Pittsburgh Review

State Sen. Doug Mastriano, the GOP nominee for governor, has received the endorsement of eight Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

Reps. Glenn “GT” Thompson, Mike Kelly, Lloyd Smucker, Dr. John Joyce, Fred Keller, Dan Meuser, Scott Perry and Guy Reschenthaler voiced their support for Mastriano in a joint press release.

"[W]e are proud to endorse Doug Mastriano for governor of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania's families are struggling to put gas in their cars and food on their tables. Progressive policies supported by Joe Biden and Josh Shapiro have led to fewer jobs, higher crime rates, rampant drug addiction, and less freedom for Pennsylvania's hard-working families," the House members said in the press release. 

"Doug Mastriano represents a better option and alternative to these failed policies. Doug served our country for more than 30 years and retired as a Colonel in the United States Army. He has dedicated his life to fighting for freedom and serving the people of this great country. Simply put, Doug is a leader and knows there is vast, untapped potential in Pennsylvania. Doug Mastriano's passion for life, freedom, and liberty make him the clear choice for our next Governor. We respectfully ask that Pennsylvania's voters consider what is on the line this November and join us in voting for Doug Mastriano." 

In response to the release, Mastriano said, "I am grateful and humbled to receive the endorsement of these great champions of liberty and prosperity. Pennsylvanians have been deprived of their freedom for too long, under the harsh Democrat policies that Josh Shapiro will reinforce if elected. I look forward to working with our Congressional Delegation and making our commonwealth a place where the people are free and the economy is thriving. We will be strong partners for change in Pennsylvania."

According to his bio page, Mastriano is a retired U.S. Army colonel who currently serves as the state senator for Pennsylvania’s 33rd district. Mastriano holds four master's degrees in strategy, strategic intelligence, military operations, and airpower, and also holds a Ph.D. in history. He has been featured on multiple national radio programs, as well as Tucker Carlson, C-Span and Fox Business with Stuart Varney.

Mastriano beat eight challengers to win the Republican nomination in Pennsylvania's gubernatorial race, according to Ballotpedia. Mastriano will face off against Democrat Josh Shapiro in the Nov. 8 general election.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro was a staunch supporter of Gov. Tom Wolf's mandated business shutdowns in 2020, according to the Capital-Star. After Wolf commanded all non-"life-sustaining" businesses to shut down, a group of businesses, including a laundromat, a golf course and a timber company, challenged the mandate in court. Although the Pennsylvania Supreme Court dismissed the challenge, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Alito agreed to hear an appeal. Shapiro submitted a counter-filing to that appeal, claiming that the plaintiffs did not understand the workings of the Court and that they were disregarding the lives lost to COVID. 

"People and businesses can self-regulate, as they have done for millennia, in the face of a viral illness, without resort to massive, statewide shutdowns and lockdowns of businesses and persons done apparently at the whim of the executive and based upon scientific projections which were staggeringly wrong," Marc Scaringi, attorney for the petitioners, wrote, according to the Capital-Star.