Trump Endorses Hard-Right Doug Mastriano In Pennsylvania Governor Race

Topline

Former President Donald Trump said Saturday morning he’s backing Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R) in the state’s gubernatorial contest, a candidate some Pennsylvania Republican officials reportedly worry is too extreme to win in the general election.

Key Facts

Mastriano was one of the most prominent figures in Pennsylvania peddling false claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election, with Trump saying in a statement: “There is no one in Pennsylvania who has done more, or fought harder, for Election Integrity than State Senator Doug Mastriano.”

Mastriano traveled to Washington, D.C., for Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6, 2021, but claims he left before riotous Trump supporters stormed the Capitol.

Mastriano has surged in recent polls ahead of next week’s GOP primary—the latest RealClearPolitics polling average has him at 25.7% support, more than 10 percentage points clear of the rest of the Republican field.

Mastriano has promised if elected governor he will require every Pennsylvania voter to re-register, while he’s also vowed to end property taxes and enact a ban on abortions as early as six weeks.

Crucial Quote

“Doug Mastriano and Dr. Mehmet Oz will make an unbeatable team going into the most important Midterm Election in the history of our Country,” Trump said in a statement, touting his endorsement of Oz for the state’s open Senate seat.

Key Background

Tuesday’s Pennsylvania primaries will serve as yet another test of Trump’s endorsement power, which has yielded mixed results in earlier contests. Trump’s backing seemed to be a deciding factor in Ohio’s GOP Senate primary last week, where Hillbilly Elegy author J.D. Vance surged from third in the polls before the endorsement to win, but his endorsed candidate in the Nebraska governor’s race, Charles Herbster, lost the primary there Tuesday. Politico reported this week that several top Pennsylvania Republicans are worried about Mastriano’s electability in the November general election against presumptive Democratic nominee Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania’s attorney general. Party officials are reportedly attempting a last-ditch effort to keep Mastriano from winning, apparently with little success.

Tangent

Mastriano last month attended an event called “Patriots Arise for God and Country” where organizers played a video promoting the QAnon conspiracy theory and labeling the 9/11 terrorist attacks a “false flag” operation, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The video reportedly promoted carrying out mass executions once a non-existent world-dominating “global satanic blood cult” is overthrown.

Further Reading

Ohio Senate Primary: Trump-Backed J.D. Vance Wins GOP Nomination In Crowded Field (Forbes)

Nebraska Primary: Trump-Backed Gov. Candidate Loses GOP Nomination (Forbes)

Pennsylvania GOP panics over possible Mastriano nomination (Politico)

A top GOP candidate for governor campaigned at an event promoting QAnon and conspiracy theories about 9/11 (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Trump Rescinds Support For Brooks—Latest Mishap In His Bid To Control Midterms (Forbes)