift from its weekend-only operation before the summer, despite a looming vote among employees about whether to go on strike.
Over 200 union maintenance employees at Hersheypark, The Hotel Hershey and Giant Center rejected a contract offer from Hershey Entertainment & Resorts on May 7, according to Inside the Magic. The park’s operators described the proposal as their “last, best and final” offer.
Over a three-day period this week, employees will vote on whether to strike after rejecting the offer, which is the third from the park’s operators. A strike could close the park just in time for the start of the busy summer season when families head on vacation.
The list of employees considering going on strike includes ride mechanics, electricians, plumbers, welders, painters, machinists, utilities technicians, carpenters, garage auto mechanics and sign artists.
In mid-March, the union and Hershey Entertainment & Resorts agreed to extend a former contract for 60 days to allow for continued negotiations.
According to Inside the Magic, union workers are seeking fair wage increases, more affordable care plans and higher pay premiums for less-desirable shifts. The union has also said that it will reject new contract offers that lower professional standards, devalue skilled trades or open the door to lower wages in maintenance roles in the future.
The Independent has contacted Hershey Entertainment & Resorts for comment about the possible strike.
Hersheypark, located 15 miles east of Harrisburg, is the largest amusement park in Pennsylvania. Founded in 1906, the 121-acre site boasts more than 70 rides, a water park with 17 water attractions and an 11-acre North American Wildlife Park, according to Hersheypark’s website.
It’s named for and themed in conjunction with the popular candy company.
However, a different park in the Keystone State was named as the top amusement park in the U.S. on TripAdvisor’s Best of the Best list.
It was Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, 42 miles north-northeast of Harrisburg, that topped the list. In doing so, the little-known park was ranked higher than Dollywood, Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure that also made the top 5.
“It’s got it all: roller coasters, kid-friendly rides (bumper cars, a haunted mansion), swimming, camping, a mining museum, and even a championship 18-hole golf course,” TripAdvisor wrote. “The accommodating staff, clean facilities, and fun attractions make for a memorable family-friendly visit.”
Knoebels is the U.S.’s largest free-admission park, although tickets for individual rides cost a fee.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling on cast vote records creates uncertainty for counties
NEW CASTLE, Pa. (MyValleyTributes) – Charles “Yami” Frederick Jamison, age 83, of New Castle, Pennsylvania, formerly of Warren, Ohio, passed away, surrounded by his family, on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Haven Convalescent Home.
Mr. Jamison was born December 2, 1942, in New Castle, a son of the late Charles N. and Anna (Callihan) Jamison and was a 1960 graduate of New Castle High School.
Charles worked as an order checker clerk for Packard Electric Company, Warren, Ohio, for 31 years, until his retirement in 1999.
A proud veteran, he served his country in the United States Navy.
He was a member of St. Mary’s Church, Warren, Ohio and also attended Mass at Holy Spirit Parish – St. Mary’s Church.
Charles spent his free time hunting and playing Euchre.
He is survived by his four sisters, Margaret I. Klann, Mary E. DeMarco and Catherine “Kay” A. Houk (Robert), all of New Castle and Susan J. Olson (Donald), Winfield, Illinois; his brother, Richard Jamison (Linda) of New Castle; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the City Rescue Mission, 319 S. Croton Ave., New Castle, PA, 16101, and the Salvation Army, 240 W. Grant St., New Castle, PA, 16101.
The family would like to extend their gratitude and appreciation to the Haven Convalescent Home for the care and support that Charles received over the years.
Calling Hours will be from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 111 W. Falls St., New Castle.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on 10:30 a.m., Wednesday May 13, 2026, in Holy Spirit Parish – St. Mary’s Church, 124 N. Beaver St., New Castle, with Rev. Aaron Kriss, as celebrant.
Interment: Castleview Memorial Gardens, Neshannock Twp.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles F. Jamison, please visit our flower store.
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