Primary Election Results: Montco Board Of Commissioners Changing Shape

10 p.m. Results are in, and the fields are set for the 2023 general election, which will feature an incumbent and a trio of newcomers.

Republican Joe Gale’s anti-establishment run was soundly defeated by the county GOP’s two picks: Limerick Township Supervisor Tom DiBello and Upper Dublin Commissioner Liz Ferry.

DiBello had 31,006 votes, Ferry 28,657, and Gale 21,076.

For the Democrats, Winder won easily with 54,744 votes, followed by Makhija’s 38,358.

8:30 p.m. No early returns are available yet in Montgomery County.

8 p.m.: Results are now trickling across the state in as polls closed at 8 p.m. Check back to Patch for more information as the night continues.

NORRISTOWN, PA — Not in eight years has it seemed possible that the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners could completely turn over its three members, but the 2023 primary is offering just that opportunity.

Winds of change came with Gov. Josh Shapiro's appointment of former chair Val Arkoosh to secretary of the state Department of Human Services. Arkoosh was replaced by a temporary appointment for 2023, Jamila Winder, the former chair of the East Norriton Township Board of Supervisors.

And shortly thereafter, the board's other long-serving Democrat, Ken Lawrence, announced his retirement.

Winder is running for re-election, and she has Lawrence's endorsement, but there are no guarentees. County prothonotary Noah Marlier, lawyer and Penn professor of politics Neil Makhija, Whitpain Supervisor Kimberly Koch, and Montgomery Township Supervisor Tanya Banford are all on the Democratic ballot, and only two can advance to the general election.

Meanwhile on the Republican side, incumbent Joe Gale once again faces stiff competition from within his own party, as the county GOP has endorsed two other candidates, Limerick Township Supervisor Tom DiBello and Upper Dublin Commissioner Liz Ferry to replace him.

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 primary will have two winners from each party. In the general election in November, voters will choose three Board members, with two coming from one party and one from another party. The Board has consisted of two Democrats and one Republican for years, and that trend is all but guaranteed to continue in one of the most liberal counties in the state.