Well, folks, we may have our first post-Lambslide GOP Congressional retirement.
And, if published reporters are true, the first incumbent Republican to decide it’s best to spend more time with his family and seek a private sector job comes from the other end of the state.
City and State Pennsylvania quotes sources as saying Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA) has informed the GOP state chairman that he’s decided to drop out of the May primary and not run for re-election. That, in spite of the fact that Costello just this past week turned in his nominating petitions.
www.cityandstatepa.com/...
Costello, a two-term Congressman, knew he was facing a tough re-election once the PA State Supreme Court redrew Congressional district lines. The Chester Country Republican benefitted from the 2012 GOP gerrymander, but the court-decreed new district lines turned his Philly suburban district from a +1 Democratic to +9 Democratic. And the Democrats are united behind a strong candidate, Chrissy Houlihan.
Costello was one of the bastards who called on the PA legislature to impeach a majority of Supreme Court Justices because of their decision in the League of Women Voters case, but when Chief Justice Thomas Saylor — a Republican — said impeachment resolutions would be “an attack on an independent judiciary,” that trial balloon quickly deflated, along with his long-shot chances of survival.
Costello could see doom heading his way, and decided it was time to get out of Dodge. Reports are he told GOP leaders Friday that he intends to drop out before the May primary, rather than face a costly and difficult re-election fight.
The deadline has come and gone to file for the May primary, and one other Republican has filed, but he is not well known, and not expected to be a strong candidate.
The District will likely move from Toss-up to Likely Democratic.
Some will die with their boots on. Others cut and run.
Costello cut and ran.
There’s a Big Blue wave coming, and Ryan Costello was smart enough to head for higher ground. Every day, the wave gets bigger, and every day it comes closer to shore.