State of Pennsylvania secondary Archives: on Principles & Values
Arlen Specter:
Switched from GOP to Democrat, then lost Democratic primary
Sen. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania's longest-serving senator, lost his bid to run for re-election as a Democrat to Rep. Joe Sestak. After serving in the Senate for nearly 30 years as a Republican, Specter switched to the Democratic party in order to
salvage his career. He won the support of the Democratic establishment--including Gov. Ed Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, who worked on his behalf to mobilize voters in Philadelphia, a critical part of the state for Specter. President
Obama also supported Specter, but he never joined him on the campaign trail.While the Democratic establishment worked to elect Specter, Sestak seized on the 80-year-old senator's party switch to portray Specter as self-interested. He ran a bruising
political ad that showed Specter with then-President George W. Bush.
Specter's loss is the latest sign of an anti-incumbent attitude among voters across the country, as also evidenced by the defeat of Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV).
Source: CBS News on 2010 Pennsylvania Senate race
May 19, 2010
Bob Casey:
Dubbed "Sleeping Bob" for anti-Trump obstructionism
Republican Lou Barletta isn't shying away from his bond with Mr. Trump, who campaigned for him in northeastern Pennsylvania this month. He is criticizing Mr. Casey as an obstructionist, pointing to the incumbent's pledge to block Mr. Trump's Supreme
Court nominee before the president even announced his choice of Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh.At the campaign rally this month, Mr. Trump told voters that Mr. Casey has opposed every one of his proposals to toughen immigration policy and border security.
He also came up with a nickname for the low-key Mr. Casey. "Sleeping Bob," Mr. Trump announced to the crowd. "That's it--Sleeping Bob. "I hear that Bob Casey is afraid to debate Lou Barletta," Mr. Trump told the crowd. "Is the president of the
United States allowed to come into the debate forum? Is he allowed to sit in the front row watching Lou Barletta destroy Bob Casey? That will be great entertainment." He called Mr. Barletta "a star."
Source: Washington Times on 2018 Pennsylvania Senate race
Aug 20, 2018
Carla Sands:
Announcement video highlighted abiding Christian faith
Carla Sands officially launched her campaign for U.S. Senate. Her launch video, titled "Our Home", highlighted Sands' abiding Christian faith, business record, foreign policy experience, and her priorities for Pennsylvanians. "This is Pennsylvania, the
home I love. My mother and father raised me in a faith filled home. They taught me to love God with all my heart, and when trouble comes, they taught me to serve our brothers and sisters," said Sands.
Source: 2021 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website CarlaSands.com
Jul 7, 2021
Carla Sands:
Third generation to practice chiropractic in Pennsylvania
Ambassador Carla Sands grew up in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. Her father, Jack, continued to grow his chiropractic practice in Camp Hill alongside his own father, while her mother, Barbara, raised Carla and her six siblings.
Carla went on to follow in her father and grandfather's footsteps, being the third generation in her family to practice chiropractic in Pennsylvania.
Source: 2021 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website CarlaSands.com
Oct 20, 2021
Carla Sands:
Had brief career as movie/TV actress 1987-1991
Carla Sands was born as Carla J. Herd. She is an actress, known for Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell (1988), Monsters (1988) and
Wild Zone (1989). She was previously married to Fred Sands.
Source: Internet Movie Database on 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race
Oct 10, 2021
David McCormick:
America is exceptional; will stand up against wokeness
The extreme left is attacking American history, culture, and values. As someone who has served the country in combat and lived the American Dream,
Dave believes America is exceptional. He will stand up against the wokeness taking over our schools, big businesses, and the media, and he will fight to ensure every child can live the American Dream too.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign web DaveMcCormickPA.com
May 22, 2022
Doug Mastriano:
Prayed that God would influence Capitol election protest
He urged his followers to attend the rally at the Capitol that led to the riots, saying, "I'm really praying that God will pour His Spirit upon Washington, D.C., like we've never seen before." He has come to embody a set of beliefs characterized as
Christian nationalism, which center on the idea that God intended America to be a Christian nation, and which, when mingled with conspiracy theory and white nationalism, helped to fuel the insurrection.
