One of the worst candidates from '22 is eager to torch the GOP's chances in a key race once again

Daily Kos Staff

Tuesday March 07, 2023 · 1:48 PM PST

2023/03/07 · 13:48

LEHIGHTON, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 13: Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano speaks during a rally at Archery Addictions on May 13, 2022 in Lehighton, Pennsylvania. With less than a week until Pennsylvania's primary election on Tuesday May 17, polls have Republican candidate Doug Mastriano as the front runner in the Governor's primary race. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) — Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano.

Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano, a QAnon ally who was one of the very worst Republican nominees last year in a cycle chock full of them, tells Politico’s Holly Otterbein that he’s considering challenging Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in 2024. Mastriano, who was anything but humbled by his blowout 56-42 loss to now-Gov. Josh Shapiro, says that he's “praying” about whether to run but added that God would make the ultimate decision.

Republican Senate leaders, who want self-funding rich guy Dave McCormick to go up against Casey, are undoubtedly also praying … that Mastriano will sit this race out. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chief Steve Daines was quick to express his blunt disdain: "We need somebody who can win a primary and a general election," the Montana senator said. "His last race demonstrated he can’t win a general."

Democrats, of course, would like it just fine if the state senator is divinely inspired to try again. Mastriano, though, is far from the only far-right loser from 2022 who could wage another bid for statewide office. Indeed, at least five GOP candidates who ran failed midterm campaigns have come up as potential '24 contenders:

The rolling disaster may even extend to the House level: Ohio Republican J.R. Majewski is mulling another try against Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur.

But Mastriano, whose many sins include paying the white supremacist social network Gab $5,000 for “campaign consulting,” still stands out in this sordid crowd. Most of his fellow Republicans gave up on him long before Election Day, with one would-be ally saying, “I've not seen anything that is even a semblance of a campaign.”

Mastriano unsurprisingly sees things very differently. He referenced the total number of votes he earned last year when he told Otterbein, “What do you do with a movement of 2.2 million? We’re keeping it alive.” (Shapiro secured over 3 million votes.) He added, “We’ve seen people in the past, other Republican gubernatorial candidates, they rise and they disappear when they lose. Why?” He answered, “You have people that love you and support you,” a group we’re positive does not include the Republicans who are actually trying to flip the Senate.

Markos and Kerry luxuriate in the battle going on between Donald Trump’s ascending fascism and Mitch McConnell’s disappearing neocon establishment. The fighting has become much sharper recently as the MAGA-media outlet Fox News has traveled further and further away from reality.

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One of the worst candidates from '22 is eager to torch the GOP's chances in a key race once again

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