HARRISBURG, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The top Republican in the Pennsylvania Senate is ending his run for governor, telling his supporters to get behind former Congressman Lou Barletta, just days before what has become a contentious primary.
State Sen. Jake Corman, standing beside Barletta, made his exit from the race official.
“Putting the party first, it's time for me to step aside and support someone who can win in the fall,” he said.
“I think the right thing is to coalesce. It should have probably happened, maybe, a little sooner, but nonetheless there’s still time, and that’s why I encourage other candidates to do the same.”
The primary election is Tuesday. Ballots are printed and can’t be changed. Tens of thousands of mail-in ballots have already been returned. But Corman says polls still show a high percentage undecided: “I think people are now just beginning to really focus on this race. I think this is the time.”
Related
Barletta agrees that it’s not too late.
“As we're coming down to the final days, you know, I may not have been somebody's first choice, maybe not their second choice, maybe not even their third choice — but come Election Day, I believe we're all united that we cannot let Josh Shapiro become our next governor,” he said.
Shapiro is unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Recent polling shows Pa. Sen. Doug Mastriano with about 25% of the vote, with Barletta, former Delaware County Councilman Dave White, and former U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain in the teens.
Republican insiders have expressed concerns over front-runner Doug Mastriano’s chances of winning in the fall, saying he is too far right and too unpredictable.
Related
Asked if this endorsement feeds into Mastriano’s message that the Republican Party fears change and is only out to protect the status quo, Barletta walked a fine line, never attacking his opponent.
“I don't think this feeds into anything other than I'm presenting to the people of Pennsylvania that I will give the Republicans the best chance in November. That's nothing negative against anyone else,” he said.
“I personally like Doug Mastriano. It has nothing to do with him or any other candidate. I believe I'm the best person to bring our party together.”
Related
Barletta says he isn’t talking to other candidates, saying it’s up to them to decide what to do. Barletta and Corman say they will support whoever wins the primary.
As Senate President Pro Tempore, Jake Corman is the top Republican in the Pa. Senate. He went all-in on the governor’s race, not seeking re-election for his senate seat, but his campaign never really got off the ground, polling in the single digits. He was going to back out weeks ago, but was convinced by former president Donald Trump to stay in the race.
On Thursday, Trump also further supported Dr. Mehmet Oz in the U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania by criticizing Kathy Barnette's chances to win in the November election.
Related
"Kathy Barnette will never be able to win the general election," said Trump.
"She has many things in her past which have not been properly explained or vetted, but if she is able to do so, she will have a wonderful future in the Republican Party — and I will be behind her all the way."
Barnette's supporters — who are more in line with the MAGA movement — say Trump made a mistake when he endorsed Oz, saying he is everything they are not.
Related