Source: The New Yorker on 2022 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial race
May 9, 2021
Everett Stern:
Founded Tactical Rabbit, private intelligence agency
Everett Stern is the founder and Intelligence Director of Tactical Rabbit, a Private Intelligence Agency that provides clients with Legal, Business, and National Security Intelligence. The mission of Everett Stern's self-funded company, Tactical
Rabbit, is to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and to protect America's interests against enemies both foreign and domestic. Tactical Rabbit's intelligence operations target terrorist organizations in all corners of the globe.
Source: 2021 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website EverettStern.com
Jun 20, 2021
Everett Stern:
I am a passionate believer in the First Amendment
I am a passionate believer in the First Amendment. Freedom of speech is a pillar of democracy. It is not the responsibility of government to pressure corporations like Facebook and Twitter to restrict the speech of those whose views they do not approve.
If speech is inflammatory, slanderous or does harm to others, there are laws that address those situations. The first step on the road to totalitarianism is placing limits on freedom of speech.
Source: 2021 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website EverettStern.com
Jun 20, 2021
Everett Stern:
Protecting US is life's passion, central purpose of career
In 2011, Stern gained international notoriety when he brought to light the illegal efforts of his then-employer, HSBC Bank, to launder money and assist nations involved in supporting terrorism and drug trafficking.
Stern's work resulted in the bank being fined a record of almost two billion dollars. "Protecting and defending the interests of the
United States of America is my life's passion and the central purpose of my career," Stern said. "The people of Pennsylvania deserve a leader who will fight for them against the most powerful special interests,
the most entrenched politicians, and a corrupt system whose leaders have forgotten that they answer to the people," Stern said. "There's never been a time when bold, unafraid new leadership has been more badly needed."
Source: Magic Valley Times-News on 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race
Feb 25, 2021
Everett Stern:
Voted for Trump in 2020, but thinks his behavior "atrocious"
Regarding Trump, Stern understands that the former president remains a major force in the Republican Party but hopes to use conservative values as his "North Star." Though he believed in the policies of the Trump administration, Stern said, he
found the man's behavior "atrocious.""When people think 'conservative,' they think Jan. 6. They don't think what I'm talking about," Stern said. The U.S. "is really broken. The Republican Party is destroyed right now. And I am here to unify it."
Source: The Bradford Era on 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race
May 22, 2021
Jeff Bartos:
COVID: Provided forgivable loans to small businesses
In the 2018 campaign cycle, Jeff Bartos was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor. Since 2018, Jeff has returned to running his businesses and creating family-sustaining jobs in Pennsylvania. More recently, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,
Jeff founded the Pennsylvania 30 Day Fund, a nonprofit providing forgivable loans to small businesses affected by COVID-19 and the related business shutdowns that have devastated Main Street small businesses.
Source: 2021 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website JeffBartos.com
Jul 5, 2021
Jeff Bartos:
People just need government to get out of the way
I haven't heard anybody say to me, "I want the government to do X--I really need this from the government." What I've heard is, "I just need the government to get out of my way, trust me to run my business, trust me to take care of my employees and my
family, trust me to be a good part of the community, just trust me and I will do right." Our campaign is going to be fighting for all Pennsylvanians to get the government out of the way so that they can live their lives.
Source: Jewish Insider on 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race
Mar 11, 2021
Jeff Bartos:
Matters to me that I'm Jewish, not to average voter
So, does it matter to the average Pennsylvania voter that I'm a Jewish candidate in light of what happened at the Tree of Life? No, I don't think so. But it matters deeply to me. And, of course, I'll be representing all Pennsylvanians. But I want
to show, as part of this campaign, we're going to be bringing a terrific coalition together that, I think, is going to surprise people, and certainly, when I'm in Pittsburgh, with the Jewish community and with the overall community out in Pittsburgh,
Source: Jewish Insider on 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race
Mar 11, 2021
Jeff Bartos:
Marxists are trying to divide us by race
Critical race theory--"Marxists for 100 years attempted to divide Americans by class.
But America was founded on an entrepreneurial spirit, we've always rooted for the little guy to become the big guy. That didn't work, now they're trying to divide us by race," he said.
