Democrat Josh Shapiro woos GOP voters with slate of Republican endorsements

Kate Scanlon

August 30, 06:00 AM August 30, 06:00 AM

Democrat Josh Shapiro rolled out one more slate of endorsements from Republicans in his Pennsylvania gubernatorial bid as he seeks to courtroom GOP and impartial voters dissatisfied with the race's Republican nominee.

Shapiro is competing versus state Sen. Doug Mastriano, who critics say is also extraordinary to gain the mainstream Republican assist he would have to have in purchase to be effective in November’s common election.

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Shapiro, who as a condition lawmaker cultivated a popularity of remaining a centrist, has emphasised lower taxes, the economy, and community protection in his appeals to much more conservative voters.

“I am proud to get the endorsement of these Republican leaders who are placing our Commonwealth in advance of partisan politics in buy to come jointly and transfer Pennsylvania ahead,” he stated in a statement. “From reducing taxes and obtaining our economy moving yet again, to enhancing our universities and keeping our communities harmless, I know we can do the job together to get matters performed for Pennsylvania. I have generally labored to carry Republicans and Democrats alongside one another — and that’s accurately what I will keep on to do in this campaign and as Governor.”

Shapiro, Pennsylvania’s legal professional common, rolled out a further slate of endorsements from Republicans in July that provided former Reps. Charlie Dent and Jim Greenwood.

The new additions contain Michael Chertoff, the former U.S. secretary of homeland stability underneath then-President George W. Bush, as effectively as previous point out lawmakers.

“Right now, we all have a duty to support candidates of whichever party who will stand up and protect our democracy,” Chertoff mentioned. “Although I am a long-standing Republican, I am deeply troubled by Doug Mastriano’s embrace of harmful extremism. Josh Shapiro, on the other hand, is a staunch defender of our democratic institutions and will direct Pennsylvania with honor and integrity. I am happy to help his marketing campaign for Governor.”

The other Republicans from the commonwealth who endorsed Shapiro this 7 days consist of Mario Civera, a previous state consultant David Heckler, previous Bucks County district legal professional and the two a former point out senator and representative and former state Reps. Raymond Bunt Jr., Jim Kelly, Beverly Mackereth, and J. Scot Chadwick.

Mastriano gained Pennsylvania’s Republican gubernatorial nomination in May in spite of a previous-ditch exertion by some state Republicans to coalesce all over a distinctive applicant they felt would fare far better from Shapiro. Controversy surrounding the candidate led some Republicans to break ranks with their occasion to assistance his rival.

An avid supporter of Donald Trump, Mastriano was endorsed by the previous president just times ahead of the key. Mastriano backed Trump’s baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen. He also attended a QAnon-linked celebration in Gettysburg and the Washington, D.C., rally that took position just before the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, using marketing campaign cash for buses to take supporters to Washington that day. Mastriano also regularly blocks media from his campaign situations.

Reuters previous week published a photo of Mastriano posing in a Confederate uniform for a 2013-14 college photograph at the Army War College. The faculty users were being reportedly given the chance to gown in historical apparel for the photograph. The Military War University instructed the outlet it taken out the picture from its facility due to the fact it “does not meet AWC values.” Mastriano did not remark for the report.

Soon after Mastriano secured his party’s nomination, nonpartisan election analysts modified the race’s ranking from "toss-up" to "leans Democrat."