PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Nine Pennsylvania Republicans are breaking party norms to endorse Democratic candidate for governor Josh Shapiro.
During the primary election in May, Republicans had tried to unify behind one candidate to beat state Sen. Doug Mastriano, but their efforts failed. Mastriano won the GOP nomination.
Republican insiders said in May that they felt Mastriano is too far-right-wing and controversial to win the general election in November.
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Nine current and former GOP lawmakers from across the state endorsed Shapiro on Wednesday:
• Charlie Dent, former congressman, Lehigh County
• Jim Greenwood, former congressman, Bucks County
• Sandra Schultz Newman, former justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
• Denny O’Brien, former speaker of the House, Philadelphia County
• Dave Steil, former state representative, Bucks County
• Lita Cohen, former state representative, Montgomery County
• Robert Jubelirer, former lieutenant governor, Blair County
• Morgan Boyd, chairman of the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners
• Ken Davis, former Montgomery County GOP chair
“I’ve been a Republican my entire life,” Dent said in a statement, “and I have always supported Pennsylvania’s Republican Governors — but in this election, I am proud to endorse Josh Shapiro. … We may not always agree on every policy position, but that is to be expected. His focus on improving our economy, strengthening our schools, and keeping our communities safe is what Pennsylvania needs now. Doug Mastriano, on the other hand, is an extremist who is a threat to the rule of law and the constitutional order.”
“In order to meet this moment and address the challenges facing Pennsylvania, Republicans, Independents, and Democrats must come together,” Shapiro said in a statement. “I am grateful to receive the endorsement of so many Republican leaders who recognize the stakes of this Governor’s race.”
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