During a gathering in Pittsburgh last May, Pennsylvania Republican Representative Dan Meuser secured one of the strongest endorsements in GOP circles: support from former President Donald Trump for his campaign in the upcoming governor’s election.
He has served as an outstanding congressman,” Trump remarked about Meuser, who is among his most prominent supporters in the region. “If you decide to run, I will offer you complete backing. You’re sure to succeed. People will realize this very quickly.
However, following several months of rumors, Meuser has recently informed his colleagues that he will not run for the position to oppose Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, according to three individuals who were aware of his discussions, as reported by ABC News.
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He shared the information with Trump on Saturday via telephone, according to an individual who was aware of the conversation, as reported by ABC News. A representative from the White House chose not to respond when asked for comments.
Meuser’s choice not to provide comments for this story highlights the tough landscape Republicans may encounter in the coming midterm elections within key battleground states like Pennsylvania and when facing well-liked Democratic figures such as Shapiro.
“Let me tell you, Josh Shapiro will win another term as governor of Pennsylvania. It’s not whether he’ll be elected again, but rather how comfortably,” said Larry Ceisler, a Democratic public relations professional based in Philadelphia.
Shapiro “possesses and will continue to accumulate a substantial campaign fund,” said Ceisler, suggesting that Meuser “does not want to be the one who gets sacrificed.”
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Christopher Nicholas, a Republican campaign strategist from Pennsylvania, shared with ABC News that Shapiro “has built numerous national connections that he can leverage for fund-raising, and has also created many nationwide adversaries that a Republican could potentially utilize for financial support.”
Several other Republicans are competing for the top position on the ticket, an outcome that may have broader implications throughout the ballot: A robust showing by Republicans might enhance their chances in fragile House constituencies — which could ultimately influence who controls Congress in 2026.
Treasury official Stacy Garrity is genuinely thinking about entering the race, as reported by an individual close to her, with several Republican figures in the state believing she could secure support from the state party if she decides to campaign.
In a statement, Garrity said to ABC News, “Representative Meuser is my advocate, and I deeply appreciate the solid connection we have developed over time. I praise him for his steadfast leadership in Congress and commitment to the residents of the 9th District.”
“Very shortly, I will make an announcement regarding the next steps in my professional journey within the field of service,” she said.
“I’m set to share news about where my career in service is headed very soon,” she added.
“A statement concerning my upcoming path in the realm of service will be released soon,” she mentioned.
“In the near future, I’ll be making an official declaration about my continued involvement in service-related work,” she noted.
“I plan to announce details about my future direction in service very soon,” she concluded.
Another candidate considering a run is state Senator Doug Mastriano, the Republican candidate for governor in 2022. His rejection of the election results and opposition to abortion led to his loss, as he fell behind Shapiro by 15 points that year.
Mastriano has launched a campaign through appearances on public radio discussions in recent weeks.
A spokesperson for Mastriano did not respond to an inquiry for statement.
