Despite his wide margin of victory, Pope said he never felt the primary race was a sure thing.
“I’m always hopeful, but I never take it granted,” he said.
Pope has said jobs and education are the most important issues for the district, but has offered little in the way of specific ideas, plans or legislation he would push.
He says he would actively push for greater transparency in Columbia and support a bill forcing lawmakers’ votes to be recorded for the public.
When Pope took office as York County’s top prosecutor, he faced a stifling backlog of cases.
He introduced a more efficient system of cataloging and trying cases that brought down the number. That system has become a model for the state, he said.
He also initiated the York County drug treatment court and established a juvenile drug court for youth offenders.
Pope has said that, if elected, he would work in Columbia to attract businesses, but has not specified how.
Kirsh, the oldest and longest-serving member of the General Assembly, has held the seat since 1979.
He did not face a primary opponent this year and has run unopposed in the past five general elections.