2016 Pennsylvania Attorney General election
The Pennsylvania attorney general election of 2016 took place on November 8, 2016, to elect a new Pennsylvania attorney general. Democratic incumbent Kathleen Kane originally indicated her intention to seek re-election, but dropped out after she was criminally charged with violating grand jury secrecy laws stemming from alleged leaks of grand jury investigation details to embarrass a political enemy.
Democratic nominee and Montgomery County commissioner Josh Shapiro defeated Republican state senator John Rafferty Jr. by a margin of 2.78%.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- John Morganelli, Northampton County district attorney, candidate for Attorney General in 2000 and 2004 and nominee in 2008
- Josh Shapiro, chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors and former state representative
- Stephen Zappala, Allegheny County district attorney
Withdrawn
- David Fawcett, former Allegheny County councilman
- Kathleen Kane, incumbent attorney general
- Jack Stollsteimer, former Delaware County assistant district attorney and former assistant United States attorney
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Joe Peters, former federal and state prosecutor and nominee for Pennsylvania Auditor General in 2004
- John Rafferty, state senator
Withdrawn
- Todd Stephens, state representative
Declined
- Heather Heidelbaugh, former Allegheny County councilwoman