Sen. Rich Alloway will not run for Congress

(Chambersburg) — Pennsylvania Sen. Richard Alloway II, R-Chambersburg, said he will not seek the congressional seat held by Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Everett.

“After much thoughtful consideration and conversation with my family and friends, I have decided I will not be candidate for U.S. Congress in 2018,” Alloway said. “I’m humbled by the outpouring of support and encouragement received this week, but the fact remains, there is simply too much work left to do in Harrisburg.  This was a difficult decision, but in the end, I feel certain that right now I can best serve by remaining in my current role and continuing to represent the people of Pennsylvania’s 33rd Senatorial District.”

Shuster, first elected in 2001 to represent Pennsylvania’s 9th Congressional District, announced earlier this month that he would not seek re-election.

Travis Schooley, 43, is the third candidate to announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination.

Schooley, a grants specialist for Quincy Township in Franklin County and environmental compliance specialist, finished third in a three-way race for the seat in 2014. He served as an intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army and was a non-commissioned officer with the Pennsylvania Army National Guards for 10-years.

“I am the working man’s man and I am eager to roll up my sleeves and get to work to serve the people of this district,” Schooley said. “I’d say I’m politically courageous, straight-forward, and a no-nonsense guy who will fight for conservative principles. I am passionate about serving people and will execute the duties of this office with attention to detail and integrity.”

Two Republicans, Art Halvorson and Dayton Hornberger, have announced they plan to run for the 9th District seat. To be on the May 15 Primary ballot a candidate must have 1,000 signatures from party members. Candidates can circulate nominating petitions starting Feb. 13.

Michael DelGrosso, who narrowly lost to Shuster in the 2004 Republican primary (49 percent to 51 percent) , has said he is considering a run for the office and will decide in a couple of weeks.

“For the past 12 years, I have had the opportunity to help grow my family’s 74 year-old business, DelGrosso Foods, where we have developed new products, expanded our brand nationally and internationally, and created jobs and economic opportunities throughout Central Pennsylvania,” DelGrosso said in a statement. “My decision to run will ultimately reflect careful consideration with my family and friends on how I can best serve our community, whether as an elected official or through continued local business engagement.”

DelGrosso,a Naval Academy graduate and former federal government consultant, is vice president of sales and marketing at the Tipton-based maker of pasta sauces. DelGrosso won Blair County by 4,000 votes in 2004, but lost the party nomination by about 2,000 votes.

State Sens. John Eichelberger and Pat Stefano also have said they are considering runs.

Halvorson, a retired Coast Guard captain from Bedford County and real estate entrepreneur, made his third run official on Tuesday, just hours after Shuster’s announcement. The tea party conservative previously lost to Shuster in the 2014 and 2016 Primary elections and the 2016 General Election.

Hornberger, a 23-year-old Shippensburg man, stepped up his run for the office. He had been preparing for a run in 2020 when he would meet the age requirement of 25 years for the position. Hornberger, an ardent Trump supporter, said Congress would have to agree to seat him if he won the election.

The 9th District spans all or parts of 11 counties — from Franklin County to Indiana and Greene counties. Republicans hold a solid majority.

A Shuster has held the 9th District seat for 45 years. Bud Shuster, Bill Shuster’s father, he the seat from 1973 to 2001. Father and son both decided to leave Congress after their 6-year terms as chairman of the House transportation committee ended.

This story comes to us through a partnership between WITF and The Chambersburg Public Opinion.