Nearing results show Dave Sunday leading for attorney general against Eugene DePasquale

Democrat Eugene DePasquale and Republican Dave Sunday are leading the race to become Pennsylvania’s next attorney general, one of the most powerful positions in the state.

District Attorney Dave Sunday is currently leading Democratic candidate Eugene DePasquale.

There is no incumbent candidate in this year’s race. Attorney General Michelle Henry was appointed to the position in 2023 by her predecessor, Democrat Josh Shapiro, who left office to become governor. Henry is not running for a full term.

The winner will serve in the attorney general’s office for a four-year term, with a budget of $144 million and a staff of 1,060 prosecutors, defense attorneys, investigators and other staff, according to Spotlight PA.

There are two primary party candidates—Democrat Eugene DePasquale and Republican Dave Sunday—as well as four third party contenders: Justin L. Magill of the Constitution Party, Eric Settle of the Forward Party, Green Party candidate Richard L. Weiss and a Libertarian. Robert Cowburn.

Eugene DePasquale is a former two-term state legislator and auditor general who his campaign calls a “lifelong Democrat.” website. DePasquale is currently an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh.

As attorney general, DePasquale will focus on fighting corruption among elected officials, agencies and those doing business in Pennsylvania, according to his campaign website.

As auditor general, DePasquale uncovered $2 billion in waste, fraud and abuse, challenging leaders of both parties to stop it, according to his campaign website.

DePasquale is a member of the United Steelworkers union and, as attorney general, says he will prosecute wage theft and protect bargaining rights, according to his website.

Dave Sunday is a trial lawyer, U.S. veteran and York County District Attorney since 2018.

According to his campaign websiteThe district attorney on Sunday noted a 30% drop in crime during his first term and a nearly 40% drop in the prison population since its peak.

Sunday serves on the American Conservative Union’s national advisory board of attorneys.

According to his website, Sunday is leading York County’s fight against the heroin and fentanyl epidemic, where he and the York County Coroner co-founded the York County Heroin Task Force, now the York County Opioid Collaborative, where Dave served as chairman of the board of directors.

Justin Magill is a third-party candidate for the Constitution Party. Magill is an Erie attorney who maintains a private law practice specializing in estate planning and business startups.

Magill does not have a campaign website and said he is running to give voters more choice when voting, according to Spotlight PA.

According to Spotlight PA, the Constitution Party says it favors a more limited role for government, removing government regulations, fees and taxes to improve the economy.

According to Spotlight PA, the party’s platform opposes abortion and gay marriage; opposes laws requiring registration of guns or ammunition; and believes that education should not be separated from religious faith.

Eric Settle is a third party candidate for the Forward Party. Settle is a lawyer in Montgomery County and was deputy general counsel under former Republican Gov. Tom Ridge and also served on Gov. Shapiro’s transition team.

According to his election campaign websiteThe Forward Party advocates that the two-party system has failed to help the people. If Eric can get 2% of the vote in this election, the Forward Party will be recognized as the permanent party in Pennsylvania.

Eric has decades of experience in the health care industry, and as attorney general, he will be responsible for overseeing mergers of not-for-profit health systems and the conversion of not-for-profit health systems into for-profit companies, according to his website.

Richard L. Weiss is a third-party candidate for the Green Party. Weiss is an Allegheny County lawyer.

Weiss supports criminal justice reforms, decriminalizing drug use and sex work, and expunging marijuana convictions, Spotlight PA reported.

According to Spotlight PA, Weiss also supports reinstating the assault weapons ban and legislation defining military and civilian weapons.

Robert Cowburn is a third-party candidate for the Libertarian Party. Cowburn is a lawyer and president of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania.

According to his campaign website, Cowburn focuses on economic development, education and eliminating regulatory barriers.

Cowburn says public education has failed children, leaving them unprepared and uneducated for the responsibilities of adulthood, according to his website. Cowburn wants to expand charter schools, ensure parental involvement and encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills.