Interesting. At the very least, I think having fewer people running unopposed is a good thing for our country.

First came Trump anger. Now the primary. Can Pa. Dems make headway Tuesday?

Six months ago, shell-shocked Democrats in the suburbs of Philadelphia were so outraged by the election of President Trump that they pledged to “resist” by joining the political system and rebuilding their weakened party at the neighborhood level.

On Tuesday, voters from both parties in Pennsylvania will get the first chance to see if that outrage paid off.

Democrats are mounting full or nearly full slates of primary candidates in communities where, in prior years, they couldn’t drum up a single person to challenge entrenched Republicans for school board, local supervisor, or district justice posts.
In nine solidly Republican Bucks County municipalities where Democrats couldn't field a single candidate two years ago, the party is running challengers for supervisor or council. 

Such activity is unusual for off-year elections, particularly after a presidential race. These traditionally are the most low-wattage races, with turnout often below 20 percent, even though they can have the most immediate impact on voters’ lives by shaping local taxes, laws, and school leadership.

But the outcome of the 2016 presidential election galvanized newcomers to run for school board or on local party committees, to help the party regain core strength. Just how many are now in the system could help determine the outcome of some races Tuesday.

Because Democrats and Republicans may cross-file on both ballots in school board and judicial primaries, the work of committee people -- who canvass neighborhoods and knock on doors to educate voters -- will be crucial. Republicans have long excelled at this, with ardent and abundant committee rank and file. But Democrats hope to gain ground. 


Chester County Democratic committeeman Stephen Schur said he has 27 of 32 local committee posts filled heading into Tuesday -- compared with the seven he had on Election Day in November. 

“We’ve got volunteers everywhere doing literature drops,” he said.  “We’ve got thousands of pieces of materials and we’re running out.”

They are pushing to help elect three party-backed Democrats for four Owen J. Roberts school board seats, and a Democrat vying for a district justice slot. The races cover a seven-town zone that includes East, North and South Coventry Townships -- and didn't field a single Democratic candidate in 2015.

Pennsylvania Democrats -- traditionally strongest in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and in recent years, its surrounding counties -- are hoping to replicate a political strategy that, for years, has worked well for Republicans. The GOP so dominates locally in Pennsylvania that the party controls the legislature and, from that, the drawing of congressional districts to favor Republicans. 

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Will-Trump-energize-Pennsylvania-primary-voters.html