PLYMOUTH MEETING—What Republicans were hoping would be a competitive race for an open state Senate seat in Montgomery County ended in a romp Tuesday night, as state Rep. Daylin Leach (D-Upper Merion) was projected to move to Harrisburg's upper chamber.

With all precincts reporting, Leach was beating Republican Lower Merion Commissioner Lance Rogers by more than 30 points. He had more than 54,000 votes, compared to just over 29,000 for Rogers.

Pending certification of the results, he will take the 17th Senatorial District seat being vacated by state Sen. Connie Williams (D-Montgomery). read the full article >>

Negative attack ads linking Leach to overturned school buses and bloody hypodermic needles may have backfired.

Leach argued that the DUI legislation he passed “toughens the law by creating blood levels so that people driving on drugs can be convicted.” No such levels previously existed, Leach said, and trace amounts are not reliable indicators of criminal behavior. read the full article >>

State Rep. Daylin Leach, D-149, bested Republican opponent Lance Rogers by a wide margin in a hotly contested race for the 17th Senatorial District. Unofficial totals had Leach leading 68,349-43,045 in a district that straddles Delco and Montgomery Counties.

Leach won Delco, 21,022-17,667, with 100 percent of the vote in Haverford and 84 percent of the Radnor vote counted, and was leading in Montco 47,327-25,378 with about 85 percent of the vote counted.

The 149th Legislative District is included in the 17th Senatorial District, so that many voters were familiar with Leach’s name and position on issues. read the full article >>

Yesterday's strong showing for Democratic candidates across the board manifested itself in Montgomery County's local races, where a hotly contested battle for an open state Senate seat saw Democrat Daylin Leach opening a wide margin over Republican Lance Rogers.

In the contest for the 17th District Senate seat held by retiring Democrat Connie Williams, Leach, a state representative, led Rogers, a commissioner in Lower Merion Township, by a ratio of roughly 3-2 late last night.

Leach attributed his advantage to his experience as an Assembly member for six years and the large turnout driven substantially by national Democratic efforts. read the full article >>

PLYMOUTH MEETING—The atmosphere at the local UFWC union hall here versus the Plymouth Country Club was a study in contrasts.

At the union hall, where Montgomery County Democrats were gathering, the mood was all celebration and exuberance. Every time the big-screen projector TV showed Barack Obama winning another state, cheers roared from the large and growing crowd. read the full article >>

The Polish American community appreciates the cooperation of all elected officials. The following Pennsylvania State Senators, Representatives and U.S. Congressional candidates from Southeastern Pennsylvania are being recognized for their quality community service and for their ongoing contact with the Polish American community. State Representatives - Southeastern Pennsylvania Representative William Adolph, Jr. (Delaware County) 165th District Representative Stephen Barrar (Chester / Delaware County) 160th District Represenative Mario J. Civera, Jr. (Delaware County) 164th District Representative Mark Cohen (Philadelphia County) 202nd District Representative Gene DiGirolamo (Bucks County) 18th District Representative Dwight Evans (Philadelphia County) 203rd District Representative Robert Godshall (Montgomery County) 53rd District Representative Kate Harper (Montgomery County) 61st District Representative William Keller (Philadelphia County) 184th District Representative Thaddeus Kirkland (Delaware County) 159th District Representative Kathy Manderino (Philadelphia / Montgomery County)    194th District Representative Michael McGeehan (Philadelphia County) 173rd District Representative Nicholas Micozzie (Delaware County) 163rd District Representative Dennis O'Brien (Philadelphia County) 169th District Representative Michael H. O'Brien (Philadelphia County) 175th District Representative John Perzel (Philadelphia County) 172nd District Representative Scott Petri (Bucks County) 178th District Representative Ronald Raymond (Delaware County) 162nd District Representative John Taylor (Philadelphia County) 177th District Representative W. Curtis Thomas (Philadelphia County) 181st District Representative Ronald G. Waters (Philadelphia County) 191st District Representative Katharine Watson (Bucks County) 144th District Representative Louise Williams Bishop (Philadelphia County) 192nd District Representative Rosita Youngblood (Philadelphia County) 198th District State Senators - Southeastern Pennsylvania Candidate Lawrence Farnese, Jr. (Philadelphia County) 1st District Senator Vincent J. Hughes (Philadelphia / Montgomery County) 7th District Senator Shirley M. Kitchen (Philadelphia County) 3rd District Candidate Daylin Leach (Montgomery County) 17th District Senator Michael A. O'Pake (Berks County) 11th District Senator Dominic F. Pileggi (Chester / Delaware County) 9th District Senator Michael J. Stack (Philadelphia County) 5th District U.S. Congressional Candidates - Southeastern Pennsylvania Congressman Robert Brady (Philadelphia / Delaware County) 1st District Congressman Chaka Fattah (Philadelphia / Montgomery County) 2nd District Congressman Patrick Murphy (Philadelphia / Bucks County) 8th District Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (Philadelphia / Bucks County) 13th District Congressman Joe Sestak (Delaware County) 7th District

