The legislative races in the Centre region are somewhat dull this year. There are only so many house and senate seats to begin with and most, you guessed it are uncontested. However, as I said before, we do have a few interesting races to talk about.
PA-HD-80
This is an open seat in Dark Red Blair County. Republicans Judy Ward and School Board Director Aaron Ritchey are gunning for the GOP nomination. Both know that if they win, they will be good for November, because no Democrat filed for the seat. At the moment, from what I have heard the race is anyone's game, but I would say Tilt Ritchey.
PA-HD-71
This is the seat of Democratic State Rep. Bryan Barbin, we almost had an incumbent vs. incumbent Democrat primary with Rep. Haluska (D) since he was drawn into Burn's (D) district and was wondering if he should challenge either, but instead he decided to retire. Now Barbin will have to face the winner of the Republican primary, either Mark Amsdell or James Rigby. This seat is based in Johnstown, the more Democratic region of Cambria County.
Either way, I am rating this race as a Moderate Democratic Hold, because of redistricting and new voters being pushed in. However, with Gov. Corbett in trouble and with his name recognition State Rep. Barbin (D) should be okay for re-election.
PA-HD-72
A seat of another incumbent Democrat and another with Johnstown, this time State Rep. Frank Burns. However this time, Burns is facing a primary opponent for his seat due to redistricting. He could have faced Rep. Haluska in a incumbent vs. incumbent challenge, but instead he is facing a political novice and businessman Martin Westrick, Burn's should beat him easily. Also, the Republicans have a primary as well for this district, Philip Rice and Randall Wilson, however like in PA-HD-71 I doubt that they will have a serious chance of winning.
I rate this race a notch lower at Lean Democratic Hold for now, just because of the primary and all.
PA-HD-73
This seat is uncontested and now we can say for certain since no Democrat is in the race (unless a serious primary challenge occurs) that the GOP hold this seat that they picked up in 2012. Safe GOP Hold (for now)
PA-HD-81
This seat is held by an openly gay Republican, State Rep. Mike Fleck (I think he is a terrific State Rep BTW, not my rep though). He is being challenged by the right, and Huntington County Treasurer Richard Irvin is the candidate to challenge him. His platform is the same as Fleck (a very conservative Republican), there is just one difference. Richard Irvin has been going around saying he supports "family values," whatever, he is just doing what he needs to do to beat Fleck in this very red district. However, Rep. Fleck's ex-wife (he announced he was gay shortly after he was elected to this term) challenged and removed Irvin from the ballot. That hasn't stopped Irvin though, he has mounted a write-in campaign, and it will be interesting to see if Irvin makes some noise in this race.
BUT... I rate this as a Strong Fleck Hold, and a Safe GOP Hold.
PA-SD-30 Safe GOP Hold (contested in the general, but not threat of loss)
PA-SD-34 Safe GOP Hold
PA-HD-75 Safe GOP Hold (contested in the general, but not threat of loss)
PA-HD-76 Safe Democratic Hold
PA-HD-77 Safe Democratic Hold
PA-HD-79 Safe GOP Hold
PA-HD-82 Safe GOP Hold
PA-HD-84 Safe GOP Hold (contested in the General, but no threat of loss)
PA-HD-85 Safe GOP Hold
PA-HD-171 Safe GOP Hold
As you can see, we have almost no primaries. There is one Democratic state legislative primary and four for the Republicans, the rest of the races are occurring in the general election or are not occurring at all. Wish the Centre region voters luck, especially the Republicans, because there really is nothing to vote on in these elections.