Blue wave in Bucks County: Dems sweep all nine row office seats – Bucks Round-Up – November 5, 2025

Blue wave in Bucks County: Dems sweep all nine row office seats

In a notable political shift, Democrats have taken control of every Bucks County row office for the first time, completing a clean sweep in Tuesday’s election. Democrats flipped all five contested offices, along with four under their control, ensuring Democrats will preside over all nine seats come January. The most closely watched contests were for district attorney and sheriff, positions long associated with law-and-order priorities. Democrats Joe Khan and Danny Ceisler respectively prevailed by wide margins over incumbent DA Jennifer Schorn and Sheriff Fred Harran, both Republicans, marking a sharp turn in county leadership. Harran’s push for the federal 287(g) program, which would have allowed deputies to partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was a major subject of contention in his race. The down-ballot results mirrored the broader trend. Democrat Donna Petrecco unseated Republican Prothonotary Coleen Christian, taking charge of the county’s civil court filings and legal records. Robin Robinson, a Democrat who previously held the Recorder of Deeds post, returned to defeat incumbent Dan McPhillips, reclaiming oversight of property and notary documents. And former Controller Neale Dougherty, another Democrat, ousted Republican Pamela Van Blunk to oversee the county’s fiscal operations and audits. Meanwhile, Democrat Linda Bobrin, the current register of wills, will vacate her post after winning a judgeship on the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas. Her replacement will maintain Democratic control of an office responsible for probate, estates, and marriage licenses. The county court meanwhile saw Democrats prevail against GOP hopefuls in races for four seats. Republican defeat extended to many local offices as well. Democrats held onto their Pennridge School Board majority, with Brian McMullen the sole Republican to win a seat along with Democrats Carly Taylor, Thomas Trauger, and Nathaniel Leffever. Democrats made significant gains in several other school districts including Bensalem and Centennial. The full Democratic sweep underscores a changing political landscape in Bucks County — often considered an electoral bellwether. Local analysts suggest that national political gridlock, particularly over federal programs like food stamps and Obamacare, may have energized Democratic turnout. For Republicans, who as recently as the last decade dominated county row offices, Tuesday’s results mark a significant setback and a signal that Bucks County’s political center of gravity continues to drift leftward. Election results are available on Bucks County’s Board of Elections page.

Trump endorses nearly all GOP PA congressmen for 2026, skips Fitzpatrick

President Donald Trump Sunday night issued a barrage of endorsements for his fellow Republicans seeking reelection to congressional seats in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. The 2026 hopefuls getting his backing included all GOP Keystone State U.S. House members except for Brian Fitzpatrick, a moderate who represents the Bucks County-based First District. Fitzpatrick was one of only two Republicans in his chamber to vote earlier this year against Trump’s domestic policy package that included renewal of his 2017 tax reforms and cuts. Republicans hold slim majorities in the House of Representatives as well as the U.S. Senate, and someone representing a swing district like Fitzpatrick may see little benefit if Trump does endorse him. While Trump maintains strong loyalty from most GOP voters, he gets negative ratings from most voters according to polls; the RealClearPolitics average of voter surveys reports the president has an approval rating of -11% nationwide.

Morrisville superintendent suggests school shutdown could result from state impasse

Morrisville School District Andrew Doster said Monday that the failure of the Democrat-run State House of Representatives and the GOP-led Pennsylvania Senate to pass a commonwealth budget could force the district to shut down. Operations in the 900-student district would likely cease on January 30, he said, if the two chambers do not soon agree on a spending plan. The state is four months past its budget deadline; meanwhile the federal government, which also bestows much aid on schools, is over a month into its own shutdown. Doster said the district would take steps — including freezing spending and delaying payments — to continue school operations. A school district cessation, he said, would apply to both in-person and virtual teaching as well as extracurricular programs. 

Bucks nonprofit secures state aid amid federal shutdown

As the federal shutdown continues to strain safety-net programs, a Bucks County nonprofit has received crucial help from Harrisburg. Governor Josh Shapiro (D) announced last Friday that Pennsylvania will provide temporary funding to local food organizations affected by the disruption of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The announcement came during an event at Philabundance Food Bank, where the Bucks County Opportunity Council (BCOC) learned it would receive state support to maintain its food operations. Erin Lukoss, the longtime CEO of BCOC, said this is the first time in her 25 years with the organization that state and federal funding challenges have coincided. “I don’t know that we’ve ever had this perfect storm — both a federal shutdown and a state budget impasse,” she said. Lukoss encouraged community members to assist through donations, whether by gift card or food drive. More information is available at BCOC.org.

Montco man arrested in Bensalem child predator sting

Bensalem Township Police have arrested a 44-year-old Montgomery County man accused of attempting to meet what he believed to be a thirteen-year-old girl for sex. Authorities say Pawel Sudol, of North Wales, began communicating with the undercover account on a social media app in early September. Despite being told the girl’s age, Sudol allegedly sent explicit messages and made plans to meet her. On November 2, police say Sudol arrived unannounced at the address he believed was the child’s home, having previously bought flowers and driven there once before. No children were harmed during the investigation. Police obtained a warrant and arrested Sudol at his workplace Monday with help from New Britain Township officers. He has been charged with multiple felonies, including attempted statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, and corruption of minors. Sudol was arraigned before District Justice Joseph Falcone and remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10% of $2 million bail. Police emphasized their continued commitment to protecting children from online predators and ensuring that those who target them face justice.

Joe LeCompte hosts LeCompte in the Morning on WBCB 1490. Bradley Vasoli is the senior editor of The Independence.