February 13, 2024
Dan Rainville/USA TODAY NETWORK
Sean Dougherty, the nephew of convicted union leader John Dougherty, wants to run for the Pennsylvania House seat occupied by state Rep. Kevin Boyle, who is facing scrutiny for an outburst at a Montgomery County bar last week.
UPDATE 02/14/24: Sean Dougherty received the necessary signatures and submitted a nomination petition, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State.
Sean Dougherty, the nephew of former union leader John Dougherty, is preparing to make a run for the seat in Pennsylvania's House of Representatives, challenging Rep. Kevin Boyle, recently the subject of a drunken rant at a bar that was caught on video.
Dougherty began collecting signatures Saturday to get on the Democratic primary ballot in the 172nd District, the Inquirer first reported. Boyle, also a Democrat, faces scrutiny for his intoxicated behavior at a Montgomery County bar last week. Video of the incident shows the politician yelling and cursing at patrons and the bars staff. He also threatened to hit female employees.
Dougherty has resigned from his job as a Philadelphia public defender. He is the son of State Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty. His uncle, known as "Johnny Doc," was convicted in December on multiple counts of embezzlement and conspiracy after he was accused of stealing $600,000 from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98 over a six-year period. John Dougherty also was found guilty of bribery in 2021, and currently faces extortion charges along with another nephew, Gregory Fiocca, for allegedly threatening and billing a contractor for uncompleted work.
The 172nd District includes parts of Montgomery County and Northeast Philly. To run be eligible for the April 23 primary, candidates must submit 300 signatures by 5 p.m. Tuesday. It had been unclear whether Boyle would seek reelection following last week's incident, but then Tuesday morning he posted a photo on x, formerly Twitter, that he said showed him submitting nomination petitions with 800 signatures for his reelection campaign.
On Thursday, a video showed Boyle being repeatedly asked to leave Gaul and Co. Malthouse in Rockledge. According to police, he allegedly threatened to hit the bartender and other employees, was visibly intoxicated and may have been on drugs.
"We are aware of a video circulating on social media. It is very troubling," a spokesperson for the Democratic Caucus said last weekend. "Rep. Boyle has been open about his personal challenges. We are encouraged that our colleague and dear friend is seeking help."
Boyle, the brother of U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, has been open about his struggles with mental health. In 2021, he was arrested and charged with harassment and violation of a protection from abuse order, which was filed by his wife.
