Tom Wolf wins democratic nomination for Pa. governor [Updated]

• Katie Colaneri
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  Katie Colaneri is a reporter for StateImpact Pennsylvania and WHYY in Philadelphia covering energy and the environment. Before joining StateImpact, Katie worked as an investigative and enterprise reporter at WBGO in Newark, New Jersey. She covered some of New Jersey's biggest stories including the devastation and aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, as well as the day-to-day triumphs and struggles to revitalize state's largest city. A native of New Jersey with roots in South Central Pennsylvania, Katie holds a bachelor's degree from Wellesley College.

York businessman Tom Wolf won the democratic nomination for Pennsylvania governor, handily defeating three opponents in Tuesday’s primary election.
Wolf received about 58 percent of the vote, according to the Associated Press – a major lead over his opponents: Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, State Treasurer Rob McCord and former Department of Environmental Protection secretary Katie McGinty.
Wolf spoke to his supporters at Santander Field, home of York’s minor league baseball team, calling himself the “luckiest person on the face of the Earth,” StateImpact Pennsylvania partner WITF in Harrisburg reports:

“As Democrats, we can show a better future. We can show a future where we’re not hollowing out our schools, we’re actually investing in education,” said Wolf. “Yes, investing in education — how about that for a change?”
Wolf said he’ll also emphasize the need to create jobs, steward natural resources, and forge a fairer tax code.

“This can’t be a place that actually does good things for you if you have the right connections, if you live in the right place, if you look the right way,” Wolf said. “This has to be a place that is open and fair for everybody.”
The road to Wolf’s 58 percent was paved with wealth. He pumped millions of his own money into his campaign, and launched an expansive television ad campaign (in which his Jeep figured prominently) to boost his profile in a field of candidates with greater name recognition. The gambit worked, securing Wolf a lead his opponents couldn’t erode — despite their greater name recognition at the start of the race and increasingly personal attacks as the campaign wore on.

All three of Wolf’s opponents congratulated him and vowed their support as he tries to unseat incumbent Republican Governor Tom Corbett in the general election on November 4.
You can watch StateImpact Pennsylvania’s interview with Wolf on natural gas development, climate change and other energy and environmental issues here.  
Corbett, who ran unopposed in Tuesday’s primary, accepted the Republican party’s nomination at a reception in Pittsburgh. More from WITF:

“We have passed three balanced budgets on time, and we haven’t raised taxes — in fact, we’ve scaled back the tax burdens on tax payers,” said Corbett. “When I look at those facts, I know our campaign has the winning case.”

The governor will kick off his first day on the road to November’s general election with an energy event in Canonsburg, Washington County. He is expected to appear with the Republican governor of Texas, Rick Perry.
You can watch StateImpact Pennsylvania’s interview with Corbett on natural gas development, climate change and other energy and environmental issues here. 

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