All eyes are on Pennsylvania’s high-stakes gubernatorial race, which could ultimately decide the fate of abortion rights in the state.

State of play: The Supreme Court’s draft opinion signaling a potential reversal of Roe v. Wade was leaked just two weeks before the May 17 primary election in the state.

• Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, who has stymied the Republican-dominated legislature on several issues, has a limited term. His successor will ultimately determine the political dynamics at the state level.

Let’s break it down the candidates :

Democrats

It’s just Josh Shapiro.

• The Attorney General of Pennsylvania since 2017 is not a novice in the political world. He won a seat in the state House of Representatives in 2004 and was reelected several times. Shapiro also served as Montgomery County Commissioner.
• His main win as the state’s top cop was investigate child abuse by clergy in the Catholic dioceses of Pennsylvania.

Republicans

State Senator Doug Mastriano, a US Army veteran, is relatively new to politics, securing his first elected seat in 2019.

• He is considered one of the more conservative candidates in the race, known for opposing pandemic restrictions and promoting baseless allegations of voter fraud in 2020.

Former representative Lou Barletta had a long political career, including about eight years in the United States House of Representatives. He also served on Hazleton City Council before becoming the town’s mayor, and he lost a bid for the US Senate in 2018.

Bill McSwain, who served in the Marine Corps, is a former US attorney from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, appointed by Trump.

Melissa Hart, the only woman in the running, returns to the world of politics after a 14-year hiatus as a lawyer.

Jake Corman is the highest ranking officer of the State Senate, serving for more than 20 years. He briefly dropped out of the race in April, but changed his mind after saying Trump called him to convince him otherwise.

Joe Gale has been a member of the board of commissioners for the majority Democratic county of Montgomery since 2016. His brother, Sean, is a candidate for the United States Senate.

Charlie Gerow is a longtime conservative strategist who worked on Ronald Reagan’s campaign.

David White is a former Delaware County Council member with union ties. He started his own small HVAC business and is building on his blue-collar roots.

Nche Zama, a cardiothoracic surgeon from Monroe County, is a relative newcomer to politics. He immigrated from Cameroon when he was a teenager and recounts his experience sets it apart from its competitors.