Eugene DePasquale

Last updated

In April 2011, DePasquale announced that he would be running for State Auditor General in 2012 to succeed incumbent Jack Wagner, who was term-limited. [13] DePasquale made Marcellus shale drilling a central issue of his campaign, and promised to order an immediate performance audit of the Department of Environmental Protection to ensure the state's water supply had not been compromised by drilling. [14] He defeated Republican state representative John Maher in the fall general election. [15] Both Maher and DePasquale were concurrently re-elected without opposition to their seats in the state house. [16]

DePasquale resigned his seat in the state house on January 15, 2013, and was sworn-in as auditor general later that day. He became the first person from York County to assume statewide elected office since George Leader was elected governor in 1954. [17]

2016

In the 2016 election, DePasquale was reelected auditor general with 50% of the vote, defeating Republican John Brown. [18]

Tenure

In July 2014, DePasquale announced results of an audit of the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) water programs related to the development of the state's shale gas reserves. [19] Results of that audit showed the DEP had been unprepared to effectively administer laws and regulations to protect drinking water and unable to efficiently respond to citizen complaints in the period 2009-2012. [20] [21] The report cited sloppy record-keeping, lax oversight, and poor communication with citizens. [22]

In May 2016, an interim report by the Auditor General showed that in 2015 nearly 42,000 calls to Childline, Pennsylvania's hotline for reports of child abuse, went unanswered, up from 6,780 in 2014. Furthermore, only 0.005% of calls were overseen by a supervisor. [23] This report prompted changes within the state's Department of Human Services which led to the tracking of all calls to the hotline, a minimum requirement for monitoring calls, and an increase in staffing. [24]

A September 2016 report from the Auditor General's office revealed that over 3,000 rape kits were backlogged by local law enforcement agencies, awaiting testing, with 60% of them waiting untested for over a year. [25] A follow-up in May 2020 announced that the untested backlog had been reduced by 97%, due to increased financial support from the state budget, outside groups and federal programs. [26] [27]

In the wake of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, the Auditor General's office released a report in November 2018 on the subject of gun safety in Pennsylvania and access to guns by those requiring mental health care, calling for greater monitoring by gun sellers of buyers in emotional distress. [28] DePasquale's office likewise audited the Pennsylvania background-check system for possible gaps and errors in its screenings for ineligible purchasers. [29]

Along with Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, DePasquale co-chaired a School Safety Task Force that gathered feedback about safety concerns, drills and security measures to prevent or mitigate school shootings. [30]

In February 2019, DePasquale announced that officials in 18 Pennsylvania counties had disclosed that they had accepted improper (but not illegal) gifts from voting-machine vendors, and that several additional officials had failed to disclose such gifts. [31] This followed an investigation about the security of voter registration data, prompted by election-security concerns originating in the 2016 election. [32]

2020 congressional campaign

Term-limited from running again as Auditor General, DePasquale announced in June 2019 his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives to represent Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district. [33] He won the Democratic nomination on June 3, 2020. [34] DePasquale was defeated in the general election, with incumbent Scott Perry being declared the victor on November 5. [35] DePasquale subsequently conceded the race. [36]

2024 Attorney General campaign

On June 1, 2023, DePasquale announced his candidacy for Pennsylvania Attorney General in the 2024 election. He cited his tenure as Auditor General as a reason to support him, and pledged to be a "pro-choice attorney general." [6] At the Democratic State Committee meeting in December 2023, DePasquale received 52% of the endorsement vote in a five-candidate field, but failed to meet the two-thirds requirement for an official party endorsement. [37] He won the Democratic primary election with 39% of the vote and faced Republican candidate Dave Sunday in the general election. [38] During the general election debate against Sunday, DePasquale pledged not to enforce a hypothetical abortion ban in Pennsylvania. [39] DePasquale lost to Sunday. [40]

Pennsylvania Democratic Party chair

In 2025, the chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, Sharif Street announced he was resigning to run for Congress. DePasquale subsequently announced his bid to replace Street with the outgoing chair's support. [41] [42] He was elected chair on September 6. [43]

Personal life

DePasquale lives in West Manchester, Pennsylvania. He has two children and is Lutheran. [44]

