Judge’s decision on Pa. district lines leaves candidates scrambling

A federal judge’s decision not to toss out the 2001 Pennsylvania House and Senate district lines has Republican lawmakers weighing their legal options.

For candidates themselves, it amounts to a prolonged waiting game.

Don O’Shell planned to run in the 15th state Senate District in central Pennsylvania, but can’t do so under the 2001 lines, because he lives outside the current district boundaries.

After all the turmoil, he still says he’s not sorry he threw his hat in the ring.

“I’m not the least bit sorry. I would’ve ordered less tablets and other campaign literature, had I known this was kind of in the cards,” he said. “But no, I’m not sorry.”

For now, O’Shell says he’s still collecting signatures for his nominating petitions, which he’s not sure are even valid.

Top GOP lawmakers filed suits to try to avoid using the 2001 lines.

Now, to avoid using them, they may have to delay the primary in order to finalize a new redistricting map.