2014 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election

Democrats and Republicans have alternated in the governorship of Pennsylvania every eight years from 1950 to 2010. This has been referred to as "the cycle", but it was broken with a Democratic Party win in 2014. Pennsylvania has also voted against the party of the sitting president in 18 of the last 19 gubernatorial contests dating back to 1938; Democrats lost 16 of the previous 17 Pennsylvania gubernatorial races with a Democratic president in the White House, a pattern begun in 1860. The last incumbent governor to be defeated for re-election was Democrat William Bigler in 1854. Until 1968, governors could only serve one term; the state constitution now allows governors to serve two consecutive terms. Libertarian nominee Ken Krawchuk failed to file the paperwork to be on the ballot in time and was excluded from the election as a result. ==Republican primary==

Incumbent Tom Corbett filed to run, as did Bob Guzzardi, an attorney and conservative activist. However, Guzzardi failed to file a statement of financial interests as required by law, after being told by an employee of the State Department that it was unnecessary. Four Republicans, backed by the state Republican Party, sued to have him removed from the race. The case reached the state Supreme Court, which ordered that Guzzardi's name be struck from the ballot. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series veteran Norm Benning backed Governor Corbett during the later half of the NASCAR season with "Re-Elect Tom Corbett" posted on his truck. Candidates Declared • Tom Corbett, incumbent governor of Pennsylvania Disqualified • Bob Guzzardi, attorney, businessman and conservative activist Declined • Bruce Castor, Montgomery County Commissioner • Jim Gerlach, U.S. Representative and candidate for governor in 2010 • Tom Smith, businessman and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2012 • Pat Toomey, U.S. Senator Endorsements Polling Results ==Democratic primary==

Candidates Declared • Rob McCord, Pennsylvania Treasurer • Katie McGinty, former secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection • Allyson Schwartz, U.S. Representative • Tom Wolf, businessman and former secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue Withdrew • John Hanger, former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection • Jo Ellen Litz, Lebanon County Commissioner (failed to qualify) • Max Myers, businessman and former pastor • Ed Pawlowski, Mayor of Allentown • Jack Wagner, former Pennsylvania Auditor General, candidate for governor in 2010 and candidate for Mayor of Pittsburgh in 2013 Declined • Bob Casey Jr., U.S. Senator • Scott Conklin, state representative and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2010 • Kathy Dahlkemper, former U.S. Representative • Eugene DePasquale, Pennsylvania Auditor General • Kathleen Kane, Pennsylvania Attorney General • Tom Knox, businessman, candidate for Mayor of Philadelphia in 2007 and candidate for governor in 2010 • Daylin Leach, state senator (running for Congress) • Patrick Murphy, former U.S. Representative • Michael Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia • Ed Rendell, former governor • Joe Sestak, former U.S. Representative and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2010 • Josh Shapiro, chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners • Tim Solobay, state senator Endorsements {{Endorsements box Individuals • Bryan Barbin, state representative • Ryan Bizzarro, state representative • John Blake, state senator • Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Local 464 • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 5 • National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees District 1199c • Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters • Pennsylvania State Education Association Polling • ** Internal poll for the Tom Wolf campaign • ^ Internal poll for the Kathleen McGinty campaign • * Internal poll for the Allyson Schwartz campaign Results ==General election==

Candidates • Tom Corbett (R), incumbent governor • Paul Glover (G), activist • Jonathan D. Jewell (I), Independent • Ken Krawchuk (L), technology consultant and nominee for governor in 1998 and 2002 • Tom Wolf (D), former secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue Debates • Complete video of debate, September 22, 2014 • Complete video of debate, October 8, 2014 Spending As of mid-October, Wolf had raised $27.6 million and spent $21.1 million while Corbett had raised $20.6 million and spent $19.3 million. The two campaigns had run over 21,000 television ads, costing over $13 million. Predictions Polling With Corbett With Gerlach With Guzzardi With Kelly Results {{align|right| {{Election box begin Results by county Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic • Allegheny (largest city: Pittsburgh) • Beaver (largest city: Beaver) • Berks (largest borough: Reading) • Bucks (largest municipality: Bensalem) • Cambria (largest municipality: Johnstown) • Carbon (largest municipality: Lehighton) • Centre (largest municipality: State College) • Chester (largest municipality: West Chester) • Clinton (largest city: Lock Haven) • Dauphin (largest municipality: Harrisburg) • Erie (largest municipality: Erie) • Fayette (largest borough: Uniontown) • Greene (largest municipality: Waynesburg) • Lawrence (largest municipality: New Castle) • Lehigh (largest municipality: Allentown) • Luzerne (largest municipality: Wilkes-Barre) • Monroe (largest borough: Stroudsburg) • Northampton (largest municipality: Bethlehem) • Northumberland (largest borough: Sunbury) • Schuylkill (largest city: Pottsville) By congressional district Corbett won ten of 18 congressional districts, despite losing statewide to Wolf. However, at the time, most of the districts were gerrymanders drawn by Republican legislators. Wolf won the 6th, 7th and 8th districts, which all elected Republicans to the House. ==See also==