HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Before hitting the polls on May 17 for the primary election, abc27 has compiled a list of who is running for governor of Pennsylvania.
Tuesday, March 15, marks the official day for candidates to hand in their signed petitions to officially add their names to the ballot. Senator candidates must receive 2,000 signatures.
Learn more about each candidate hoping to fill the empty seat Governor Tom Wolf will leave behind in 2023 below. The information provided is from the candidate's website or articles from abc27's reporters.
Republican
Doug Mastriano
The Senator of Pennsylvania's 33rd District announced his candidacy for Wolf's open seat in January 2022 at a rally in Gettysburg. He was the fifteenth Republican to join the race.
Mastriano has been a public and active supporter of former President Donald Trump, which, as he shared with abc27's Dennis Owens, he hopes will make him a winner in the May primary. Mastriano has also been in the media for sponsoring busses to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
In the most recent Fox News poll, there was no clear front runner with Mastriano only one point behind Barletta
As of March 8, Mastiano's candidate status was approved and his name was officially added to the ballot for the May primary.
To learn more about Mastriano, visit his website by clicking here. Or, visit the campaign website created by Friends of Doug Mastriano, by clicking here.
Melissa Hart
The former Republican member of the United States House launched her campaign for the state governor in January 2022. During her time in Congress, she was a co-chair of the Republican National Convention.
According to Hart's LinkedIn account, she is also an attorney plus a strategic and political communications consultant.
Hart's candidate status was approved on March 15.
To learn more about Hart, visit her campaign website created by Hart for PA by clicking here or here.
Lou Barletta
In 2018, Lou Barletta was the Republican party's Donald Trump-endorsed nominee for U.S. Senate, and in May 2021, he announced his run for Pennsylvania governor. Barletta is also known for his time as former Hazleton mayor and his four terms as a member of Congress.
Barletta, who leads with Mastriano in the latest Fox News poll, had his candidate status approved on March 11.
To learn more about Barletta, visit his campaign website by clicking here.
Joseph Gale
The Montgomery County commissioner announced his candidacy for governor in February 2021. According to his campaign website, Joe Gale was the first elected official in Pennsylvania to endorse former President Trump during his 2016 campaign.
Gale's brother Sean is running for Pennsylvania's United States Senate seat, as well.
Both brothers were approved for their individual races, with Joe Gale's name officially added to the governor race ballot on March 14.
To learn more about Gale, visit his campaign website by clicking here.
Charlie Gerow
The Conservative activist announced his candidacy at a firehouse in Cumberland County in June 2021. Charlie Gerow also runs a communications and marketing firm in Harrisburg and is a Pa. Republican party committee member. He began his political career on the campaign staff of Ronald Reagan.
Gerow's candidate status was officially approved on March 15.
To learn more about Gerow, visit his campaign website by clicking here.
William McSwain
Announced in September 2021, William McSwain, former U.S. Attorney appointed by former President Donald Trump, is running for governor.
Prior to his time as an attorney, McSwain was a scout/sniper platoon commander in the U.S. Marine Corps. If elected, he plans to focus on strengthening the economy, reducing crime, promoting school choice, and pro-family policies, according to his campaign website.
As of March 14, McSwain's signatures were collected and his candidate status for the primary was approved.
To learn more about McSwain, visit his campaign website by clicking here.
Jacob Corman
The President Pro Tempore of Pennsylvania's Senate joined the race for governor in November 2021. With his announcement, many wondered if he would step down from President Pro Temp. to run, but he told abc27's Dennis Owens, "No. Has the attorney general said he’s gonna stay attorney general? I think it’s easy for me to stay as pro temp at the same time."
Corman, however, confirmed that he will not be seeking another Senate term. He kicked off his "Restore Freedom" Listening Tour in Bellefonte in November as part of his campaign.
Corman's candidate status was approved and his name was officially added to the ballot for the May primary on March 14.
To learn more about Corman, visit his campaign website by clicking here.
Dr. Nche Zama
Dr. Nche Zama made his candidacy official in May 2021. Zama is a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon and has worked for hospitals across Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, York, East Stroudsburg, and other locations.
Zama's candidate status was officially approved on March 15.
To learn more about Dr. Zama, visit his website by clicking here.
Dave White
The businessman from Delaware County joined the race in January 2021. According to his campaign website, White is an "avid supporter of veterans and was presented with a plaque by the Pennsylvania Veterans Museum, where they named a room in his honor."
White's candidate status was approved, after he collected the necessary signatures, on March 11.
To learn more about Dave White, visit his campaign website by clicking here.
Democrat
Josh Shapiro
Pennsylvania's Attorney General announced his candidacy in October 2021. He is the state Democrat committee endorsed candidate. Josh Shapiro made his run for governor official via Twitter. In January, Shapiro endorsed Pittsburgh-area state lawmaker Austin Davis to be his running mate and lieutenant governor.
Before his time as the attorney general for Pennsylvania, Shapiro was the chairman of the Board of Commissioners in Montgomery County. He is in his second term as the attorney general.
Heading into the election year, Shapiro entered 2022 with $13.4 million in his campaign account, which is a state record for a candidate.
Shapiro received his required signatures and his petition was approved on March 14.
To learn more about Shapiro, visit his campaign website by clicking here.
Dropped Out
- Jason Monn (R)
- Mike Turzai (R)
- Dan Meuser (R)
- Scott Martin (R) -- He announced that he is suspending his campaign for Governor due to on-going medical issues caused by his recent leg injury and issued the following statement: “The injuries to my leg were beyond a simple broken bone and included a severing of numerous ligaments and tendons in my ankle that are going to require greater and longer rehabilitation than I originally hoped would be necessary."
- Guy Ciarrocchi (R) -- "It is time that I close this chapter and wish my colleagues well—both old and new friends. You know that I will continue to be a voice for local businesses, an advocate for children, a defender of liberty—and someone who believes in the promise of America."
- Jason Richey (R) - Despite receiving enough petitions to appear on the ballot, the Associated Press reported on March 17 that Richey dropped out of the race and endorsed William McSwain. The Pittsburgh-based attorney announced his run for governor in May 2021.
Did Not Meet Petition Requirements
John Ventre (R) - According to election officials, Ventre did not meet the petition requirements to appear on the primary ballot.
In June 2021, the Republican from Westmoreland County announced his candidacy. According to his campaign website, if elected, John Ventre plans to reduce state legislators from 253 to 67, make election day a state holiday, repeal Act 77 plus others.
Shawn Berger (R) -
According to election officials, Berger, a businessman from Carbon County, did not meet the petition requirements to appear on the primary ballot.Christina Olson (G) -- The Hellertown resident announced her campaign and became the sole candidate in the Green party. She did not meet the petition requirements to appear on the primary ballot.
Joe Soloski (L) -- As the sole Libertarian candidate, Joe Soloski believes in the principles of limited government and minimum state spending, according to his campaign website. He did not meet the petition requirements to appear on the primary ballot.
This page will continue to be updated as candidates join or drop from the race. Links to each candidate's campaign page will also be updated as they become available. Plus, visit Pennsylvania Politics or Your Local Election HQ on abc27.com for more information on upcoming elections.
0 Commentaires