PA GOV 2022: Stick a fork in it

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Brian Sims IN for Lt. Governor:

https://twitter.com/BrianSimsPA/status/1361318766345408512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7...

https://www.politicspa.com/sims-announces-bid-for-lieutenant-governor/97385/

[Grumpier Than Thou]

What about Shapiro? I think he's the Democrats' best candidate. Since he just got reelected as attorney general, he has nothing to lose.

It is heavily rumored that he will run, but nothing solid on that front as far as I've seen. If he does run, he will be my candidate, though. Also, I likely will not support a white male for Lt. Governor, so that would disqualify Sims unfortunately. I like him a lot, but we have far too many white men in leadership roles here in PA so I'd like to see someone like Malcolm Kenyatta, Sara Innamorato, Summer Lee, or Sharif Street run.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

What about Shapiro? I think he's the Democrats' best candidate. Since he just got reelected as attorney general, he has nothing to lose.

It is heavily rumored that he will run, but nothing solid on that front as far as I've seen. If he does run, he will be my candidate, though. Also, I likely will not support a white male for Lt. Governor, so that would disqualify Sims unfortunately. I like him a lot, but we have far too many white men in leadership roles here in PA so I'd like to see someone like Malcolm Kenyatta, Sara Innamorato, Summer Lee, or Sharif Street run.

Kenyatta would for sure be my first choice if he runs, he's awesome. Also love Innamorato and Lee after their primaries in 2018. Have they given any indication of their plans for 2022?

I don't believe either of them have made any strong indications but there's this:

One thing is clear — there will be pressure from Democrats growing progressive left for a diverse slate in a state that has never elected a woman or person of color to the U.S. Senate or governorship.

“We deserve a more diverse group of candidates than all white men,” state Rep. Summer Lee, a progressive Democrat from outside Pittsburgh, told the Capital-Star.

One Democratic operative pointed to Lee, fellow Pittsburgh progressive Rep. Sara Innamorato, Delaware County state Rep. Leanne Krueger and Philadelphia Councilperson Helen Gym as progressives who could shake up the statewide races.

https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/toomey-exit-kick-starts-2022-guesswork-among-pa-politicos/

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale (dangerous fascist freak) running for Governor, his brother Sean is running for Senate.

from the Inquirer

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale (dangerous fascist freak) running for Governor, his brother Sean is running for Senate.

from the Inquirer

How exactly does that happen?

County Boards of Commissioners in PA are required to have at least one member of the opposition party. So Republicans are guaranteed at least one seat on County Boards regardless of how blue they are, and vice versa with Democrats. Although this doesn't apply to Allegheny, Erie, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties since they have County Councils instead of Boards of Commissioners.

Exactly this. And Montco does have some more Trumpy tendencies in the wealthier suburbs so someone like Gale could fit the bill for a Republican in that area. He pretty much rode the Trump wave and is now trying to catapult his way to the Governorship on the strength of being, basically, a Trump devotee. I don’t think he stands a realistic chance, nor does his brother for Senate, especially if other Trump loyalists like Mastriano, Mueser, and Barletta also run.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale (dangerous fascist freak) running for Governor, his brother Sean is running for Senate.

from the Inquirer

do they have a shot at either nom?

Stranger things have happened, but it's highly unlikely.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Given this new article, it seems only a matter of time till Shapiro makes it official

https://www.phillymag.com/news/2021/03/25/josh-shapiro-governor-pennsylvania/

Wow, really good article. Tough at points, but fair criticisms. I wonder how true that Rendell quote is about it costing $15 million to challenge Shapiro. Feels like everyone goes to Rendell whenever they need a bombastic, off-the-wall quote from the Dem establishment. Not sure how in touch he is with what's going on in reality. But does Shapiro's entry literally clear the field? I mean, I expect a couple longshot challengers, but what's the likelihood that Kenney or Krasner gets in just so it's not a cakewalk for him? Probably low.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

LOL

https://twitter.com/JonathanTamari/status/1384162935904215041

At least he won't get trounced riding Wagner's coattails this time, lol.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Just waiting on Shapiro to make that official announcement...

Dammit, I got so excited when I saw this thread had new replies thinking someone posted the Shapiro announcement...

