Most Contentious Montco Primary Election In Years Taking Shape In 2023

NORRISTOWN, PA — The 2023 primary elections are just weeks away in Pennsylvania, and it at least one Montgomery County race, the primary is shaping up to be a more compelling race than the general.

The May 16 primary could bring big changes to the board of commissioners, as longtime Democrat Ken Lawrence Jr. is resigning at year's end. The appointed replacement for longtime chair Val Arkoosh, Jamile Winder, is facing primary challengers, and incumbent Republican Joe Gale will again face down his party's establishment.

Gale has long maintained that his allegiance to President Donald Trump and his unflinching stance on certain keystone policies has alienated him from an establishment GOP which he views as indistinguishable from Democrats.

"As conservatives, we believe in responsible budgeting and spending. As such, we expect our Republican elected officials to uphold these same basic principles," Gale said recently. "Unfortunately, we too often see the complete opposite from politicians in both parties. The result is an endless cycle of higher taxes to subsidize bloated bureaucracy at all levels."

The Montgomery County Republican Committee has endorsed two other candidates, Limerick Township Supervisor Tom DiBello and Upper Dublin Commissioner Liz Ferry. Gale said both voted for tax raises and labeled them "RINOS," a MAGA slur of sorts for "Republican In Name Only."

The Republican Committee, meanwhile, has sought to smear Gale as "No Show Joe" who doesn't follow through on committments to his stated ideals, and claimed recently that he "spends most of his time attacking fellow Republicans."

The Democratic campaign, thus far, has lacked that vitriol. A good part of the reason for that could be because there'e more room: the three person board, which must always include two members of the majority party and one member of the minority party, is heavily favored to lean Democrat. That means that Winder could be re-elected, and one of the other four Democrats will join her in the second open seat.

County prothonotary Noah Marlier, lawyer and Penn professor of politics Neil Makhija, Whitpain Supervisor Kimberly Koch, and Montgomery Township Supervisor Tanya Banford round out the Democratic ballot.

In the primary, registered Democrats and Republicans can vote for two commissioners within their party. November's general election will then whittle that down to three winners.