Apart from the upcoming gubernatorial election, here are the most notable races to watch in the Keystone State:

Democrats seeking to replace their own

Four Democratic candidates are vying to replace Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA), who is leaving office at the end of his fifth term. He represents Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District, a deep blue district encompassing a portion of Philadelphia.

Evans endorsed Dr. Ala Stanford, a pediatric surgeon and political newcomer, to fill his open seat. Stanford prides herself on running against President Donald Trump and his “disastrous policies,” but she faces steep competition from other contenders with similar campaign messaging.

Shaun Griffith, another political newcomer, said he decided to run for Congress because he was worried that the Trump administration had been infringing on civil liberties. He has worked in public service for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for nearly 15 years and would bring that expertise to the office if he is elected.

That possibility may be unlikely, however, as Griffith faces two other contenders with prior legislative experience.

Having served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2017, Chris Rabb is seeking to take his progressive platform to the federal level. Leading progressives have already endorsed Rabb, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN).

Sharif Street, who has served in the Pennsylvania State Senate for the same amount of time as Rabb, has name recognition among Philadelphia residents that helps his chances of winning. He’s the son of former Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street and the nephew of former State Sen. Milton Street. He also has party connections, as demonstrated by an endorsement from the Philadelphia Democratic Party.

A recent poll shows Stanford in the lead over Rabb and Street, but the race could be anyone’s game, as the survey was skewed in Stanford’s favor. The poll was conducted for 314 Action Fund, which backs Stanford as part of its wider mission to elect scientists and doctors to Congress.

No matter which candidate wins the primary, the district will almost certainly be represented by another Democrat come next year. The Cook Political Report rates it 40+ in favor of Democrats, and there is no one running on the Republican side.

Democrats looking to unseat vulnerable Republicans

There are at least a few House races in which Republicans are trying to hold on to their seats for another term.

In Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Meanwhile, Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie is competing with mathematician and scientist Lucia Simonelli for the Democratic Party’s nomination to defeat the GOP incumbent in November.

With support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Harvie is the likely choice to win the partisan primary.

Fitzpatrick, who has touted his bipartisan record over the years, is ranked among the 26 most vulnerable House GOP seats in 2026 by Decision Desk HQ. The Bucks County Beacon, a left-leaning news outlet, came to a similar conclusion, citing Fitzpatrick’s support for tariffs and healthcare cuts.

“After nearly a decade in Washington, Brian Fitzpatrick has unleashed higher prices on Bucks and Montgomery County families and fails to stand up to Trump when it matters most,” DCCC spokesperson Eli Cousin said in March. “He won’t be able to outrun his record.”

Despite Democrats’ confidence, the Cook Political Report says this race will likely go to the moderate Republican.

Reps. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) and Scott Perry (R-PA) find themselves in a similar boat as Fitzpatrick, with the DCCC also considering them two of the most vulnerable Republicans this election cycle. Both face formidable Democratic challengers.

Mackenzie, who represents Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, may very well face firefighter and union leader Bob Brooks in November. With high-profile endorsements from Shapiro and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brooks has momentum heading into the primary against his lesser-known opponents, Lamont McClure, Carol Obando-Derstine, and Ryan Crosswell.

Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District, represented by Perry, will see Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas and news anchor Janelle Stelson face off in the Democratic primary. Stelson is the establishment favorite, demonstrated by the DCCC’s support and Shapiro’s endorsement. She also outpaces Douglas in terms of fundraising and narrowly beat Perry in 2024.

The Cook Political Report labels the races in both districts as toss-ups with no clear winner. Only time will tell if Mackenzie and Perry get unseated this fall.

Lieutenant governor fending off Republican challengers

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis (D-PA) is seeking reelection in an uncontested Democratic primary as Republican candidates Jason Richey and John Ventre vie for the GOP nomination.

Elected to the position in 2022, Davis became the first African American to become lieutenant governor and the first millennial to win statewide office in Pennsylvania. Before, he served as a state representative for four years.

Davis is technically not on the same ticket as Shapiro because state law requires candidates for governor and lieutenant governor to run in separate primaries.

Richey is considered the frontrunner in the Republican primary, given that Garrity, whom Trump endorsed, selected him as her top choice for lieutenant governor. Richey leads the Republican Committee of Allegheny County.

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Meanwhile, Ventre is relatively new to politics. He has not run for public office before, but has been engaged in local politics through his membership on the Westmoreland County Republican Committee.

Whichever Republican candidate wins the primary will challenge Davis in November.