Osei, a lifelong Towamencin resident, enters race for State Senate seat in key suburban district, currently held by Republican Tracy Pennycuick
Towamencin Township Democratic Supervisor and longtime grassroots organizer Kofi Osei has formally declared his candidacy for State Senate in Pennsylvania’s 24th District — the seat currently held by Republican Tracy Pennycuick, a U.S. Army veteran.
The announcement sets the stage for what could become a competitive race in a district that spans parts of Montgomery and Berks counties.
Osei, a lifelong resident of Towamencin, casts his run as an effort to bring “community-driven leadership to Harrisburg.”
In a campaign statement, he emphasized his record of fighting — and winning — for his community at the local level. According to his biography, he currently serves as Secretary and At-Large Supervisor on the Towamencin Township Board of Supervisors, with his term extending through 2029.
Pennycuick's term ends at the end of 2026. Each senator serves a term of four years.
Pennycuick has not made an official re-election announcement. Osei would be on the Ballot in the Primary and General Election next year.
From sewer privatization fight to home rule charter to State Senate bid
Osei, who has a background in actuarial analysis in the health insurance industry and a degree in computational and applied mathematics from West Chester, first gained countywide attention in 2022 when he was elected to Towamencin’s Government Study Commission. As a central leader in the successful effort to rewrite the township’s charter, he helped pass two historic ballot questions that adopted a new home-rule charter — the first such charter in Montgomery County since 1986.
Proponents argued that the reform empowered the community to block a proposed privatization of the township’s sewer system, potentially saving residents millions of dollars a year. Osei’s work with the grassroots group Towamencin NOPE (Neighbors Opposing Privatization Efforts) continues, and he has stated publicly that he travels across Pennsylvania to assist other communities facing similar privatization pressures.
In 2023, Osei, who has been involved with the Buxmont branch of the Democratic Socialists of America, ran for an at-large seat on the Towamencin Board of Supervisors against Republican incumbent Rich Marino. That race ended in an unusual tie, and — as per legal requirements — the winner was determined by a drawing of lots.
Osei, whose family has been in the township for nearly three decades, prevailed, making local history.
“Despite facing challenges from Trump-aligned attorneys attempting to remove him from office, he successfully defended his seat and immediately focused on delivering tangible results for residents,” states his campaign website.
Among his achievements: championing long-term capital planning to stabilize taxes, expanding open-space protections, and passing a long-delayed backyard-chicken ordinance that had been stalled for seven years.
He also publicly condemned hate and extremist organizations, declaring that “Nazis have no place in our community.”
The 24th District: A Republican seat, but one with changing dynamics
The 24th Senate District covers a swath of Montgomery and Berks counties, including populous townships such as Towamencin — Osei’s home base.
Since 2023, the seat has been held by Pennycuick, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and helicopter pilot who previously served in the state House. Pennycuick was elected to the Senate in 2022, succeeding longtime Republican Senator Bob Mensch.
Pennycuick’s background is steeped in military and veterans-affairs work. According to her official biography, she served in the U.S. Army for 26 years, including active and reserve service, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In the Senate, she chairs the Communications & Technology Committee and serves as vice chair of the Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee — roles aligned with her military and service-oriented past.
That pedigree — plus the district’s recent history of electing Republicans — gives Pennycuick some structural advantage. But Osei’s entry introduces a compelling challenger with deep local roots, a track record of grassroots mobilization, and a campaign message centered on community control, affordability, and opposition to privatization.
State Senatorial District 24 comprises the following municipalities in Montgomery County: North Wales Borough, Upper Gwynedd Township, Towamencin Township, Lower Salford Township, Upper Salford Township, Skippack Township, Collegeville Borough, Trappe Borough, Perkiomen Township, Limerick Township, Lower Pottsgrove Township, Pottstown Borough, Upper Pottsgrove Township, Douglass Township, New Hanover Township, Upper Frederick Township, Lower Frederick Township, Schwenksville Borough, Green Lane Borough, Marlborough Township, Red Hill Borough, Pennsburg Borough, East Greenville Borough, and Upper Hanover Township.
In Berks County, the District comprises West Pottsgrove Township, Amity Township, Douglass Township, Earl Township, Colebrookdale Township, Boyertown Borough, Bechtelsville Borough, Washington Township, Bally Borough, Hereford Township, District Township, Pike Township, Rockland Township, Longswamp Township, and Topton Borough.
According to Ballotpedia, Pennycuick makes $110,015.54/year ($198/day).
Pennycuick defeated Democrat Jill Dennin in the general election in November 2022, 62,893 votes to Dennin's 58,053.
In the 2018 General Election, Mensch defeated Democrat Linda Fields with 54,586 votes to Fields' 49,558.
The last sitting elected municipal official to run against an incumbent Republican in the district was former Lansdale Councilman Jack Hansen in the 2014 General Election, where he was defeated by Mensch, 41,885 votes to 28,041 votes.
In 2010, Mensch won his first term, getting 60% of votes in the district and beating Democrat Bill Wallace.
Osei’s platform: Community control, transparency, local investment, and socially-aware governance
In announcing his bid, Osei emphasized that his candidacy is grounded on his record of persistence, transparency, and results. His priorities include protecting public ownership of utilities and water/sewer infrastructure, advocating for affordable housing solutions in light of what the campaign cites as a statewide shortage of 100,000 housing units, and supporting expanded public transit funding — notably urging for restored and increased funding for SEPTA amid state budget pressures.
On local governance, Osei promises to bring his brand of “citizen-led government” to Harrisburg: a focus on open-space protections, long-term planning, equitable growth, and policies shaped by community input rather than private-sector deals.
He has stated publicly that running for State Senate will not mean abandoning Towamencin: “Just because I am running for State Senate does not mean I will spend less time on Towamencin. I am still excited to get some good work done with the new incoming majority.”
What’s at stake — and what this race could tell us
Osei’s candidacy could transform the 24th District race into one of Pennsylvania’s most-watched suburban legislative contests. Given his strong local roots in Towamencin (one of the district’s more populous municipalities), his history of grassroots activism, and his focus on issues like privatization and affordable housing — there is potential to mobilize voters who might feel underrepresented under the status quo.
For Pennycuick, the race offers a test of whether her military credentials, incumbency and existing committee influence can withstand a grassroots challenge with strong local resonance.
If Osei prevails, the shift would mark not only a party flip for the seat, but possibly a broader message about the evolving priorities in Montgomery–Berks suburban communities: a preference for public control, transparency, and local agency over privatization and traditional party politics.
