Coalfield Justice Action

A growing percentage of Pennsylvania voters are fed up with party loyalists on both sides putting partisan interests ahead of what's best for working families. But from closed primaries to restrictive ballot-access requirements, independent and third-party candidates have an uphill battle to gain ground in state politics.

Lehigh County Commissioner Ron Beitler, a former Republican who describes his shift to Independent status as "political su***de," makes things clear: "The entire system is structured to maintain that two-party control."

More Pa. voters are registering as independents, but barriers stop lawmakers from following Elected officials say closed primaries, signature requirements, and money demands all make it hard to run as an independent.

Did Amazon just deliver a blow to Josh Shapiro’s White House dreams? | Will Bunch As public revolts against data centers, emails expose cozy relationship between a tech giant and Pennsylvania’s governor.

Need to know who's running in the upcoming PA primary election? PennLive has a new voter guide with candidate information for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, U.S. House, PA Senate and PA House races.

Some have completed a candidate questionnaire about their positions on things like schools, immigration, data centers and more. We encourage you to review their answers before voting (and for those who didn't answer, reaching out to find out where they stand on the issues that matter to you!)

PennLive’s 2026 primary election voters’ guide Compare candidates for statewide, congressional, and legislative races using responses provided directly by the candidates.

🗳️ There is less than one week left to register to vote and just two weeks left to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot ahead of this year's primary election on May 19th!

🔗 Make sure to double-check your registration, request your ballot, find your polling place, and check out any more important resources today at vote.pa.gov.

Communities across PA and the nation are coming out against data centers and calling on lawmakers to act to protect against them.

Some elected officials have responded with new bills offering stronger regulations and even moratoriums. Others have buried their head in the sand — or worse, taken kickbacks and signed NDAs to help bulldoze these facilities ahead.

CJA is here to give southwestern PA residents the tools to take back power and hold polluters and politicians alike accountable.

We're watching. Are you? Lear more at coalfieldjusticeaction.org

Data centers are expensive, unpopular — and could be a tipping point in the midterms Anger over the data center boom has spilled into politics with voters unseating local politicians who support them. It's become an issue hard to ignore in the midterm elections.