proposed laws

PA Bill Number: HB2109

Title: In terms and courses of study, providing for student mental health supports.

Description: In terms and courses of study, providing for student mental health supports. ...

Last Action: Referred to EDUCATION

Last Action Date: Mar 14, 2024

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Dom Costa, locked in tight race, mounts campaign for GOP write-in votes :: 05/10/2018

Locked in a fight for his own party’s nomination, Democratic state Rep. Dom Costa is seeking the Republican nod, too.

A Costa campaign mailer reviewed Wednesday night by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette urges GOP voters in the 21st House District to write in the former Pittsburgh police chief when they turn out for primary elections Tuesday.

Securing the Republican nomination would assure Mr. Costa, of Stanton Heights, a place on the November general election ballot, even if he loses the Democratic nomination to rival Sara Innamorato of Upper Lawrenceville. Her campaign shared an image of the Costa mailer with the Post-Gazette.

No Republicans have announced bids for the House seat.

“On one hand, it is deeply troubling for a 10-year Democratic incumbent to court Republicans in a last ditch effort to hold onto power,” said Ms. Innamorato, a consultant for nonprofit groups and government agencies, in a statement. “On the other hand, Rep. Dom Costa must be worried if his back-up plan is abandoning the Democratic Party. As a Democrat who is currently his constituent, I find it shocking.”

In an email a few hours later, the Costa campaign responded.

"Of course Rep. Costa is proud to be a Democrat, but he is even prouder of creating a district where constituents feel like family," the statement read. "Rep. Costa's decision to mount a Republican write-in campaign is not some underhanded political maneuver. He desires to win both nominations, unite the people of the 21st District and continue advancing policies that help everyday Pennsylvanians."

Finance disclosures showed the Costa and Innamorato camps with roughly $55,050 and $51,600 on hand, respectively, as of April 30. Both sides have run television commercials amid a slew of campaigning.

“It’s not surprising that he’d raise enough money to run TV. What is surprising is that a first-time challenger also would raise enough money” for the commercials, said Christopher Nicholas, a veteran Republican political consultant based in Harrisburg.

Ms. Innamorato, whose backers include the Democratic Socialists of America in Pittsburgh, raised around $100,000 overall as of April 30. Her contributors include the Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood and Pittsburgh Councilwoman Deborah Gross, according to campaign finance disclosures.

She has run to the left of Mr. Costa, campaigning on issues such as universal health care and a higher minimum wage. Mr. Costa, who has run largely on his legislative efforts and community service, has said she appears too far left to suit many voters. He secured the Allegheny County Democratic Committee's endorsement in March.

Mr. Costa's campaign filings note about $130,000 in contributions since last year. His contributors include Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto’s political committee, Teamsters and police unions and committees for lawmakers such as state Reps. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, and Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont.

The incumbent was first elected in 2008.

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2018/05/09/Dom-Costa-pittsburg-pa-house-campaign-GOP-write-in-votes-sara-innamorato/stories/201805090257