HARRISBURG, Pa. — The most talked about races in the world of politics are often the presidency, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives races, but it's the people making decisions at the state and local levels who often have more of a direct impact on everyday lives in Pennsylvania.
The primary race for Pennsylvania's auditor general will have an impact in November and will go a long way to deciding who will check on the state's money.
The auditor general is described as the state's chief fiscal watchdog.
"What the auditor general, among other things, is tasked with doing is to come in and perform periodic audits of agencies and make sure there are internal controls in place and effect monitor whether they are spending the people's money in a way that's responsible," explained John E. Jones, a former federal judge.
When the state collects taxes and decides to spend on a new building or program, it's the auditor general's job to make sure tax dollars are ending up where they're intended to be.
The auditor general is required to review much of the state's spending and report back to lawmakers and the public on whether it was spent properly.
Three candidates are running for the position this year.
On the Republican side, incumbent Timothy DeFoor is looking to return for another term as auditor general after previously serving as Dauphin County controller. The Harrisburg resident took office in 2020.
On the Democratic side, State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta is running for auditor general after an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate two years ago. He became the first LGBTQ person of color ever elected to the state general assembly when he took office in 2018.
Kenyatta will face off against Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley in the primary. He formally served as a township supervisor.
DeFoor is essentially a lock to move on to the general election, while Kenyatta and Pinsley will duke it out in April for the chance to run against him in the fall.