[Grumpier Than Thou]

https://twitter.com/ssptvnews/status/1394265677335257092

So is he the frontrunner for now?

Ew. Gross.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Just waiting for Shapiro to get in...................................

[Grumpier Than Thou]

God help the PA GOP if this happens:

https://twitter.com/witfnews/status/1395099457549742081

It's a terribly kept secret that he's been fundraising for a run for Governor. We have to pray that he goes nowhere.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Okay, but really, when the hell is Shapiro going to announce this thing?

Seriously, someone here has to have an ear to the ground somewhere. I was expecting after Memorial Day, but I'm just impatient.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Sorry folks, no news on the "good people running for Governor" front yet. That being said, Scott Martin has launched an exploratory committee:

https://twitter.com/TomLehmanWGAL/status/1402274563359186948?s=20

[Grumpier Than Thou]

I'm really not sure why Martin thinks he has a chance, but more power to him I guess. In other news, I think Shapiro is gearing up for an announcement. I've gotten two campaign-style emails in the past week plugging his campaign social media and asking for donations, after not having gotten any emails from his campaign for months.

His rhetoric on Twitter has certainly shifted to being more campaigny, that's for sure.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Sorry folks, no news on the "good people running for Governor" front yet. That being said, Scott Martin has launched an exploratory committee:

https://twitter.com/TomLehmanWGAL/status/1402274563359186948?s=20

any chance he could drop down to lt governor that race seem wide open at the moment

Meh, it’s possible. I would imagine that a lot of folks would gun for the Gov nomination because it’s also wide open, but in the opposite sense. There’s no real front runner at the moment.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Please do not derail this thread by responding to Bronz. TIA.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Getting pretty annoyed with Shapiro lol

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Getting pretty annoyed with Shapiro lol

What are the odds he has second thoughts?

0%. He will run, it’s just a matter of when he wants to announce. My suspicion was that he would announce earlier this week since an FEC deadline just passed, then I assumed he was going to wait for Lamb’s Senate announcement to run its course in the media. So maybe he will announce this week.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

https://www.inquirer.com/news/josh-shapiro-democratic-nomination-pennsylvania-governor-20211011.html

Pertinent:

Shapiro’s campaign announcement could come as early as this week. A spokesperson for him declined to discuss his plans. And it’s impossible to know what the political climate will be like a year from now; his campaign strategy depends in part on which candidate emerges from the crowded GOP primary.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

After all this time, what if Shapiro just doesn't run for whatever reason?

This is literally not an option. Every hypothetical post that suggests that Shapiro ultimately will not run is just that: hypothetical. Shapiro has been plotting this run for Governor for 5-10 years at this point. Every step he's taken dating back to his days in the PA legislature has culminated in his eventual run for Governor. No one else has run for a reason--he is the de facto nominee and no one is contesting that. He will run, but he is clearly plotting his entrance based on the state of the GOP primary.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

After all this time, what if Shapiro just doesn't run for whatever reason?

This is literally not an option. Every hypothetical post that suggests that Shapiro ultimately will not run is just that: hypothetical. Shapiro has been plotting this run for Governor for 5-10 years at this point. Every step he's taken dating back to his days in the PA legislature has culminated in his eventual run for Governor. No one else has run for a reason--he is the de facto nominee and no one is contesting that. He will run, but he is clearly plotting his entrance based on the state of the GOP primary.

Do you think anyone will run against him in the primary?

Not anyone high profile enough to win. The disadvantage a potential challenger would be at in terms of name recognition and fundraising would make a bid all but worthless. The linked article says there was a brief effort to recruit a progressive female challenger, but that never came to fruition.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Sounds like the announcement will come Wednesday in Pittsburgh:

https://twitter.com/WGAL/status/1447628336981811200?s=20

Odd considering that he's from Montgomery County (also my home county!) but finally good to have some news on this.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

https://twitter.com/stephenj_caruso/status/1447933718870609926?s=21

This is good news. I've said for a long time that the only PA Republicans who scared me were Reschenthaler and Meuser. Both being out of the Gov/Senate races is a huge relief. The remaining GOP field is a certified clown car.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Get your merch:

https://shop.joshshapiro.org/