Candidate Most Outraged by Opponent’s Spinning of His Record — State Rep. Daylin Leach, a Democrat running for the 17th District state Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Connie Williams, at GOP opponent Lance Rogers, for Rogers’ claiming Leach wanted to make it easier
for drug users to evade punishment for driving under the influence. A Rogers’ mailing that featured an overturned school bus presumably smashed into by some coke-headed friend of Leach’s had him spluttering at the unfairness of it all.

“My kids’ teachers get this,” he carped.

Most Outrageous Spin of an Opponent’s Record: Rogers. read the full article >>

LOWER MERION — Democrat Daylin Leach and Republican Lance Rogers locked horns during a League of Women Voters debate at Bryn Mawr College Tuesday, often veering off course to trade barbs and dispute each other’s allegations.

Included in the bevy of topics they were asked to address were health care, gun control, DUI laws, government reform, the environment, and funding for education.

Currently serving as State Representative in the 149th District, Leach said, “Property tax is a terrible way to pay for education,” fraught with injustices and problems. Leach advocated replacing the current system with a state-based tax, and pointed to new funding formulas he recently helped pass. read the full article >>

With state Sen. Connie Williams, of Lower Merion, resigning this year, Democrat Daylin Leach and Republican Lance Rogers are engaged in a heated battle for the 17th Congressional District seat. read the full article >>

Voters in Montgomery County's 17th Senatorial District are getting robo-calls asking them to support state Rep. Daylin Leach (D-Upper Merion) from a familiar voice: Gov. Ed Rendell.



read the full article >>

It's one thing to make a point in a campaign ad. But should it be with a hypodermic needle that appears to be dripping blood?

In what is shaping up to be the most hotly contended state race on the Main Line in 2008, Democratic candidate for the 17th District Senate seat Daylin Leach is crying foul over a political advertisement put out by his opponent, Republican Lance Rogers. He held a press conference last week to denounce the ad.

read the full article >>

Those who attended had access to voter registration forms, absentee ballots, Obama/Biden campaign information and literature on local Democratic candidates Congressman Joe Sestak, D- 7th Dist., state Rep. Daylin Leach, D-17th Dist., and Tim Briggs.

read the full article >>

Philadelphia area lawmakers got high marks in the latest environmental scorecard released today by two statewide environmental groups.

The scorecard, prepared by the Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter and Clean Water Action, rated all 253 state lawmakers on their votes on key environment and energy issues during the 2007-2008 legislative session.

Philadelphia Democrats Vincent Hughes and Michael Stack were the only members of the Senate to receive perfect scores for their votes on environmental bills. Sixteen House members, including Daylin Leach (D., Montgomery), Bryan Lentz (D., Delaware), James Roebuck (D., Phila.), Rick Taylor (D., Montgomery) and Greg Vitali (D., Delaware) received 100 percent ratings. Philadelphia Republican Rep. George Kenney received the highest score among House Republicans with 90 percent. 

The rating was based on votes on 10 bills considered by the legislature including transportation and alternative energy funding, energy efficiency, hazardous sites cleanup, Appalachian Trail protection and climate change.

For details on the bills, amendments and the votes click on www.cleanwateraction.org/pa or www.pennsylvania.sierraclub.org/pa_environmental_scorecard.pdf.

When I helped run political campaigns 20 years ago, it was not uncommon to point out a disagreement with an opponent on a matter of policy. But back then it was usually done in an accurate and respectful way. The bulk of a campaign was dedicated to a candidate talking about his or her positive vision and the solutions they proposed to for the problems we faced.

But more recently, it seems that campaigns have devolved into nothing more than negative, insulting 30-second attack ads. We are barraged by snarky pieces of mail with an unflattering picture of a candidate and massive distortions of their record. Candidates attempt to win not by providing a compelling positive vision, but by arguing their opponent is a bad person.