Electoral history

Eugene DePasquale
Eugene DePasquale.jpg
Chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
September 6, 2025
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 95, 2006 general election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Eugene DePasquale 7,561 58.28
Republican Karen Emenheiser5,41241.72
Total votes12,973 100.00
Democratic hold
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 95, 2008 general election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Eugene DePasquale (incumbent) 17,887 75.07
Republican Lon Emenheiser5,94124.93
Total votes23,828 100.00
Democratic hold
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 95, 2010 general election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Eugene DePasquale (incumbent) Unopposed
Total votes9,832 100.00
Democratic hold
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 95, 2012 general election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Eugene DePasquale (incumbent) 16,804 83.04
Independent Dave Moser3,43116.96
Total votes20,235 100.00
Democratic hold
2012 Pennsylvania Auditor General election [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Eugene DePasquale 2,729,565 49.73
Republican John Maher 2,548,76746.43
Libertarian Betsy Elizabeth Summers210,8763.84
Total votes5,489,208 100.00
Margin of victory180,7983.30
Democratic hold
2016 Pennsylvania Auditor General election [46]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Eugene DePasquale (incumbent) 2,958,818 50.01% +0.28%
Republican John Brown2,667,31845.08%−1.35%
Green John Sweeney158,9422.69%N/A
Libertarian Roy Minet131,8532.23%−1.61%
Total votes5,916,931 100.0% N/A
Democratic hold
Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District Primary Results, 2020 [34]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Eugene DePasquale 29,036 58.6
Democratic Tom Brier20,55241.4
Total votes49,588 100.0
Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District General Election, 2020 [47]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Scott Perry (incumbent) 208,896 53.3
Democratic Eugene DePasquale182,93846.7
Total votes391,834 100.0
Republican hold
Pennsylvania Attorney General election, 2024
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Dave Sunday 3,496,336 50.81% +4.51%
Democratic Eugene DePasquale3,178,57146.19%−4.71%
Libertarian Robert Cowburn88,8071.29%−0.48%
Green Richard L Weiss68,0160.99%−0.05%
Constitution Justin L Magill31,2720.45%0
Forward Eric L Settle18,1440.26%0
Total votes6,881,146 100.0%
Republican hold

