PA-GOV: Finding a strong candidate for governor in Pennsylvania may help GOP protect its US House majority

[RandySF]

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Job No. 1 for Republicans in Pennsylvania is to scrounge up a candidate to contest next year’s reelection bid by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro — if only to run interference for other Republicans on the ballot who are clinging to seats in Congress.

In other words, the unalluring mission of next year’s Republican gubernatorial nominee could be just to not get blown out by the relatively popular incumbent. That’s because a lopsided victory by Shapiro could otherwise doom Republicans up and down Pennsylvania’s ballot — and, with them, the GOP’s narrow majority in the U.S. House that backs President Donald Trump’s agenda.

That’s one more reason Pennsylvania could again find itself at the center of attention, even during the midterms and even if the GOP faces long odds against beating Shapiro. Democrats are targeting four GOP-held congressional seats in Pennsylvania alone — more than in any other state — and they need to flip only three seats nationwide to retake the majority they lost in 2022.

Having a valuable standard-bearer is important, analysts say. That is the candidate who often sets the tone for the party in the state, delivers the party’s message and drives the enthusiasm of the party’s faithful to go out and vote.



https://apnews.com/article/election-pennsylvania-congress-josh-shapiro-democrats-republicans-87c005f97623074cc167957a9fc37ddf

[Mountainguy]

1. Easier said than done

Most Republicans with any serious prospects aren't going to be itching to jump into a race in this political environment.

Politics is largely about timing, and 2026 isn't it for R's.