DeFoor wins reelection as Pennsylvania auditor general

Auditor General Tim DeFoor (campaign photo)

Incumbent Republican Auditor General Timothy DeFoor won reelection to a second term as Pennsylvania's fiscal watchdog, defeating Democratic challenger Malcolm Kenyatta 51.4% to 45.6% according to unofficial election results . The Associated Press called the race at about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday.

As one of the state's three elected row offices, the auditor general's office comes with a bully pulpit of sorts in choosing which policies and programs to scrutinize.

DeFoor, elected auditor general in 2020, faced a reelection challenge from Kenyatta, who became the first openly gay person of color elected to state office in 2018. Among the most vocally progressive members of the House Democratic Caucus, Kenyatta, of Philadelphia, emerged on the statewide political stage with an unsuccessful bid to be the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 2022.

DeFoor is a Harrisburg native and served as an investigator for the Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General seeking out fraud, waste and abuse in state government. He then worked as a special agent for the state Office of the Attorney General investigating Medicaid fraud and illegal prescription drug diversion. He also worked as a fraud investigator for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and for several federal agencies. He was elected Dauphin County controller in 2015.

In his reelection campaign, DeFoor stood behind his background as a professional fraud investigator and auditor, noting that he has only held two elected offices, both centered around financial accountability. In a second term, DeFoor said he would continue to focus on risk and vulnerability in state government, expanding the office's capabilities to conduct health care and forensic audits.