Welcome to Election Day.
No, that's not a mistake. You didn't slide into a coma and suddenly wake up to November. It's still hot out. Thank God.
But the political temperature will spike today in the 168th District in the western part of Delaware County, where they are holding a special election to fill the state House seat vacated by Tom Killion. The longtime state rep recently won election to the state Senate from the 9th District, which itself was vacated by Dominic Pileggi, who won a seat on the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas.
I know, sometimes you can't tell the players without a scorecard.
Today Republican Chris Quinn, who runs an insurance business, will square off against Democrat Diane Cornman-Levy.
You can read our preview of the race here.
Regardless of who wins, the two will face off again in the November general election for a two-year term. This special election is only to fill the remainder of the current term. Yes, I know it seems kind of silly. Don't blame me. I don't make the rules. I just cover the elections.
And as someone who has done any number of these over the years, I can tell you that for the most part voters stay away in droves. The key is turnout, which party can get their faithful back from the beach long enough to cast a ballot for state representative.
There is not much in the way of sizzle, there is no presidential, statewide or even a countywide question to draw people to the polls.
While Democrats in recent years have overtaken the mighty Delco GOP in terms of voter registration, that's not the case of the 168th, where Republicans still outnumber Democrats 51-36 percent.
Democrats are pointing to recent victories, including sending Leanne Krueger-Braneky to Harrisburg to represent the 161st District. Republicans argue that was more a self-inflicted wound, where the party's endorsed candidate was opposed by a conservative tea party pol, effectively splitting the vote and opening the door to a win by the Democrat.
Republicans hold a firm grip on power in both the Senate and the House in Harrisburg, so it's not like this race will mark a shift of power.
But it will be interesting to see which party can get their people to the polls. And then watching what happens in the rematch in November, when turnout will be huge due to the presence of the presidential race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
For that matter, it will be equally interesting to see if Krueger-Braneky can win re-election herself.
We'll have the result for you tonight.
Vote early, but don't vote often. That's against the rules.
I get the feeling you won't wind up standing in a line.
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