Source: Westfield Free Press-Courier: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race
Jul 29, 2021
Jeff Bartos:
The only candidate with meaningful ties to the state
Bartos stands alone as the only candidate with meaningful ties to the state and a proven conservative record of bringing jobs to the state. Bartos' proven conservative credentials and long history in the state make him stand out in a crowd of
carpetbaggers with no history of standing up for the conservative positions they now claim to espouse. While other candidates move here, treating our seat like an At-Large district, Jeff knows Pennsylvania is unique and is prepared to lead.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website JeffBartos.com
Jul 19, 2021
Ken Krawchuk:
God by any name should not be government supported
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Keep God in the public sphere"?
A: Not sure what you mean by "keep". Allah, Zeus, Yahweh, Gaia, etc. should not be government supported.
Source: OnTheIssues interview: 2018 Pennsylvania Governor candidate
May 18, 2018
Joe Gale:
First Pennsylvania elected official to endorse Donald Trump
In 2016, I was honored to be the first elected official in Pennsylvania to endorse Donald Trump for President. Like me, I knew Donald Trump was a genuine conservative outsider who could win and shake up the system by disrupting the status quo.
Beyond his many accomplishments in the White House, Donald Trump's greatest contribution to our nation was his ability to defeat the GOP swamp and rebuild the Republican Party on the fertile soil of patriotic populism.
Source: 2021 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial campaign website JoeGale.com
May 11, 2021
Joe Gale:
Saddened that Columbus Day was canceled as county holiday
Adding insult to injury, the Democrat Commissioners are not only looting our wallets, but upending our way of life. Despite my objections, it saddens me to announce that the Democrat Commissioners recently canceled
Columbus Day as an official county holiday. Although Democrats are responsible for raising taxes and erasing traditions, we must never forget that generations of weak and lazy Republican Party leadership paved the way.
Source: Philly Voice on 2022 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial race
Dec 15, 2020
John Fetterman:
Beat establishment incumbent as Bernie Sanders progressive
Last week, John Fetterman was the mayor of a 2,000-person western Pennsylvania Rust Belt town, running in a hotly contested primary for statewide office. Today he's the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor.Fetterman, 48, is unmistakable:
6-foot-8, with a goatee and tattoos. And he dealt incumbent Democrat Lt. Gov. Mike Stack, an established name in Pennsylvania Democratic Party politics, a major upset. He also happens to have the backing of Bernie Sanders.
Fetterman drew 40% of the
vote to clinch the nomination, emerging from a crowded field of four Democrats who were challenging Stack. The incumbent lieutenant governor has been mired in several scandals over excessive spending and mistreatment of staff.
Fetterman is now
Wolf's running mate, and the two will face Republican state Sen. Scott Wagner and real estate executive Jeff Bartos in November. But as stylistically different as Fetterman is to his running mate, there's not a lot of daylight between the two on policy.
Source: Vox.com on 2018 Pennsylvania gubernatorial race
May 16, 2018
John Fetterman:
Mentored young boy whose parents had died of AIDS
At 23, John joined up with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. John threw himself into the program, mentoring his 'little'--an 8-year-old boy who had lost his father to AIDS and whose mother was battling the disease. Before she passed away, John promised
that he would continue to look out for her son and make sure that he graduated college. Fifteen years later, John and his 'little' had both held up their ends of the bargain, with his little's graduation from Washington and Jefferson College.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website JohnFetterman.com
Jan 21, 2021
John Fetterman:
Doesn't live in Lt. Gov.'s mansion; but opened pool to kids
John and Gisele have chosen not to settle in the Lt. Governor's Mansion, instead opening up the pool in the official residence to children who typically wouldn't have access to one.
They live with their three children Karl, 11, Gracie, 9, and August, 6, in a restored car dealership in Braddock with the family dog, Levi.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website JohnFetterman.com
Jan 21, 2021
Josh Shapiro:
Fight for the wrong, the left out, the forgotten
Diminutive in nature, Josh Shapiro repeatedly spoke of taking on big institutions and defending the little guy as an attorney general. He's now seeking the state's highest job. Proposed voting reform legislation to consider needs and wants of
Pa. county commissioners. "I've fought for people who have been wronged, citizens who have been left out, and communities that have been forgotten," Shapiro said. "That's the kind of leadership we need right now."
Source: ABC27-WHTM on 2022 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial race
Oct 13, 2021
Josh Shapiro:
GOP wants to undermine elections & permanently divide us
His launch wasn't just a recital of his resume; he also aimed to level an opening shot at Republicans in the field who "want to lead us down a dark path," he said in a morning video posted to his social media accounts. It's a "critical time in
America--here in Pennsylvania, too," Mr. Shapiro said in the video, accusing the GOP of wanting to undermine free and fair elections and "permanently divide us."
