PITTSBURGH — Having survived a last-ditch effort by some GOP officials to assemble around an alternative to his candidacy, state Sen. Doug Mastriano, the Republican nominee for Pennsylvania governor, may soon reap the reward: a united front in his battle against Democrat Josh Shapiro.
In interviews with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this past week after Mastriano carried more than 40% of the vote in the Republican primary, a handful of party stalwarts — including some who backed his opponents — said they would support the senator's candidacy if it means beating Shapiro in the fall and prying the governor's mansion from Democratic hands.
Political analysts say it's a sign of the times in U.S. politics, as both parties find themselves drifting further apart and becoming more tribal. They'll back Mastriano through gritted teeth because it's better than the alternative, even if it means sacrificing some beliefs, said Christopher Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion.
"Most Republicans who tell you they will (back Mastriano)? They probably will, even with a lot of reservations and some significant doubts about both the prospects of winning and doubts about what winning would mean," Borick said.
In the days before the primary this past week, some GOP insiders tried to coalesce support around one single alternative to Mastriano in what remained a fractured gubernatorial field with numerous candidates. They cited fears that Mastriano would struggle in a general election, backing it with internal polling numbers.
Though they were able to land some support behind former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, their effort ultimately failed, deemed too little, too late by many. The final punch landed the weekend before the contests, with former President Donald Trump — a popular figure among the GOP base — backing Mastriano.
Mastriano finished in first at 43.9%, and the only others who registered over 10% of the vote were Barletta at 20.3% and former U.S. attorney Bill McSwain at 15.8%. Businessman Dave White came in fourth at 9.6%, and five other candidates ate up about 142,000 votes at the bottom of the pack.
Sam DeMarco, chairman of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County, had said publicly, including in a newspaper op-ed before the primary, that ideals alone wouldn't win the governorship, and that Republicans should be worried about Mastriano's "extraordinarily weak" standing among swing voters.
DeMarco told the Post-Gazette on Friday that he stands by what he said, and that none of it was personal toward Mastriano, but based on polling they had. But, he added, the polling is only a snapshot in time, and the election isn't for 5 1/2 months. Mastriano may have a steep climb now, but national headwinds — including rising gas prices — could result in "a lot of angry people" looking for an alternative to the Democratic nominee.
The county party apparatus will support Mastriano, DeMarco said.
"We are where we are today," DeMarco said. "The party stands ready to get behind their nominee, and we'll see what happens."
At the least, the pre-primary wrangling has put some Republican leaders in an uncomfortable position, having to tout a list of candidates in a crucial midterm election that's topped by someone whom they deemed unelectable when the field was staggered.
In numerous national publications, Republican strategists, donors and operatives have whispered quietly — and often anonymously — about how disappointed they are in the outcome of the gubernatorial primary.
Former U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus urged patience, and said that although some Republicans were looking to find the best possible chance at winning in November, Mastriano's primary win showed "a strength of grassroots support" that can translate into a competitive general election campaign.
Rothfus, who backed Barletta during the primary, said once people digest the primary result and take a close look at the issues facing Pennsylvania — whether it be job numbers, inflation or crime — they will realize that the Republican Party can make a great case against the Democrats.
"If we stay focused on the issues that Pennsylvanians are concerned about, this will be a very competitive race in the fall," Rothfus said.
Borick, a leading political analyst, said there will be energy no matter what for Republicans this cycle, but in Pennsylvania, "you can't afford many defections" as a Republican. The right GOP candidate would need to energize the base to stay competitive and court independents — and maybe some Democrats — to win the general, Borick added.
Democrats have already started to blast Mastriano, labeling him an extremist who is wildly out of touch with the average Pennsylvanian.
In Pittsburgh last week, the state party gathered local Democratic leaders on the steps of the City-County building to call out Mastriano on his positions on abortion. Mastriano has said he would sign laws restricting abortion and does not support exceptions for rape, incest or when the life of the mother is at stake.
Borick said he expects Democrats to remind voters during the general election campaign that even members of Mastriano's own party had reservations about him.
Dave Lohr, a Republican who chairs the Fayette County Board of Commissioners, said he has no problem getting behind Mastriano, and will do so "100%."
Lohr, who supported Barletta in the primary, said he hopes Republican officials unite behind their nominee.
"I will build bridges to make sure he knows I'm going to be out here campaigning for him and working hard to get him as the next governor," Lohr said.
