Elections
- 2008
When Connie Williams of Pennsylvania's 17th senate district decided to retire,Leach decided to enter the election. He was the Democratic nominee and defeated Republican Lance Rogers,a Lower Merion Township Commissioner,62%-38%. [26]
- 2012
Leach won re-election to a second term,defeating Republican nominee Charles Gehret 63%-37%. [27]
- 2016
Leach won re-election to a third term,defeating Republican nominee Brian Gondek 64%-36%. [28]
- 2020
Leach faced attorney and East Norriton Township,Pennsylvania Board of Supervisors Vice Chairwoman,Amanda Cappelletti,in the Democratic party. Cappelletti defeated Leach,receiving 63% of the vote and winning every county in the district. [29]
Tenure
Leach was awarded the 2008 Humane Legislator Award by the Humane Society of the United States,the 2011 Legislative Leadership Award by GVF Transportation,and the 2011 Friend of Education Award by the Lower Merion Education Association. [24]
In January 2013,he proposed legislation that would legalize recreational use of marijuana in Pennsylvania for people 21 years or older,called the "Regulate Marijuana Act." [30] [31] In defending it,Leach argued “We would never,in a rational society,starting from scratch,have the policy we have now.” [32]
In 2016,a bill sponsored by Leach,legalizing some marijuana products for medical use,became law. [33] The medical marijuana bill sponsored by Leach does not permit medical patients to grow their own cannabis,and subsequent efforts by others to change the law have failed. [34]
In 2017,Leach made headlines in response to President Trump's threat to "destroy the career" of a Texas state senator who proposed legislation requiring a conviction before civil asset forfeiture,by goading the President to try to destroy Leach's career in a social media post. [35] [36]
In December 2017,Leach was accused of inappropriately touching young female staffers and volunteers. Leach's attorney referred to media reports as a witch hunt. [37] In a written statement,Leach denied the accusations,which he attributed to an unnamed political opponent. [38] In response to the allegations,Gov. Wolf called on Leach to resign. [39] In a statement the next day,Leach said he planned to stay in his seat and work with Senate leaders to address the allegations. [40] On February 24,2018,Leach abandoned his congressional campaign but announced that he will remain in his state senate seat. [41] In September 2019,an auditors report commissioned by the Pennsylvania Democratic Caucus concluded,"With respect to Senator Leach's behavior while as a member of the Senate,we conclude that there is no evidence of actionable discrimination for harassment in violation of applicable law or Caucus policies." [42] Further,the report found,"At no time did any such behavior actually create a hostile work environment under the circumstances presented here." [43]
