Cole Welsh, Editor

In less than two weeks, Americans will go to the polls and cast ballots in what is expected to be a high-turnout election.

This general election will be on Nov. 5, 2024. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Pennsylvania.

While the presidential election has certainly attracted the most attention, contests will also be held for a variety of down-ballot races.

In the presidential race, Vice President Kamala Harris will face off against Donald Trump, who previously occupied the White House. Due to the Electoral College system that determines the winner of the election, a small number of swing states will decide the election, with Pennsylvania arguably being the most notable.

In what many see as a battleground race to determine which party controls the U.S. Senate, Democrat Bob Casey, the incumbent, is seeking a fourth term to represent Pennsylvania and is running against Republican Dave McCormick, a businessman and combat veteran.

There are also several statewide races on the ballot.

For the open office of attorney general, Democrat Eugene DePasquale, the former auditor general of Pennsylvania, will face off against Republican Dave Sunday, who currently serves as the district attorney of York County. The incumbent, Michelle Henry, declined to run after being appointed to the position by Governor Josh Shapiro.

In the race for auditor general, incumbent Tim DeFoor, a Republican, is being challenged by State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta, a Democrat.

In yet another statewide race, Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who served in the US Army Reserve, will face a challenge from Democrat Erin McClelland, a former small business owner from Allegheny County.

There will also be races for Philadelphia’s U.S. House of Representatives seats.

In the race to represent Pennsylvania’s 2nd Congressional District, which covers all of Northeast Philadelphia and the River Wards, incumbent Democrat Brendan Boyle is being challenged by Republican Aaron Bashir, an accountant.

For the 3rd Congressional District, which covers much of Northwest and West Philadelphia, no Republican will appear on the ballot, meaning that incumbent Dwight Evans is virtually guaranteed to win reelection as a Democrat.

For the 5th Congressional District, which contains a sliver of South and Southwest Philadelphia, incumbent Democrat Mary Gay Scanlon will face off against Republican Alfeia Goodwin, a retired Philadelphia police officer.

In regard to Philadelphia’s representation in the PA Senate, incumbent Democrats Nikil Saval (1st District), Sharif Street (3rd District) and Vincent Hughes (7th District) are running unopposed in their general elections.

However, in the 5th District, which contains much of Northeast Philadelphia, candidates from both parties will appear on the ballot in what many expect to be a competitive race. Democrat Jimmy Dillon, the incumbent, will face off against Republican Joe Picozzi, who previously worked on Capitol Hill.

For the PA House, incumbent Democrats Amen Brown, Pat Gallagher, Ed Neilson, MaryLouise Isaacson, Joe Hohenstein, Jason Dawkins, Jose Giral, Malcolm Kenyatta, Ben Waxman, Elizabeth Fiedler, Regina Young, Jordan Harris, Rick Krajewski, Roni Green, Joanna McClinton, Morgan Cephas, Tarik Khan, Keith Harris, Danilo Burgos, Darisha Parker, Chris Rabb, Andre Carroll, Jared Solomon and Anthony Bellmon are all running unopposed.

Republican State Representative Martina White of Northeast Philadelphia will also be unopposed in the election for her district.

However, there is one race in Northeast Philadelphia that is extremely competitive and could even determine which party controls the PA House of Representatives. Democrat Sean Dougherty, a former assistant public defender, is running against Republican Aizaz Gill, who recently managed the successful re-election campaign of Republican Philadelphia City Councilman Brian O’Neill.

With issues such as the economy, illegal immigration, crime and abortion dominating this election, it remains to be seen how Americans, including Philadelphians, will vote in this election. This being said, a handful of races, including that for president, are surely expected to be competitive and may come down to just a small number of votes.