MacDonald ends topsy-turvy campaign, pulls plug on GOP write-in effort for Summer Lee's seat
Laurie MacDonald has ended her bid for a seat in the U.S. House.
Last week, MacDonald dropped out of the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District in the face of a challenge to her nominating petition signatures, but then announced a write-in effort in the Republican primary shortly after.
She ended that short-lived run for office Monday, saying on social media that the world of politics is not for her.
Shutting down her topsy-turvy campaign marks the end of MacDonald’s run for the seat held by U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale.
“I am relieved beyond words,” MacDonald wrote in a social media post on Monday. “It was a bit traumatizing but, my life’s work is here with all of my truly kind, genuine, caring and dedicated coworkers, friends and family.”
The MacDonald campaign did not respond to a request for an interview.
MacDonald, CEO of advocacy group Center for Victims and a resident of Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington neighborhood, initially entered the primary against Lee and Edgewood Councilwoman Bhavini Patel.
The 12th District includes Pittsburgh, parts of southern and eastern Allegheny County, the Mon Valley and Westmoreland County communities such as Murrysville, North Huntingdon, Penn Township, Sewickley Township, Jeannette and parts of Hempfield.
Political observers have said that Democratic race has been the most contentious contest in the Pittsburgh region during this election cycle.
MacDonald’s petition signatures included several irregularities, according to a review by TribLive, and they were challenged in court. During the court challenge, she withdrew her Democratic nomination claiming she faced “extreme corruption” from the state’s Democratic Party, but didn’t elaborate.
Her campaign then said she would pursue a write-in campaign in the Republican primary. That would have been a difficult task as the GOP ballot already had a candidate, James Hayes, and any effort would have required tens of thousands of write-in votes.
On Monday, she said she was removed from the ballot “due to typical political shenanigans,” even though she withdrew her nomination, and added that the situation was “a blessing in disguise.”
U.S. Senate field cleared
The race for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat is now a two-man contest between incumbent Democrat Bob Casey and Republican challenger David McCormick, a former hedge fund CEO.
Jesse Vodvarka, a small-business owner from Robinson, was also Republican candidate but was booted from the ballot last week by Commonwealth Court Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt after his petition signatures were successfully challenged.
Another Republican challenger, Brandi Tomasetti of Lancaster, dropped out last week in the midst of a petition challenge, leaving McCormick as the sole candidate on the GOP ballot.
Casey will also have the Democratic primary to himself after a successful challenge to Pittsburgh activist and Democrat William Parker’s nominating petition pushed him off the ballot.
Casey and McCormick will face off in November in what is likely to be one of the nation’s most expensive Senate races.
Ryan Deto is a TribLive reporter covering politics, Pittsburgh and Allegheny County news. A native of California’s Bay Area, he joined the Trib in 2022 after spending more than six years covering Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh City Paper, including serving as managing editor. He can be reached at rdeto@triblive.com.
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