Dave Sunday, the current York County District Attorney, has announced his candidacy for Pennsylvania Attorney General in the upcoming Republican primary. This makes him the first Republican to enter the race, joining three Democratic contenders vying for the position.
Sunday has served as York’s District Attorney since 2018, having started in the office in 2009. His tenure included a period as chief deputy prosecutor, where he oversaw major crimes and the felony narcotics unit. He also served as a special assistant U.S. Attorney, prosecuting gang, gun, and drug cases at the federal level, notably contributing to the arrest and prosecution of over 100 individuals linked to the Latin Kings gang in York County.
A key focus of Sunday's work has been combating the opioid epidemic. He co-founded the York County Opioid Collaborative, a non-profit organization working to improve access to treatment. He credits the collaborative's work with reducing criminal charges, lowering the prison population, and enabling law enforcement to concentrate on violent crime.
Sunday describes the opioid crisis as a "generation-altering epidemic" and considers the fight against it one of his most significant life experiences. His background includes military service in the Navy, followed by a finance degree from Penn State while working for UPS. He later earned a law degree from Widener Law School. He believes his diverse experiences have shaped his criminal justice policy perspectives.
The Democratic candidates in the race include Keir Bradford-Grey, former head of Philadelphia’s public defenders; Eugene DePasquale, former state auditor general; and Joe Khan, a former federal prosecutor. State Rep. Jared Solomon is also considering entering the race.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office operates with an annual budget of approximately $120 million and plays a vital role in various areas, including drug trafficking interdiction, combating gun trafficking, defending state laws, and consumer protection. The office has been involved in opioid crisis settlement negotiations with pharmaceutical companies and played a key role in defending the 2020 election results in Pennsylvania.
The current Attorney General, Michelle Henry, was appointed by her predecessor, Josh Shapiro, after he became governor. Henry has indicated she will not run for the position.
