All but one Pennsylvania House GOP members endorse Mastriano for governor

Eight of 9 Republican Pennsylvania congressmen on Monday collectively endorsed GOP gubernatorial nominee and state Sen. Doug Mastriano. 

Reps. John Joyce, Fred Keller, Mike Kelly, Dan Meuser, Scott Perry, Man Reschenthaler, Lloyd Smucker and Glenn Thompson signed a letter saying that Mastriano, who’s backed by former President Trump, “represents a greater choice and different” to the Democrat’s nominee, Pennsylvania Lawyer Normal Josh Shapiro. 

“Progressive insurance policies supported by Joe Biden and Josh Shapiro have led to fewer jobs, greater crime charges, rampant drug habit, and fewer freedom for Pennsylvania’s hard-working households,” the lawmakers wrote.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick was the one holdout among the many Pennsylvania Republicans. The Hill has reached out to his workplace for remark.

Mastriano and Shapiro are combating for the governor workplace being vacated by Gov. Tom Wolf (D), who has reached the state’s time period restrict.

A gaggle of former Republican officers from Pennsylvania — together with former Rep. Charlie Dent, a former lieutenant governor and a former state Supreme Court docket justice, amongst others — endorsed Shapiro final month.

Dent referred to as Mastriano “an extremist who’s a menace to the rule of regulation and the constitutional order.”

In an announcement sharing the endorsement letter Monday, Mastriano thanked the lawmakers who backed him, calling them “nice champions of liberty and prosperity.”

“Pennsylvanians have been disadvantaged of their freedom for too lengthy, underneath the tough Democrat insurance policies that Josh Shapiro will reinforce if elected,” Mastriano wrote.