Republican Jumps Into AG’s Race

The first official challenger to Attorney General Kathleen Kane has emerged.

State Senator John Rafferty is expected to announce his candidacy this week. The Republican has represented parts of Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties in Harrisburg since 2003.

“Together we are going to win big in 2015 to clean up our state’s courts and next year we will work to clean up the Attorney General’s office,” Rafferty told supporters in a letter obtained by PoliticsPA.

Rafferty is the first candidate to emerge, and the first Republican. The question is whether Kane — a Democrat beset by scandals, and who is still under threat of indictment for leaking grand jury information — will receive a primary challenge. Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro is said to be considering such a race.