References

  1. ↑ "Adjunct Faculty Directory" . Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Eugene DePasquale plans to be a 'fighter' as he gets closer to launching his campaign for Pennsylvania attorney general". April 13, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  3. ↑ Couloumbis, Angela (November 6, 2024). "Republican Dave Sunday wins attorney general race in Pennsylvania, beating Eugene DePasquale". Spotlight PA. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Eugene A. DePasquale". Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Meet Auditor General Eugene DePasquale". Pennsylvania Dept of the Auditor General. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  6. 1 2 Prose, J.D. (June 1, 2023). "Eugene DePasquale says background is 'perfect fit' for attorney general as he announces bid". PennLIVE Patriot-News . Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  7. ↑ Schmitz, Jon (January 2, 2008). "Former Pittsburgh councilman Eugene "Jeep" DePasquale dies at 85". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  8. ↑ Hullinger, Logan (August 22, 2020). "DePasquale who? Dem candidate for Pa.'s 10th District hits road as name recognition lags". York Dispatch. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Rep. Eugene A. DePasquale Biography". Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus. 2008. Archived from the original on October 28, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information". Archived from the original on November 27, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information". February 21, 2009. Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  12. ↑ "York_Co_General_Nov_2010 UnOfficial Results". Archived from the original on February 28, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
  13. ↑ "DePasquale Exploring 2012 Bid for Auditor General | Eugene DePasquale". Archived from the original on August 15, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  14. ↑ DePasquale, Eugene. "DePasquale Will Order Review of Water Protection Programs As First Action If Elected Auditor General". Eugene4pa.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
  15. ↑ Stonesifer, Tim (November 7, 2012). "Eugene DePasquale wins state auditor general seat". York (PA) Daily Record. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  16. ↑ Clonan, Elyse (April 18, 2012). "Auditor General Race Raises Questions About Running For Two Offices Simultaneously". Politicspa.com. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  17. ↑ Murphy, Jen (January 16, 2013). "Eugene DePasquale makes midstate history as Pennsylvania's new auditor general". PennLive.com. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  18. ↑ Pedro A., Coates. "Pennsylvania Department of State Elections". Archived from the original on November 13, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General -Auditor General DePasquale Initiates Audit to Ensure Safe Drinking Water". www.paauditor.gov. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Auditor general criticizes DEP". Washington County Observer-Reporter. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General -Auditor General DePasquale Says Rapid Shale Gas Development Outpaced DEP's Ability to Oversee Industry, Protect Water Quality". www.paauditor.gov. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  22. ↑ Phillips, Susan (September 26, 2014). "Pa. Auditor General: Don't rely on DEP for good information". NPR StateImpact. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  23. ↑ Thomas, Brian (May 25, 2016). "Audit: 42,000 Unanswered Calls to State Child Abuse Hotline". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Auditor General: Audit prompts major changes at ChildLine". fox43.com. October 12, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  25. ↑ Langley, Karen. "Pa. auditor general blames state for backlog on rape kits". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  26. ↑ Guza, Megan (May 5, 2020). "Pennsylvania's backlog of 3,000 untested rape kits now under 100, auditor general says". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  27. ↑ Meyer, Katie (April 11, 2019). "Auditor general praises dwindling rape kit backlog". PA Post. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  28. ↑ Finnerty, John (November 28, 2018). "Pa. auditor general calls for comprehensive action on gun safety". Johnstown Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  29. ↑ Tawa, Steve (June 23, 2019). "Auditor general to evaluate Pennsylvania's gun background check system". KYW Newsradio. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Wolf sets up task force in effort to improve school safety". Associated Press. March 15, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Auditor says officials took voting machine vendors' freebies". Associated Press. February 22, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  32. ↑ Scolforo, Mark (June 11, 2018). "State auditor to study security of Pennsylvania voter rolls". Associated Press. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  33. ↑ Thompson, Charles (June 30, 2019). "Pa. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale is running for Congress, and here's why". Archived from the original on June 30, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  34. 1 2 "Pennsylvania Primary Election Results: 10th Congressional District". The New York Times. June 2, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  35. ↑ Jagoda, Naomi (November 5, 2020). "Freedom Caucus member Scott Perry wins fifth term in Pennsylvania". The Hill. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  36. ↑ Eugene DePasquale [@DePasqualePA] (November 5, 2020). "Just now I called @RepScottPerry to congratulate him on a hard-earned victory. Below is my statement as I end my campaign for Congress. It was an honor to meet you and hear your stories. And I promise you, our work is far from finished" (Tweet). Retrieved November 7, 2020– via Twitter.
  37. ↑ McGoldrick, Gillian (December 16, 2023). "Pa. Democrats give history-making nod to Kenyatta for auditor general, but won't endorse in the attorney general race". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  38. ↑ Meyer, Katie (April 23, 2024). "Democrat Eugene DePasquale, Republican Dave Sunday win primary elections for Pa. attorney general". Spotlight PA. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  39. ↑ Cole, John (October 4, 2024). "DePasquale and Sunday square off in first Pennsylvania attorney general debate". Pennsylvania-Capital Star. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  40. ↑ "Republican Dave Sunday wins attorney general race in Pennsylvania, beating Eugene DePasquale". November 7, 2024.
  41. ↑ Cole, John (August 25, 2025). "Sen. Sharif Street to step down as Pa. Democratic Party chairman". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  42. ↑ Terruso, Julia (September 1, 2025). "Eugene DePasquale lost his statewide race last year but says he has a plan for helping Democrats win again as party chair". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  43. ↑ White, Jaxon (September 6, 2025). "Pa. Dems elect former Auditor General Eugene DePasquale as new party chair". WIFT. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Eugene DePasquale's Biography". Vote Smart . Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  45. ↑ "2012 General Election - Auditor General". Pennsylvania Department of State. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  46. ↑ "PA Election Returns, 2016 Presidential Election". December 10, 2018.
  47. ↑ "Pennsylvania House Results". CNN. March 6, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Auditor General of Pennsylvania
2012, 2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Pennsylvania
2024 		Most recent
Preceded by Chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party
2025–present		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Auditor General of Pennsylvania
2013–2021		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.