Pennsylvania voters will choose a new Attorney general in November, but Democrats and Republicans must first select their candidates on April 23rd.
Michelle Henry, the interim Attorney General, is not running to retain the position she inherited from Governor Shapiro when he ran for governor.
Democrats Keir Bradford-Grey, Eugene DePasquale, Joe Khan, Jack Stollsteimer, and Jared Solomon are vying for their party’s nomination. On the Republican side, Dave Sunday and Craig Williams are competing.
The Attorney General is responsible for representing the interests of the state and the public, as well as defending Pennsylvania laws in court. In recent years, the office has defended the results of presidential elections, as it did in 2020 against numerous attempts to overturn them.
State Representative Jared Solomon is running as a Democratic candidate for Attorney General, marking the sole member of the General Assembly in this race.
A familiar face to Latino voters, Solomon has represented District 202 in the State House since 2017. This district encompasses parts of Northeast Philadelphia, a region with a large immigrant population.
After working at a Philadelphia law firm, he joined the Army Reserves as a judge advocate general (JAG) officer and remains active as a Pennsylvania National Guard defense attorney.
As Attorney General, his priorities include combating gun violence and fighting corruption and apathy, demonstrating that, as he has done in his jurisdiction, transformative changes that restore trust in politicians are possible.
Solomon facilitated state funding for the nonprofit organization People Acting To Help, which works with the Philadelphia police to provide diversion services, and for the Gun Violence Task Force; the latter is a collaborative effort between the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office that provides additional resources to investigate firearm-related crimes.
Solomon voted against legislation that created Act 40 and does not believe a special prosecutor will solve violence on SEPTA. He has repeatedly voted in favor of more funding for public transportation, including the recent increase in the state sales tax allocation that will provide around $300 million to public transit systems statewide.
In Harrisburg, he helped fund a new police precinct within his district and brought in a mental health provider.
Solomon emerges as a transformative leader seeking to extend accomplishments in his jurisdiction, with a compelling vision grounded in diversity, justice, and community engagement.
During a recent interview, Solomon described his vision for the state, blending personal anecdotes, professional experience, and core values, painting a vivid picture of leadership and dedication.
In the heart of Northeast Philadelphia, Solomon’s district brims with diversity. Reflecting on his community’s changing demographics, he noted its evolving mosaic. From a burgeoning Brazilian community to growing Chinese and Indian American populations, Solomon’s district embodies multiculturalism. He envisions Northeast Philadelphia as not just a microcosm of diversity but also a model for the entire Commonwealth, where inclusivity thrives, and every voice is heard.
As a former securities and antitrust lawyer, Solomon brings a wealth of experience in navigating complex legal landscapes and advocating for the rights of the marginalized. «The model that I’ve developed in Northeast Philadelphia of creating a safer, thriving neighborhood and taking on special interests,» he explained, «has shown time and time again that with determination and resilience, positive change is possible.»
The upcoming presidential election casts a long shadow over Pennsylvania, with Solomon warning of the impending threats to fundamental rights and freedoms. «Our rights are at stake,» he cautioned, highlighting the need for a steadfast defender against the onslaught of attacks targeting immigrant and New American communities. As the Republican presidential nominee sets his sights on the Commonwealth, Solomon positions himself as a «seasoned fighter with the values and work ethic to push Trump and special interests out of Pennsylvania and protect our values.»
Addressing concerns about voter fraud, Solomon emphasized the importance of distinguishing between genuine threats and «scare tactics.» Drawing on his experience in the state legislature, he debunked claims of widespread undocumented voting, pledging to prioritize real issues such as voter intimidation and suppression. «As your next Attorney General,» he declared, «I’ll ensure that every Pennsylvanian can exercise their right to vote without fear or discrimination.»
Solomon advocates for comprehensive gun violence reforms, including banning assault weapons and expanding mental health services. He proposes addressing root causes through enforcement, socioeconomic measures, and community protection, envisioning a safer Commonwealth.
At the heart of Solomon’s candidacy lies a deep sense of social responsibility rooted in his Jewish faith. «My faith teaches me the importance of giving back and healing the world,» he reflected, underscoring his commitment to compassion and empathy in public service. Through initiatives like the northeast services hub, which provides essential resources to new immigrants, Solomon aims to create a more inclusive and equitable society, one where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
GUN CRIME
Jared believes that to address the immediate threat of gun violence, we don’t need fewer police — we need a different type of policing. As Attorney General, Jared would support investment in training and a return of policing in our cities to pre-pandemic engagement with communities so that officers have sectional integrity in all they do and get to know the schools, churches, and businesses within their sector. Each officer needs to build connections within the community they are policing, helping with investigative work and doing preventive policing instead of reactive policing.
Similarly, we must rebrand what it means to be a member of the police force in Pennsylvania with a massive public-service campaign that calls for the best and brightest of this generation to uplift our communities from within our communities. This campaign must resonate with this new generation of young people and should include incentive sign-on pay to attract the best candidates.
As Attorney General, Jared would work to bolster investment in gun crime preventative justice tools that have already shown promise, including gun-violence intervention initiatives- turning blighted properties into community parks, lighting, home repairs, and greening up gun-violence-plagued blocks; and investing in the gun-violence task-force model in which prosecutors and field agents supplement local law enforcement to combat firearm crimes.
As the chief law enforcement officer in Pennsylvania, Jared would work with the legislature to finally bring commonsense gun reforms to Pennsylvania, including stronger red-flag laws, a ban on assault weapons, expanded background checks, and shutting the ghost gun loophole. Jared will take on the gun lobby, reckless gun retailers, and ghost gun manufacturers.
VOTING RIGHTS
The right to vote is the fundamental right from which all other rights flow. That’s why, as Attorney General, Jared will work tirelessly to ensure that all Pennsylvanians can exercise their Constitutional right to the ballot box in free and fair elections.
Jared will prosecute anyone who tries to illegally interfere with Pennsylvania’s elections, be it through voter intimidation or other efforts to disenfranchise voters. Jared is not afraid to prosecute public officials for illegal election activities.
Under Jared’s leadership, the Office of the Attorney General will work to ensure voters continue to have the ability to safely and reliably vote by mail, and Jared will provide legal guidance to voters on potential voting issues ahead of each election.
As a member of the military himself, Jared will ensure that members of the military who are outside of Pennsylvania on election day can use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot to both apply for an absentee ballot and to cast their vote.