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on 2022 Pennsylvania Governor race
Oct 13, 2021
Josh Shapiro:
Shapiro has remained Jewishly engaged as a politician
Shapiro has remained Jewishly engaged as a politician. In 2008, he told the Philadelphia Jewish Voice that "when you boil down all the teachings and all the rituals, fundamentally,
Judaism is teaching that none of us is required to complete the task, but neither is any of us free to refrain from it." Shapiro was paraphrasing a famous rabbinic adage.
Source: Jewish Telegraphic Agency on 2022 Pennsylvania Governor race
Nov 5, 2020
Josh Shapiro:
Observes Jewish Sabbath even while campaigning
On Oct. 15, with the bus tour in full swing across the state, the Democrat finished an event at 6:30 p.m. in Scranton and raced home for Shabbat dinner. The Shapiros said their prayers and ate, just like they do every Friday night. "It keeps me
grounded," he said. "It is at least one night each week where we know we'll all be together." Shapiro's friends and neighbors say his faith is not just genuine, but deep.
Source: Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle: 2022 Pennsylvania Governor race
Oct 19, 2021
Malcolm Kenyatta:
Liberty and justice not currently attainable for all
Liberty and justice for all, Kenyatta said, is not currently attainable for all communities. "As somebody who inhabits all of these intersections, growing up in an incredibly poor neighborhood to a working poor family, as one of only two openly
LGBTQ members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the only one that's a person of color, I see all the different ways that frankly our systems are broken."
Source: LGBTQ Nation News on 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race
Jun 28, 2020
Mehmet Oz:
Immigrant father loved US; saw deep darkness of alternatives
Dr. Oz has never shied away from telling his patients and audience that you are the key to solving many of your problems. He's taking his message of empowerment, personal responsibility, and freedom with him to campaign for the
U.S. Senate to represent the people of Pennsylvania. Dr. Oz has seen first hand the goal of the liberal elites and establishment--to make your life decisions for you--and cancel you if you disagree.
Growing up as an immigrant's kid, I witnessed my family's sacrifices to thrive in the USA. My father grew up dirt poor
(literally sleeping on a dirt floor) and loved this country as much as anyone already here because he saw the deep darkness of the alternatives. I built on these formidable lessons.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website DoctorOz.com
Dec 8, 2021
Mehmet Oz:
We need to expand the role of religious institutions
Dr. Oz has given back--he founded HealthCorps which provides health education and mentoring to underserved communities. Dr. Oz also believes that we need to expand
the role of religious institutions, non-profits, and community groups in providing support for stronger families and neighborhoods. That's how we combat our underlying emotional sickness that leads to Opioid addiction and isolation.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website DoctorOz.com
Dec 8, 2021
Pat Toomey:
Choice between radical left wing and Trump, not referendum
We looked at a choice that we had between an ever more radicalized left-wing Democratic Party and a man who's very, very flawed, but with whom we actually had very substantive success in the early parts of his administration, with a
record-performing economy, with peace agreements in the Middle East, with restoring the strength of our military and all kinds of judicial confirmations. It wasn't a referendum on Donald Trump. It was a choice.
Source: CNN State of the Union on 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race
Jan 10, 2021
Scott Wagner:
Pastors call on Wagner to apologize to Jewish philanthropist
Religious leaders are calling on state Sen. Scott Wagner, a Republican candidate for governor, to apologize for recently calling Holocaust survivor and wealthy businessman George Soros "a Hungarian Jew." Wagner then questions how Soros could
fund liberal causes considering how he was persecuted in his old country and found success when he immigrated to the United States. Soros must hate America if he is against the free-market system that made him wealthy, Wagner says in the video.
Source: The Morning Call on 2018 Pennsylvania Governor race
Aug 25, 2017
Tom Wolf:
Schools that teach; jobs that pay; government that works
Some of the things I have talked about since I started running for governor two years ago: they boil down to three big themes that I hope will define my time in office:- Schools that teach: because for our children to succeed tomorrow, every child
must have access to a great education, and teachers must have the resources they need to deliver a great education;
-
Jobs that pay: because for our economy to begin humming again, we need to be good partners with the private sector, enabling it to grow and create good jobs that will strengthen our middle-class families; and
- Government that works:
because for our state to be great again, we need a government that is more efficient and less wasteful. One that restores faith in the fundamental notion that our democracy still works.
