Article Summary –
Eugene DePasquale’s run for Pennsylvania attorney general is motivated by personal experiences with addiction in his family and aims to support addiction treatment and prevention programs using opioid settlement funds. He prioritizes protecting democracy, ensuring voter rights, and defending Pennsylvania’s election integrity against right-wing attacks, alongside advocating for abortion access and LGBTQ+ rights, including prosecuting hate crimes and preventing school bullying. If elected, he plans to ensure reproductive freedoms and address the influx of out-of-state residents seeking abortion services in Pennsylvania.
It’s challenging for Eugene DePasquale, the Democrat running for Pennsylvania attorney general, to specify when he decided to pursue public service. However, his father’s addiction battle significantly influenced his decision.
After being shot in Vietnam, DePasquale’s father struggled with painkiller addiction for decades. This led to a 10-and-a-half-year prison sentence for drug dealing when DePasquale was in his early 20s. While DePasquale was in law school, his 20-year-old brother died of muscular dystrophy, and their father attended the funeral in shackles.
Now, DePasquale aims to become attorney general in November’s election and support those battling addiction in Pennsylvania.
“I’ve seen both sides of the criminal justice system,” DePasquale said during a campaign break in Gettysburg on July 23. “The war on drugs has failed; we need to focus on addiction.”
A Pittsburgh native, DePasquale has served in the state House, as state auditor general, and now teaches law at the University of Pittsburgh. He faces Republican Dave Sunday for the attorney general position. Current Attorney General Michelle Henry is not running for reelection after being appointed to complete Josh Shapiro’s term.
As attorney general, Shapiro secured over $10 billion in opioid settlements. DePasquale intends to ensure these funds go to treatment and prevention programs.
“We have a historic opportunity with the opioid settlement funds to combat the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania,” DePasquale said.
Fighting right-wing attacks on democracy
DePasquale prioritizes protecting democracy. In 2024, if there are attempts similar to those by Trump and Republicans to overturn election results as in 2020, DePasquale’s role would be to counter such efforts.
“Voters should choose their leaders, not lawyers,” DePasquale said.
Pennsylvania Republicans have tried to disqualify ballots in this swing state essential for presidential elections. Trump and Republican leaders filed lawsuits challenging mail-in ballot counting in 2020, which the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear.
Earlier this year, 27 right-wing lawmakers attempted to restrict voting access by filing a lawsuit against Gov. Shapiro over an automatic voter registration program. A federal judge dismissed the suit in March.
As the election approaches, Trump and Republicans have spread lies about Pennsylvania’s election integrity, which experts warn could incite violence.
Biden defeated Trump in Pennsylvania in 2020 by 80,555 votes.
Abortion access
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022 returned abortion regulation to states. In Pennsylvania, abortion is legal through the 23rd week. DePasquale vows to defend abortion rights.
“I will defend reproductive freedom for Pennsylvania women and those from states with restrictive laws,” he said.
“State law allows me to quash subpoenas from other states’ attorneys general, protect women’s private health data, and ensure their freedoms are protected in Pennsylvania.”
With abortion bans in other states, more people are seeking care in Pennsylvania. In 2022, out-of-state abortions in Pennsylvania increased by nearly 41% over the previous year, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health data.
Protecting LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians
If elected, DePasquale pledges to prosecute hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals and collaborate with schools to combat bullying.
“Bullying in schools will not be tolerated,” he said. “I will ensure schools understand that bullying is unacceptable.”
“Every child has the right to learn without being bullied,” DePasquale emphasized.
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