Pennsylvania seems to be a hot spot for fringe candidates that are somehow given a fighting chance to represent the swing state, with U.S. Senate hopeful Dr. Oz giving hedge fund manager David McCormick a run for his money and far-right Sen. Doug Mastriano securing the Republican nomination for governor. Mastriano in particular is a worrying politician to see ascend to the highest gubernatorial level. He’s more known for his conspiracy theories and insurrectionism than for making meaningful policy changes in the state. And he’s incredibly dedicated to contesting the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election, so much so that he appeared Tuesday night alongside decertification memo author Ivan Raklin to celebrate his primary victory.
Unsurprisingly, that dedication to the Big Lie earned Mastriano a Trump endorsement days before the election. It’s taken a lot for Mastriano to make it to this point, including the introduction of numerous bills concerning election fraud; attempts to disenfranchise voters by introducing legislation like SB914, which would place a moratorium on mail-in ballots; and boosting the insurrection however he could by attending events at the Capitol on Jan. 6 and even using campaign funds to bus in Trump supporters. His involvement has also led to a subpoena from the Jan. 6 commission.
Experts believe Mastriano is adhering to a playbook that very well could allow candidates like him to subvert elections in the U.S. As the Huffington Post notes, “if Mastriano beats state Attorney General Josh Shapiro in the fall, he will wield enormous control over the key swing state’s electoral process in 2024. The Pennsylvania governor appoints the secretary of state, who then runs statewide elections.” In other words, some of Mastriano’s wildest dreams, which he’s tried to push through with legislation, may come true by other means. Mastriano’s rise may be alarming, but so is his party’s vocal endorsement of an anti-masker Christian nationalist whose Wikipedia page contains multiple sub-headings concerning his prolific attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Recent polling suggests Mastriano’s fringe beliefs and generally chaotic nature may turn out to be a “gift” to Democratic nominee Josh Shapiro, but it likely won’t be an easy win for the attorney general. Voter turnout will once again be of the utmost importance. During the 2020 election, more than three-quarters of eligible Pennsylvania voters cast their ballot, with the state ultimately going to Biden. If Pennsylvania wants to truly reject Trumpism and put the nail in the coffin of Mastriano’s political career, voters must turn out and choose a candidate unwilling to compromise democracy, like Shapiro.
Washington state Sen. Emily Randall and RuralOrganizing.org's Matt Hildreth talk about what they're seeing and hearing while knocking on doors this week on Daily Kos’ The Brief podcast