From the courtroom to the ballot box? Wertz, Laughlin could square off in 2024 election
Erie-area voters haven't entered their polling places, but attention is quickly turning from Tuesday's General Election to 2024.
Jim Wertz, 44, announced in a statement Tuesday that he is resigning as chairman of the Erie County Democratic Party, a post he's held since 2018, and taking the first step toward running for political office next year.
Sources within the Erie County Democratic Party say Wertz is preparing a run for Pennsylvania Senate against two-term Republican incumbent Dan Laughlin.
Laughlin and Wertz are enmeshed in a defamation lawsuit that Laughlin filed against Wertz and the local publication the Democrat writes for, the Erie Reader.
Wertz would not comment on his exact plans, saying only that he is stepping down "to consider future political opportunities."
“I’m incredibly proud of my time leading the ErieDems,” Wertz said in a statement announcing his resignation as party leader, a post he was reappointed to for another four years by committee members. “We made decisive efforts to reconnect the party with townships and boroughs throughout Erie County, in addition to creating opportunities for people to become active with the party and ensure that Democratic campaigns had the support they needed to be successful at all levels of government in Erie County.”
Wertz's resignation takes effect Friday. A reorganizational meeting of the Democratic Party's committee members will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, where members are expected to name Wertz's replacement to finish the remainder of his current term, which runs through June 2026.
Wertz's successor will be charged with shepherding the party through the 2024 presidential election cycle.
Challenging Laughlin
Though Laughlin won 60% of the vote in his run for re-election in 2020, the 49th District is still viewed as a potential pickup opportunity for Democrats given voter registration.
Democrats in 2022 and through special elections in 2023 gained control of the House of Representatives and maintain a one-vote advantage with 102 seats to the GOP's 101. With Gov. Josh Shapiro's decisive victory last year, Democrats are looking to both maintain their House majority and take over the Pennsylvania Senate.
Currently, the GOP majority is 28 to 22, meaning Democrats need to flip four seats to have a majority.
Campaign finance
Wertz appears to have been exploring a political run for months. On May 24, the "Friends of Jim Wertz" political action committee was formed, according to state campaign finance records. The PAC lists fellow Democrats Chelcie Alcorn and Elena Salvia as the chairperson and treasurer, respectively. The records don't designate a candidate or an office and the committee has not raised any funds to date.
More: Laughlin's suit unearths emails about his view of Kelly; Mastriano, Trump election lies
Voters' guide: Erie County voters' guide to the races, candidates and issues in the 2023 municipal election
This is a developing story. Return to GoErie.com for updates.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Dem chair Wertz to step down, might challenge state Sen. Laughlin
