Here are the featured primary races for PA House, governor, U.S. Senate in Erie County

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Gov. Tom Wolf is term-limited. U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey isn't running for re-election. Neither is nine-term state Rep. Curt Sonney.

Voters begin the process of choosing their successors with the May 17 primary. While there are several races with unopposed Republicans and Democrats on each side of the ballot, including incumbents, there are a few notable exceptions.

Governor's race:3 things to know about GOP gubernatorial race debate in Gettysburg

Republican gubernatorial candidate Lou Barletta talks with supporters at the Brewerie at Union Station in Erie on May 19, 2021.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Lou Barletta talks with supporters at the Brewerie at Union Station in Erie on May 19, 2021.

Running to succeed Wolf, a Democrat, are nine Republicans: state Sen. Doug Mastriano, former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, state Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman of Centre County, former U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain of Chester County, businessman Dave White of Delaware County, heart surgeon Nche Zama, former U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart, political consultant Charlie Gerow, and Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale.

The winner will take on the presumptive Democratic nominee, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who has no primary challengers.

Head to head:GOP frontrunners in Pennsylvania governor's race square off in debate

U.S. Senate

In the race for Toomey's U.S. Senate seat, there are several Democrats and Republicans vying for the post, which could be key in determining which party holds the majority in the chamber over the next two years.

In the Democratic primary, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman is the frontrunner, leading in the polls over U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb and state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta. Democrat Alex Khalil, a community organizer and a borough council member in Jenkintown, Montgomery County, is also in the race.

On the attack:Frontrunner Fetterman targeted by Lamb and Kenyatta in PA US Senate debate

More:Dr. Oz is running for the U.S. Senate in Pa. What to know about him and where he lives

For Republicans, it's television celebrity Mehmet Oz, better known as "Dr. Oz"; hedge fund manager David McCormick; Jeff Bartos, the GOP's nominee for lieutenant governor in 2018; Kathy Barnette, a veteran and political commentator; Philadelphia lawyer George Bochetto; lawyer Sean Gale; and Carla Sands, who served on former President Donald Trump's Economic Advisory Council and later as Trump's ambassador to Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.

Libertarian Erik Gerhardt and Independent Everett Stern are also running.

On the campaign trail:Highlights from the race for U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania governor

U.S. House of Representatives

In the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Mike Kelly, the incumbent Republican, is seeking a sixth, two-year term in a newly drawn district. The district now includes a portion of Venango County and all of Butler County, in addition to Erie, Crawford, Mercer and Lawrence counties.

Dan Pastore, president of FishUSA is shown, Nov. 18, 2015, at the Fairview Township business.
Dan Pastore, president of FishUSA is shown, Nov. 18, 2015, at the Fairview Township business.

Kelly will face one of two Democrats seeking their party's nomination. Fairview Township resident Dan Pastore, the chairman and co-founder of FishUSA, or Lawrence County dairy farmer Rick Telesz, who rose to national prominence in 2020 when he backed President Joe Biden's campaign after voting for Trump four years earlier. Telesz was featured in campaign advertisements and spoke at the Democratic National Convention.

For subscribers:Democrats Dan Pastore and Rick Telesz face off in primary, look to unseat U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

The five-member Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission approved a final map of new state House districts on Feb. 4, 2022.
The five-member Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission approved a final map of new state House districts on Feb. 4, 2022.

Key Election Dates: 2022

May 10

Last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot

May 17

Last day for county Board of Elections to receive voted mail-in and civilian absentee ballots (must be received by 8 p.m.)

May 17

GENERAL PRIMARY

May 18

First day to register to vote after primary

May 24

Last day for county Board of Elections to receive voted military and overseas absentee ballots (postmarked no later than 11:59 p.m. on May 16)

Aug. 1

Last day to circulate and file nomination papers

Aug. 8

Last day for withdrawal by candidates nominated by nomination papers

Aug. 15

Last day for withdrawal by candidates nominated at the primary

Oct. 24

Last day to register before the November election

Nov. 1

Last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot

Nov. 8

General Election. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Mail-in and civilian absentee ballots must be received by a county Board of Elections by 8 p.m.

There are five legislative districts covering Erie County under the newly drawn map, which the five-member Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission approved on Feb. 4. The map withstood legal challenges from Republicans.

But of the five districts, only one features a contested primary: The 4th Legislative District that nine-term Rep. Curt Sonney, a Republican, plans to retire from at the end of the year.

The district will change drastically geographically, but it won't change much politically. A majority of registered voters are Republican.

For subscribers6 republicans face off in primary to fill Curt Sonney's PA 4th district house seat

Who's running:Here are the candidates on the ballot in Erie County for May's primary

Redrawn districts:Reapportionment Commission's maps bring change to Erie County state House, Senate districts

Six Republicans are in the race: Jake Banta, Joseph Cancilla, John Diamond, Jason Monn, Jennifer Lesher and Greg Hayes. The winner of the GOP primary will face former Corry City Council member Chelsea Oliver in the general election. Oliver is uncontested in the Democratic primary.

Other uncontested primaries include the 1st Legislative District, where incumbent Democrat Pat Harkins has neither a primary challenger nor Republican to face in the general election since no one filed to run for the seat. Harkins had faced a challenge from Erie County Councilman Andre Horton, but Horton dropped out of the race, citing an insufficient number of valid signatures on his nominating petitions.

In the 2nd Legislative District, incumbent state Rep. Bob Merski, a Democrat, will advance to face Republican Wesleyville Borough Council member Paul Pitonyak in the Nov. 8 general election. In the 3rd Legislative District, incumbent state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, also a Democrat, is being challenge by Republican Joe Kujawa, a former Millcreek Township supervisor.

In the 6th Legislative District, incumbent state Rep. Brad Roae, a Republican, will advance to the general election to face Democrat Nerissa B. Galt, a quality engineer for Bliley Technologies.

Contact Matthew Rink at mrink@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ETNrink.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County primary includes races for PA House, governor, U.S. Senate