Pennsylvania Republicans pick Doug Mastriano as governor nominee

Doug Mastriano secured a commanding victory in the Republican primary race for Pennsylvania’s governor‘s office on Tuesday. Mastriano, 58, was already the dominant candidate for GOP’s nomination, even before former US President Donald Trump endorsed him over the weekend.

The Democratic party will place state Attorney General Josh Shapiro against Mastriano, a far-right candidate. Shapiro entered Pennsylvania’s governor race unchallenged.

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Pennsylvania is considered to be a key electoral battleground for both parties. With a significant electoral college influence and Pennsylvania’s pattern of being a swing state, the polls may be the gamechanger in the upcoming midterms.

Doug Mastriano, the GOP nomination, made 11th-hour statements to give one final push to his electoral bid. He also rolled out his stance on Roe v. Wade, a Supreme Court precedent that ensures abortion rights in the United States.

With Roe v. Wade being one of the biggest talking points in the primaries, Mastriano said he supports banning the abortion procedure from conception, with no exceptions.

Live polls show that Mastriano secured more than 44% of the votes (approximately 584,089) in Pennsylvania for the governor’s office. Mastriano was followed by Lou Barletta (20.3%), Bill McSwain (15.6%), Dave White (9.5%) and Mellisa Hart (3.9%).

What else do we know about Doug Mastriano?

Doug Mastriano also backed former President Donald Trump’s claims of voter fraud in the United States presidential elections in 2020.

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He was also present outside the US Capitol on January 6, when a mob broke into the legislative building in an attempt to overturn Joe Biden’s win, according to reports from Associated Press.

Mastriano was also subpoenaed by the House committee investigating the Capitol riot following his efforts to name a slate of alternate Electoral College electors in Trump’s favor.