Candidates interested in running for Congress have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to file their nominating petitions, with the required 1,000 signatures.
Now all they need is confirmation of what district - and what constituents - they are running to represent.
That's because the Pennsylvania Congressional map - redrawn by the state Supreme Court after a lawsuit ruled the old one was unconstitutionally gerrymandered, is still being debated in court.
Republicans challenged the new map enacted by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which basically obliterated the old 1st and 7th Districts that used to represent Delaware County.
The new map puts all of Delaware County into one district - the 5th - along with a sliver of Montgomery County along the Main Line and a portion of South Philadelphia. Gone are the old 7th and 1st Districts.
Making all this ever more interesting is the fact that the region's two incumbent congressmen, Rep. Pat Meehan, R-7 of Chadds Ford, and Rep. Bob Brady, D-1 of Philadelphia, have decided not to seek re-election.
A horde of candidates from both parties are seeking the nomination.
The period to gather signatures on nominating petitions for Congress was extended because of the legal battles. The deadline is Tuesday, but the eventual fate of the map is still up in the air.
What is not is the Delco Republicans' choice. They met Sunday night and endorsed Pearl Kim, of Radnor, a former county assistant attorney general and former senior deputy attorney general of Pennsylvania. It will be interesting to see if she faces a primary challenge from one of the other Republicans interested in the seat, including a former assistant U.S. attorney, Clare Putnam Pozos, who is also from Radnor. Other Republicans who are seeking the nod include U.S. Navy veteran and volunteer firefighter Joe Billie, of Aston; attorney Jeremy H. Gonzalez Ibrahim of Chester County; tax attorney Greg McCauley of Chadds Ford; Haverford developer Wally Smerconish; and Radnor Commissioner Richard Booker.
On the Democratic side of the ledger, no less than a dozen candidates are seeking to "take the 5th."
That includes two latecomers who have raised a few eyebrows with their intentions to seek the seat. They would be state Reps. Greg Vitali, D-166 of Haverford, and Margo Davidson, D-164 of Upper Darby. Vitali first announced a few weeks ago, then changed his mind, then just last week decided to get back into the race. He's also rubbed more than a few people in Haverford the wrong way with his decision. Vitali plans to run both seats.
Chester Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland is seeking the seat, as is former Philadelphia Deputy Mayor Rich Lazer, who has the backing of Mayor Jim Kenney, as well as the financial might of John Dougherty's union clout.
Other Democrats running for the 5th Congressional District include attorney Mary Gay Scanlon of Swarthmore; former Morgan Stanley wealth manager Lindy Li of Malvern; attorney Dan Muroff of Media; scientist Dr. Molly Sheehan of South Philadelphia; former CIA officer Shelly Chauncey of Glen Mills; entrepreneur and journalist David Wertine of Haverford; attorney and consultant Dan Boyle; political science professor Mary Ellen Balchunis of Ardmore; and George Badey, chairman of Radnor Township’s Democratic Committee.
This race could well be one for the record books.
Now all we need is confirmation on what the district actually will look like.
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