State Rep. Patty Kim wins 103rd Democratic primary by 3:1 margin

(Harrisburg) — State Representative Patty Kim won the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania’s 103rd District with more than three times as many votes as her challenger Gina Roberson.

Preliminary results from the Dauphin County Board of Elections showed 4,251 votes for Kim, and 1,147 for Roberson.

\With an empty Republican field, this means a second term for Kim.

Although she’s facing an uncontested general election and admits being pleasantly surprised by her strong showing Tuesday night, Kim says she’s going to do her job a differently as a result of voter feedback and criticism from Roberson during the campaign.

“I am going to try more to be out there in the community,” Kim said. “People are saying that they would like to see more of me, and … I’m happy to do that. That’s part of my job.”

Kim says she understands that her constituents might not always see how they’re affected by the legislation that dominates her time.

But she believes she’s built a strong foundation during the past two years and doesn’t intend to back off her efforts at the Capitol.

Kim says a highlight during her freshman term was the state’s record-high $5 million public safety reimbursement to the City of Harrisburg. That was critical component to the plan resolving $600 million in local public debt last year.

She also notes her minimum wage bill, which she intends to keep pushing.

Kim, who departed a year early from her first term on Harrisburg City Council to start serving in the state legislature, celebrated Tuesday night at Café 1500 with current City Council members, her parents, campaign staff and other supporters.

Roberson, who works for the city’s Department of Building & Housing, watched results come in from Harrisburg Hospital.

She says she’s been undergoing tests there since Friday, when she checked herself in after what she described as several days of extreme fatigue and shortness of breath – symptoms she believes are unrelated to the campaign.

In addition to Harrisburg, the 103rd district includes Steelton, Highspire and parts of Swatara Township.

Democrats have held the seat since 1974.