Pennsylvania Pirate Party Captain Drew Bingaman has suspended his campaign for the Democratic nomination in the 108th House District after failing to collect enough signatures to qualify for the state ballot.
Bingaman, who previously served as captain of the Pirate National Committee in addition to his current state leadership, launched his primary bid last October on a platform advocating for more open government and greater individual liberty. Although he sought the Democratic nomination, his campaign received the formal endorsement of the Pirate National Committee in January, which praised him as a fighter for the Pirate cause.
Bingaman announced his departure in a statement before the PNC at its most recent meeting, which later reshared it on its national website. In the statement, Bingaman said that his campaign fell short of the petitioning threshold required to qualify for the primary ballot, which he does not anticipate being able to meet.
“Despite our best efforts, we were unable to collect the required number of petition signatures by the March 10 deadline,” Bingaman wrote. “A combination of weather challenges and volunteer availability made it clear that achieving ballot access was not viable in this timeframe.”
To qualify for the primary ballot, Bingaman would have needed to collect 300 valid signatures from registered Democrats in the district and pay a $100 filing fee. The Democratic primary for Pennsylvania’s 108th House District will take place on May 19.
Bingaman thanked his supporters, adding that the decision to suspend his campaign was not an easy one. He said the issues he campaigned on remain immediate priorities for both himself and the district, specifically mentioning police accountability, cannabis legalization, and digital privacy rights. “These aren’t partisan talking points,” Bingaman said, “they’re principles worth fighting for.”
The national Pirate Party, in remarks of its own, similarly thanked Bingaman for running what it called a “campaign based on people power.” The party said it would continue to follow him and looks forward to his next steps.
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