# 2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General election

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Government :
vte :
The Pennsylvania Attorney General election of 2016 took place on November 8, 2016, to elect a new Pennsylvania Attorney General. Democratic incumbent Kathleen Kane originally indicated her intention to seek re-election, but dropped out after she was criminally charged with violating grand jury secrecy laws stemming from alleged leaks of grand jury investigation details to embarrass a political enemy.
Democratic nominee and Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro defeated Republican state senator John Rafferty Jr. by a margin of 2.78%.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates
#### Declared

* John Morganelli, Northampton County district attorney, candidate for Attorney General in 2000 and 2004 and nominee in 2008
* Josh Shapiro, chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors and former state representative (2005–2012)
* Stephen Zappala, Allegheny County district attorney

#### Withdrawn

* David Fawcett, former Allegheny County councilman
* Kathleen Kane, incumbent attorney general
* Jack Stollsteimer, former Delaware County assistant district attorney and former assistant United States Attorney

### Endorsements

Individuals
* Jean Engler, Carbon County District Attorney
* Anthony Rosini, former Northumberland County District Attorney
* Cal Shields, former Schuylkill County District Attorney
Presidents
* Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States
U.S. Senators
* Bob Casey, Jr., United States Senator from Pennsylvania
Former Assistant U.S. Attorneys
* Jack Stollsteimer, former Delaware County Assistant District Attorney, former Assistant United States Attorney and former 2016 Attorney General candidate
Governors
* Ed Rendell, 45th Governor of Pennsylvania
* Tom Wolf, 47th and current Governor of Pennsylvania
State executive officials
* Eugene DePasquale, Auditor General of Pennsylvania
State legislators
* Leslie Acosta, state representative
* Donna Bullock, state representative
* Tina Davis, state representative
* Art Haywood, state senator
* Vincent Hughes, State Senator and former state representative
* Stephen Kinsey, state representative
* Leanne Krueger-Braneky, state representative
* Daylin Leach, State Senator and former state representative
* Joanna E. McClinton, state representative
Mayors and other municipal leaders
* Kim Bracey, Mayor of York
* Blondell Reynolds Brown, Philadelphia City Councilwoman
* Darrell L. Clarke, Philadelphia City Council President
* Rick Gray, Mayor of Lancaster
* Derek Green, Philadelphia City Councilman
* Bill Greenlee, Philadelphia City Councilman
* Helen Gym, Philadelphia City Councilwoman
* Kenyatta Johnson, Philadelphia City Councilman and former state representative
* Eric Papenfuse, Mayor of Harrisburg
* Cherelle Parker, Philadelphia City Councilman and former state representative
* Maria Quiñones-Sanchez, Philadelphia City Councilwoman
* Marian Tasco, Philadelphia City Councilwoman
* Jewell Williams, Philadelphia Sheriff
Labor unions
* AFSCME 13
* Laborers District Council
* PASNAP
* Plumbers Local 690
* PSEA
* UFCW Local 1776
Organizations
* Chester County Democratic Committee
* Delaware County Democratic Committee
* Democracy for America
* Equality Pennsylvania
* Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5
* League of Conservation Voters
* Liberty City Democratic Club
* Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club
* Montgomery County Democratic Committee
* Planned Parenthood PA PAC
Newspapers
* The Philadelphia Inquirer
* Philadelphia Tribune
Individuals
* Mike Stack, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
Organizations
* Western Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Kathleen Kane | John Morganelli | Josh Shapiro | Stephen Zappala | Other | Undecided |
| Harper Polling | January 22–23, 2016 | 640 (LV) | ± 3.81% | 31% | 9% | 13% | 18% | – | 30% |
| Harper Polling | January 22–23, 2016 | 640 (LV) | ± 3.81% | – | 12% | 19% | 20% | – | 49% |

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Josh Shapiro | 725,168 | 47.03% |
| | Democratic | Stephen Zappala | 566,501 | 36.74% |
| | Democratic | John Morganelli | 250,097 | 16.22% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,541,766 | 100.0% |

## Republican primary
### Candidates
#### Declared

* Joe Peters, former federal and state prosecutor and nominee for Pennsylvania Auditor General in 2004
* John Rafferty, state senator

#### Withdrawn

* Todd Stephens, state representative

#### Declined

* Heather Heidelbaugh, former Allegheny County councilwoman

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Rafferty | 819,510 | 63.82% |
| | Republican | Joe Peters | 464,491 | 36.18% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,284,001 | 100.0% |

## General election
### Predictions

| Source | Ranking |
| Governing | Tossup |

### Results

2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Josh Shapiro | 3,057,010 | 51.39% | −4.75% |
| | Republican | John Rafferty | 2,891,325 | 48.61% | +7.05% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,948,335 | 100.0% | N/A |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |