There is a growing fear in the Donald Trump White House that a far-right candidate for Pennsylvania governor’s seat could get past the primary, make it to the general election and then cripple the chances for every other Republican on the ballot in 2026.
According to a report from Politico, there is a growing panic among Republicans that Doug Mastriano, who lost in his bid to be elected governor in 2022, could be the candidate again in a state where the GOP wants to make inroads.
As one GOP campaign consultant lamented, "If he’s our nominee, we lose four House seats. He’s a nightmare that no one wants.”
As Politico's Holly Otterbein wrote, Trump's people are “very concerned” about his candidacy with Otterbein adding, "Pennsylvania Republicans went even further, saying a Mastriano candidacy would all but certainly unleash a bloodbath across the state next November."
Former Trump adviser David Urban, also piled on and admitted, "He is a nice guy, veteran, great for his district. He just doesn’t have statewide appeal and that will be a big problem for the down-ballot races across the state.”
Mastriano did get Trump's endorsement in his previous bid, but failed to come through when it came to raising money and there are fears of a repeat performance.
The potential GOP candidate did get a back-handed endorsement from one Democrat, with Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) stating, "Mastriano was literally the single worst Republican candidate for governor in the nation in 2022. So I’m very much hoping he runs again!”
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