Pennsylvania state Senator Doug Mastriano conceded in his race for the state’s governorship Sunday evening after losing by more than 14 points to Democrat Josh Shapiro.
Shapiro, 49, the state’s attorney general, won his primary race unopposed and engaged in the risky strategy of funding Mastriano as his preferred rival for the general election.
Mastriano, 58, made his race about social issues but was weakened by his lack of support from Republicans due to his attendance at the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Shapiro won 2,985,433 votes, equivalent to 56.3% of the vote total, while Mastriano won 2,224,406 votes, or 41.9% of the vote.
“The results of the 2022 Mid-term Elections are not what we hoped, prayed, and fought so hard for, and yet there is so much for which I am grateful,” Mastriano wrote. “We were massively outspent and yet we outperformed Republican gubernatorial candidates that benefitted from millions of dollars and the support of national PACs and organizations we did not.”
Mastriano said that he left it all on the line in his bid for the governor’s mansion and he thanked his wife Rebbie for her support throughout the campaign.
“I’m indebted to my team, which gave everything it had and asked what more it could give,” he said. “I owe them more than I can ever repay. I want to thank my running mate, Carrie DelRosso, for her boundless energy, cheerfulness, and support. I simply could not have asked for a better running-mate and I wish her well in what, no doubt, will be a bright future. I salute the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, its leadership and its members, all of whom had the courage to fight for my campaign – despite the winds that blew. They will always have my gratitude and respect.”
“In all, we received votes from more than 2.2 million Pennsylvanians, and I thank every one of you, from the bottom of my heart, for your support,” he continued. “This was indeed ‘The People’s’ movement. It’s a movement that defied the odds, and it’s a movement that will continue to defy the odds. It must. Difficult to accept as the results are, there is no right course but to concede, which I do, and I look to the challenges ahead. Josh Shapiro will be our next Governor, and I ask everyone to give him the opportunity to lead and pray that he leads well.”
Mastriano said that the state was “in great need of election reform” but he stayed away from making any claims about the election not being legitimate after previously promoting former President Donald Trump’s false claims about the 2020 presidential election.
“Pennsylvanians deserve to have faith in our elections,” he said. “In my role as a State Senator, I will do my very best to help Josh Shapiro deliver that to Pennsylvanians and, if he does, I will be the first to acknowledge and applaud his achievement.”
“Finally, I will admit that Rebbie and I have not taken the easy road,” he concluded. “We chose to be exactly who we are, knowing full-well the nature of politics. But we are resolute in our convictions and steadfast in our belief that everyone should walk as free people. Freedom is never won easily, and it is never won once and for all. It’s a fight that never rests. Rebbie and I will be in that fight every step of the way.”
— Doug Mastriano (@dougmastriano) November 13, 2022