Since the beginning of my political career I have rejected this form of campaigning. I believe it trivializes the issues, turns people off to the political process and, even worse, insults the dedicated citizens who are engaged in the process. Each election cycle one of the first pieces of mail I send out is a pledge that I will run an all-positive campaign, that my mail and TV will not insult my opposition, and that I will talk about why I think my ideas and record of accomplishment warrant my election. Once made, this pledge is always kept.

read the full letter >>

State Senate Democrats, eager to narrow the Republican majority, are pegging their hopes on a few open seats.

Republicans currently hold a 29-21 advantage in the chamber, a majority Democrats hope to erase in two years. But for now, the immediate focus is on seats without incumbents.

read the full article >>

State Rep. Daylin Leach (D-Upper Merion), who is running to replace Williams, said her work ethic should serve as an example to other lawmakers nearing the end of their careers.

"I think it speaks to her character," Leach said. "Connie is as active as she's ever been. She's working until the last possible minute on the last possible day, working hard, and I think that's a model for all of us for how to behave as our careers wind down.

"I marvel at her energy, and her ability to go to every single event," he added. "She's always been like that, since I first got to know her."

read the full article >>

Daylin Leach talks about education during a Meet the Candidates community forum at the Norristown Public Library. (Read more about the forum here and here.)

In attendance for the August 16th forum were (L to R): Daylin Leach (PA 17th State Senate District), Bob Roggio (US Congress for PA 6th District), Matt Bradford (PA 70th House District) and Kelbin Carolina (PA 150th House District)

Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President William George today announced the reaffirmation of the AFL-CIOs endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President which was made by the AFL-CIOs General Board on June 26, 2008 and endorsements made today by the PA AFL-CIO Executive Council for Attorney General, Auditor General, State Treasurer, for U.S. House of Representatives, and for the State Legislature.

read the full article >>

Representatives of the group gathered at City Hall with six area legislators who had received perfect 100-percent ratings, celebrating major alternative energy subsidies and other legislation passed during this two-year session.

Area legislators who voted in agreement with PennEnvironment for all of the current General Assembly session include:

* Rep. Babette Josephs, D-182nd, of Philadelphia
* Rep. Daylin Leach, D-149th, of Montgomery County;
* Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161st, of Delaware County
* Rep. James Roebuck, D-188th, of Philadelphia
* Rep. Rick Taylor, D-151st, of Montgomery County
* Rep. Greg Vitali, D-166th , of Delaware County

read the full article >>

Representative Daylin Leach, who was honored by the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce with its 2008 Excellence in Public Service Award, partnered with Federation President and CEO Ira M. Schwartz to impress upon Radnor Valley Country Club members the critical problems of food insecurity in the local Jewish community. more >>

State Representative Daylin Leach, a Montgomery County Democrat, wants to restrict the use of antibiotics to sick animals, in order to preserve the effectiveness of the drugs. But that position has gained opposition from Agribusiness. more >>

Iran and Sudan are identified by the U.S. State Department as countries with state sponsorship of terrorism. Rep. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery County, called such investments "blood money." more >>

Representative Daylin Leach says giving antibiotics to healthy livestock contributes to the country’s “superbug” problem. He wants to limit the use of antibiotics to sick animals to preserve the effectiveness of the drugs. more >>

State Rep. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery, unveiled legislation Tuesday that would limit the use of antibiotics in healthy farm animals in Pennsylvania if those same drugs are also used to treat infectious diseases in humans. more >>

"America, by continuing to invest in foreign governments that continue to support terrorism, is failing to use its most powerful weapon." — Rep. Daylin Leach more >>

State Rep. Daylin Leach (D-District 149) had signed an open letter to the Jewish community urging support for Obama. Leach -- who is running for the open state senate seat being vacated by Connie Williams -- acknowledged that Obama did not do well among Jewish voters in the primary, but thinks that the community will coalesce around him in the general election. more >>

Leach already represents about a quarter of Williams' constituents, putting his opponent, Republican Lance Rogers, at an early disadvantage. more >>

Anyone living in a suburban community in Pennsylvania in the 21st century knows what the phrase “suburban sprawl” means. As the term has entered our lexicon, its manifestations have become more ubiquitous. We see rampant overdevelopment, increased traffic congestion and a severe strain on all sorts of government services, including public schools, police, fire, sewer and stormwater management. more >>

Last week 350+ enthusiastic supporters packed a King of Prussia hotel ballroom to support State Representative Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery) as he kicked off his campaign for Pennsylvania’s 17th State Senate district. more >>

State Representative Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery) announced today that he will seek election to the Pennsylvania State Senate in the 2008 general election. more >>