2017 Erie County Executive election

2017 Erie County Executive election

November 7, 2017
 
Nominee Kathy Dahlkemper Art Oligeri
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 30,454 30,150
Percentage 50.25% 49.75%

County Executive before election

Kathy Dahlkemper
Democratic

Elected County Executive

Kathy Dahlkemper
Democratic

The 2017 Erie County Executive election was held on November 7, 2017. Incumbent Democratic County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper ran for re-election to a second term. She won renomation and then faced businessman Art Oligeri, the Republican nominee, in the general election. Despite Donald Trump's victory in the county in the 2016 presidential election, Dahlkemper narrowly defeated Oligeri, winning re-election by a 304-vote margin.[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kathy Dahlkemper (inc.) 16,314 67.66%
Democratic Joseph K. Curlett 7,589 31.47%
Democratic Write-ins 210 0.87%
Total votes 24,113 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Art Oligeri, businessman[4]
  • Brenton Davis, construction company owner[5]
  • Edward DiMattio, County Councilman[6]
  • Tim Sonney, Erie city employee[7]
  • Tom Loftus, former Lawrence Park Township Commissioner, 2013 Republican candidate for County Executive[8]

Results

Republican primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Art Oligeri 4,789 29.66%
Republican Brenton Davis 4,575 28.33%
Republican Edward DiMattio 2,878 17.82%
Republican Tim Sonney 2,655 16.44%
Republican Tom Loftus 1,180 7.31%
Republican Write-ins 71 0.44%
Total votes 16,148 100.00%

General election

Results

2017 Erie County Executive election[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kathy Dahlkemper (inc.) 30,454 50.25%
Republican Art Oligeri 30,150 49.75%
Total votes 60,604 100.00%
Democratic hold

References

  1. ^ Zito, Salena (November 27, 2017). "Pay attention to this moderate Democrat's win in northwest Pa". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  2. ^ Salvatori, Nico (February 22, 2017). "Incumbent Dahlkemper faces challenger for Democratic nomination". Erie Times-News. Erie, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on July 7, 2025. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "2017 PRIMARY ELECTION - ERIE COUNTY, PA" (PDF). Erie County Department of Elections and Voter Registration. May 23, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  4. ^ Salvatori, Nico (January 9, 2017). "County Councilman DiMattio to run for top county office". Erie Times-News. Erie, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  5. ^ Salvatori, Nico (April 4, 2017). "Davis, citing Army role, touts leadership strengths". Erie Times-News. Erie, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  6. ^ Salvatori, Nico (February 15, 2017). "County Councilman DiMattio to run for top county office". Erie Times-News. Erie, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on July 7, 2025. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  7. ^ Salvatori, Nico (December 18, 2016). "Harborcreek man to run for county executive". Erie Times-News. Erie, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on July 7, 2025. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  8. ^ Salvatori, Nico (April 6, 2017). "Loftus would make public safety his focus". Erie Times-News. Erie, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on July 7, 2025. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  9. ^ "2017 MUNICIPAL GENERAL - ERIE COUNTY, PA" (PDF). Erie County Department of Elections and Voter Registration. November 13, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2025.