Republican Dave Sunday defeats Democrat Eugene DePasquale in race for Pa. attorney general

Republican Dave Sunday has defeated Democrat Eugene DePasquale in the race to become Pennsylvania’s highest ranking law enforcement official.

The Associated Press called the race Wednesday morning.

He will succeed Democratic Attorney General Michelle Henry, who was selected by Gov. Josh Shapiro when he assumed office in 2022 to finish out his second term.

She decided not to run to retain the office — making way for a crowded primary. Sunday vanquished state Rep. Craig Williams in the GOP primary.

Sunday, York County’s district attorney, grew up in central Pennsylvania. He joined the Navy at 18. When he returned home, he attended Penn State Harrisburg and received a degree in finance.

Sunday then attended Widener Law School. During his eight years in college and law school, he worked as a corporate analyst at UPS.

After law school, he worked as a law clerk in the York County Court of Common Pleas. In 2014, Sunday helped create the York County Heroin Task Force, now known as the York Opioid Collaborative. He was later elected district attorney in 2018.

Sunday was also appointed as a special assistant U.S. attorney for Pennsylvania’s federal court to help prosecute gang cases.

His campaign for attorney general focused on addressing the opioid crisis and public safety. He previously told WHYY News that his philosophy is “accountability and redemption.”