Source: State of the State address to 2015 Pennsylvania Legislature
Mar 3, 2015
Tom Wolf:
What do people need to be able to build a brighter future?
One of the first things I did was try to get to know the Capitol and the people who worked there. One of those faces belonged to a conservative Republican, sent here by rural voters from a remote area of the Commonwealth. We both came to the job of
public service trying to answer the same questions.What do people need to be able to build a brighter future here in Pennsylvania? What are the barriers that get in their way? And what can we do to help remove those barriers?
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Pennsylvania legislature
Feb 3, 2021
Tom Wolf:
Some leaders are turning against the very idea of democracy
A significant number of our political leaders are turning against the very idea of democracy itself. And that kind of nihilism is poisonous. It denies the whole idea of civil disagreement. It denies that democracy can ultimately bring us to a better
place. Without it, we become irrevocably fragmented, a nation where we have no responsibility to work alongside our neighbor, just an incentive to gain and wield power at any cost. Let's remind the world that a democracy can, in fact, deliver.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to Pennsylvania legislature
Feb 8, 2022
Val Arkoosh:
Determined to level the playing field for working families
We are at a critical moment from continuing to recover from a global pandemic that's cost hundreds of thousands of lives and hurt our economy, to how we confront systemic racism in our communities and institutions, or how we tackle the climate
crisis. President Biden needs another Senator from Pennsylvania to help move us forward-- someone determined to level the playing field for working families, lift up those who are struggling, and make our communities healthier. I'll be that voice.
Source: 2021 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website ValArkoosh.com
Jul 25, 2021
Val Arkoosh:
I am ready to call Republicans on their BS and get to work
It's more urgent than ever that we stand up to attacks on science and health care and elect more leaders with the knowledge and experience to go toe-to-toe with those who not only refuse to let facts and data guide how we govern, but actively undermine
them, including in our response to this pandemic. I'm running in part because that's the record and experience I bring to the table. I am ready to go to Washington and call Republicans on their BS and get to work to solve our hardest problems.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website ValArkoosh.com
Dec 19, 2021
Doug Mastriano:
Spearheaded "forensic investigation" of the 2020 election
Mastriano made an extensive effort to overturn the 2020 election. In late 2020, on social media and in interviews, Mastriano made numerous false claims about supposed election fraud. Behind the scenes, Mastriano sent false claims about supposed fraud to
the Justice Department. He also organized a November 2020 hearing in Pennsylvania in which Trump and lawyer Rudy Giuliani made false election claims.Mastriano's campaign chartered buses to the Trump rally in Washington on January 6, 2021. Mastriano
himself was pictured on Capitol grounds during the riot at the Capitol that day. (The FBI subsequently questioned him, according to a source familiar with the interview; Mastriano has not been charged with anything.) Later in 2021, Mastriano spearheaded
an effort to begin a so-called "forensic investigation" of the 2020 election in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania's gubernatorial race is especially important for elections because its governor appoints the secretary of state, the top state elections official.
Source: CNN on 2020 Election Denial: 2022 Pennsylvania Governor race
Sep 9, 2022
Mehmet Oz:
We cannot move on from 2020 election, but Biden is President
Pennsylvania Republican nominee Mehmet Oz has very vaguely raised doubts about the 2020 election--declaring during the 2022 primary that "there are so many different things that happened" and saying "we cannot move on."Asked in March 2022 if Biden
legitimately won Pennsylvania in 2020 (Biden did, by more than 80,000 votes), and if there was fraud (there was only a tiny amount of known fraud in Pennsylvania, some of it committed by Trump supporters),
Oz ignored the first question and said, "Oh, there was definitely fraud." When the host asked Oz once more if he believes Biden legitimately won Pennsylvania, Oz dodged again and said: "He's the President."
Oz has said, however, that he would have certified the election if he had been in the Senate on January 6, 2021, explaining that it isn't a senator's job at that point to question states' decisions.)
Source: CNN on 2020 Election Denial in 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race
Sep 15, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023