Pennsylvania’s 2022 race for governor: What we know so far

The outcome of the race will determine the balance of power in Harrisburg and could radically shape policies on everything from abortion to voting rights.

• Sarah Anne Hughes/Spotlight PA
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  Sarah Anne Hughes is a deputy editor for Spotlight PA, helping oversee day-to-day news operations. She is a native Pennsylvanian who has helped lead newsrooms in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. She was previously associate editor of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star and a Report for America fellow with Billy Penn and The Incline covering the state legislature. Before returning to her home state, Sarah was managing editor of Washington City Paper, editor of DCist, and a reporter for The Washington Post. She is a 2019 National Fellow with the Center for Health Journalism, focusing on the decline of cash welfare for families in poverty.

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(Harrisburg) — Pennsylvania politicos are preparing for an intense 2022 election, with open seats for U.S. Senate and governor on the November ballot. The fields are still taking shape, but it’s already clear there’s a lot at stake — both races are currently categorized by the Cook Political Report as toss-ups.

The race for governor may get less national attention, but the outcome will determine the balance of power in Harrisburg and could radically shape policies on everything from abortion to voting rights in the years to come. Here’s what we know about the candidates so far.

Ed Mahon / PA Post

Attorney General Josh Shapiro speaks at a news conference on July 14, 2020.

Democrats

With roughly a year to go until the primary (Pennsylvania hasn’t set a date yet), no Democrats have officially declared they are running. State Attorney General Josh Shapiro has come the closest, telling Philadelphia magazine earlier this year, “I expect to be a candidate.”

The number of other Democrats rumored to be interested in the job appears to be dwindling, but Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is apparently still considering a run.

Republicans

There are a lot of names in the mix on the Republican side. State Sen. Doug Mastriano, a right-wing lawmaker who hosted a hearing devoted to unfounded claims of 2020 election fraud and marched to the U.S. Capitol before the Jan. 6 insurrection, claimed former President Donald Trump asked him to run and promised to help him campaign. (An aide says Trump “has not made any endorsement or commitments yet.”)

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, of Western Pennsylvania, also believes his relationship with Trump could be an asset should he run for governor. Another member of the state’s congressional delegation, Dan Meuser of Luzerne County, said he is considering a run, and former U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain is exploring the possibility, as well.

Michael Russell

U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, Republican candidate for senator from Pennsylvania. This original photo is used under a creative commons license (https://bit.ly/1jNlqZo).

Five other men have already declared their candidacy, most notably Lou Barletta, a former member of Congress who first rose to national prominence because of his anti-immigration policies as mayor of Hazleton.

The other declared GOP candidates are:

Joe Gale, Montgomery County commissioner | Website

Jason Monn, restaurant owner and former Corry City Council member | Website

Jason Richey, attorney | Website

Nche Zama, cardiothoracic surgeon | Website

Other

So far, two people who aren’t members of a major party have declared their intention to run:

Libertarian Party: Joe Soloski, public accountant | Website

Green Party: Christina Olson, artist, co-chair of Green Party of Pennsylvania, owner of Lehigh Valley Ladders | Twitter