Vote 18

An Amish buggy passes by as Erin McCracken gives a tour of the Breman Town Ballroom in Millheim. She and her husband, Joshua, host events in the space they converted from a bar.

“We’ve had some of the best concerts in here," McCracken said. "We’ve had hip-hop. We’ve had Texas country, where we taught everybody how to two-step and everybody was doing it. We’ve had polka parties. We just basically try anything.”

It was a Wednesday afternoon in the Toftrees neighborhood in State College. Ezra Nanes was canvassing and ran into a college student outside his house.

“Are you at Penn State?” Nanes asked. The young man told him, yes, and it’s expensive to go to school there.

As the midterm elections draw closer, Americans seem more divided than ever. But Penn State seniors, roommates and best friends Reagan McCarthy and Katierose Epstein share a bond that crosses the aisle even in today’s polarized climate.

McCarthy is the president of the Penn State College Republicans and Epstein is the president of the College Democrats.

The women met in the spring of their freshman year on opposing sides of a debate between their clubs. The topic was federal funding of Planned Parenthood, and the encounter wasn’t exactly friendly.

The possibility of higher than average voter turnout for a midterm, an increase in the number of women representing Pennsylvania and a match-up of two incumbents running for the same seat are some of the topics WPSU talks about with Terry Madonna leading in to the 2018 election. Madonna directs the Franklin and Marshall College Poll.

WPSU spoke with candidates running for U.S. House in the 12th, 13th and 15th Congressional Districts in the 2018 election.  In this interview, Brent Ottaway, the Democratic candidate in the 13th district, talks about why he's running. His Republican opponent, John Joyce, declined to be interviewed.

WPSU spoke with candidates running for U.S. House in the 12th, 13th and 15th Congressional Districts in the 2018 election.  In this interview, Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Marino talks about why he's running in the 12th district.

WPSU spoke with candidates running for U.S. House in the 12th, 13th and 15th Congressional Districts in the 2018 election.  In this interview, WPSU talks with Marc Friedenberg, the Democratic candidate in the 12th district.  

WPSU spoke with candidates running for U.S. House in the 12th, 13th and 15th Congressional Districts in the 2018 election.  In this interview, Democratic candidate Susan Boser talks with WPSU about why she's running against Republican incumbent Glenn Thompson in the 15th district.

Since the Parkland shooting in February, there have been movements nationwide to energize young people to vote in this November’s midterm elections.

Jessica Maggio is a part of that movement. Recently, she stood outside of the HUB Robeson Center on Penn State’s University Park campus, attempting to strike up conversations with students streaming into and out of the building.

The Pennsylvania Legislature is poised to soon make history as it welcomes its first openly gay lawmaker of color.

Malcolm Kenyatta won the Democratic nomination for Philadelphia’s 181st District during last week’s primary, and, given the city’s voter registration numbers, is strongly favored to assume the seat.

For the 27-year-old, who grew up in the projects, the idea of being a role model is appealing.

In a very tight race, a Penn State professor has won the Democratic primary for the 12th Congressional district. 

Democrat Marc Friedenberg beat Judy Herschel by 223 votes, according to unofficial results Wednesday afternoon.

He said his win in the primary came from work by volunteers — getting results in places they put the effort.

Now, he has his eye on the general election where he will face Republican incumbent Tom Marino.

Marino beat challenger Doug McLinko, winning 67 percent of the vote.

Republican candidates trying to win their party’s nomination for the U.S. House, 13th district, fielded questions Monday night. The 13th district stretches across southcentral Pennsylvania, including Blair and Huntingdon counties.

The forum by Blair County Republicans drew a full house to the American Legion in Hollidaysburg.

States’ rights, smaller government and experience getting results were some of the themes covered during the forum.

About 50 people turned out at the Smethport fire hall to hear Susan Boser and Wade Jodun, the candidates competing in the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania’s 15th district. The winner will likely face Republican incumbent Glenn Thompson in November.

The candidates spoke, answered questions and mingled with the McKean County voters.

Jodun said the night’s turnout out in a Republican stronghold shows people want to be heard. He pointed to the economy as a major issue.

Eight candidates are running in the Republican primary in the 13th Congressional district, one of Pennsylvania’s seats in the U.S. House. One of those candidates is Bernie Washabaugh. WPSU’s Anne Danahy talked with Washabaugh about why he’s running for Congress.

WPSU invited all candidates in competitive races for U.S. House seats in the 12th, 13th and 15th Congressional districts for interviews. 

Eight candidates are running in the Republican primary in the 13th Congressional district, one of Pennsylvania’s seats in the U.S. House. One of those candidates is Doug Mastriano, a retired army colonel who lives in Franklin County. 

WPSU’s Anne Danahy talked with Mastriano about why he’s running for Congress and what he considers government overreach.

Eight candidates are running in the Republican primary in the 13th Congressional district, one of Pennsylvania’s seats in the U.S. House. One of those candidates is John Joyce. WPSU’s Anne Danahy talked with Joyce about why he thinks his career as a doctor would help him in Congress.

WPSU invited all candidates in competitive races for U.S. House seats in the 12th, 13th and 15th Congressional districts for interviews. 

Eight candidates are running in the Republican primary in the 13th Congressional district, one of Pennsylvania’s seats in the U.S. House. One of those candidates is Benjamin Hornberger. WPSU’s Anne Danahy talked with Hornberger about why he’s running and what he thinks of Donald Trump’s presidency so far.

WPSU invited all candidates in competitive races for U.S. House seats in the 12th, 13th and 15th Congressional districts for interviews. 

Eight candidates are running in the Republican primary in the 13th Congressional district, one of Pennsylvania’s seats in the U.S. House. One of those candidates is John Eichelberger. WPSU’s Anne Danahy talked with Eichelberger about why he thinks he’s the best choice for the job.

WPSU invited all candidates in competitive races for U.S. House seats in the 12th, 13th and 15th Congressional districts for interviews. The primary is May 15. 

Two candidates are on the Republican primary ballot for U.S. House 12th Congressional district. One of them is incumbent Tom Marino. WPSU’s Anne Danahy talked with Marino about why he’s running for reelection and how he responds to critics of legislation he sponsored.

WPSU invited all candidates in competitive races for U.S. House seats in the 12th, 13th and 15th Congressional districts for interviews. To listen to interviews and find out more about the races, go to wpsu.org/vote18.