Party Endorsements

Republicans gathered in Ohio and Pennsylvania to meet in party leadership conventions and issue official endorsements to their candidates for statewide office.  In Ohio, after Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor (R) told the delegates that she would not support Attorney General and former US Senator Mike DeWine (R) if he were to win the gubernatorial nomination, she was soundly defeated for the endorsement.  Mr. DeWine received 59 votes to Ms. Taylor’s two.  In the Senate race, Rep. Jim Renacci (R-Wadsworth) also received all but two votes in capturing the official endorsement.  He is opposing investment banker Mike Gibbons.  The winner faces two-term Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) in the general election.
 
In Pennsylvania, a similar group issued party endorsements to state Sen. Scott Wagner (R-York) for the gubernatorial campaign, and gave unanimous support to Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Hazelton) in the Senate race.  House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Pittsburgh), a candidate for the gubernatorial nomination, decided to end his statewide effort just before the party endorsement vote, clearly seeing his bid would be unsuccessful.  Should Sen. Wagner win the Republican primary, he will face first-term Gov. Tom Wolf (D) in the general election.  Self-funding businessman Paul Mango remains as a Republican primary candidate.  Rep. Barletta, the likely party Senate nominee, will challenge two-term incumbent Bob Casey Jr. (D) in November.

--Jim Ellis