Previewing the Laughlin-Wertz race for Pa. Senate

State Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, knows that Democrats are yet again taking a hard look at his 49th Senatorial District seat.

The 62-year-old is among the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee's top three targets in the 2024 election. Jim Wertz, former chair of the Erie County Democratic Party, will be his opponent on the ballot after defeating fellow Democrat Selena King in the primary this spring.

Dan Laughlin (R)

Though Democratic President Joe Biden narrowly won this district in 2020, Laughlin told the USA TODAY Network he's confident, citing his victories of 6 points and 20 points in 2016 and 2020, respectively.

Issues:

• The vice chair of the Senate's Game & Fisheries Committee is viewed as a moderate, having supported a raise to the minimum wage.

• Laughlin also has advocated for legalizing recreational marijuana use.

Jim Wertz (D)

Wertz, a vocal critic of Laughlin for years, has been sued by the state senator for libel. Laughlin claims Wertz crossed the line in a 2022 opinion column published in the Erie Reader.

Issues:

• Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania PAC has endorsed Wertz, a nod to his support for abortion rights.

• The National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians Local 58028 has also endorsed Wertz for his commitment to protecting collective bargaining rights.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Pa. Sen. Dan Laughlin vs Jim Wertz in Erie