Eugene DePasquale


Eugene Anthony DePasquale is an American Democratic politician who is serving as the Pennsylvania Auditor General. From 2007 to 2013, he served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the York County-based 95th district.

Early life and education

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, DePasquale graduated from Central Catholic High School and received a bachelor's degree from the College of Wooster. He later earned an M.P.A. from the University of Pittsburgh and a J.D. from Widener University Commonwealth Law School.
DePasquale is the grandson of Eugene "Jeep" DePasquale, who served in the Pittsburgh City Council between 1971 and 1989.

Early career

DePasquale moved to York in 1997. He served as director of economic development for the City of York from January 2002 – September 2003.
From 2003 to 2006, DePasquale served as deputy secretary for community revitalization and local government support of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Political career

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

When incumbent state representative Steve Stetler resigned from his seat and withdrew from the ballot during the 2006 elections, DePasquale announced his intent to replace him. The York County Democratic Party selected him as their replacement nominee in August, and he defeated Republican nominee Karen Emenheiser 58.3% to 41.7%. His legislative district included all of the city of York, Spring Garden Township, part of West Manchester Township, and the boroughs of North York and West York.
DePasquale was re-elected in 2008, defeating Republican candidate Lon Emenheiser 75.1% to 24.9%. In 2010, DePasquale was unopposed both in his primary and general re-election.

Pennsylvania Auditor General

2012 campaign

In April 2011, DePasquale announced that he would be running for State Auditor General in 2012 to succeed incumbent Jack Wagner, who was term-limited. DePasquale made Marcellus Shale drilling a central issue of his campaign, and promised to order an immediate performance audit of the Department of Environmental Protection to ensure the state's water supply had not been compromised by drilling. He defeated Republican state representative John Maher in the fall general election. Both Maher and DePasquale were concurrently re-elected unopposed to their seats in the state house.
DePasquale resigned his seat in the state house on January 15, 2013, and was sworn-in as auditor general later that day. He became the first person from York County to assume statewide elected office since George Leader was elected governor in 1954. DePasquale launched an audit of the Department of Environmental Protection's water programs related to the development of the state's shale gas reserves. Results of that audit showed DEP was unprepared to effectively administer laws and regulations to protect drinking water and unable to efficiently respond to citizen complaints.

2016 campaign

In the 2016 election, DePasquale was reelected auditor general with 50.0% of the votes, defeating Republican John Brown.

U.S. House of Representatives

2020 campaign

Term-limited from running again as Auditor General, DePasquale announced in June 2019 his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives to represent Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district. He won the Democratic nomination on June 3rd, 2020.

Electoral history