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Large Field Lines Up To Replace Marino in Williamsport

When a congressional seat opens up for one of the most Trump friendly districts in the state of Pennsylvania, it isn’t a surprise that a multitude of Republicans are throwing their hat in the ring to be their party’s nominee.

Tomorrow in Williamsport, only one out of the 20 plus confirmed candidates by the Pennsylvania Republican Party seeking the office will be awarded the nomination to represent the GOP in the special election set to take place on May 21.

In January, Rep. Tom Marino (R-Lycoming) announced he was resigning from Congress to take a job in the private sector, but told the Daily Item early in February that health issues prompted his resignation. Marino had just been re-elected to a fifth term in Congress in November after besting Democrat Marc Friedenberg, who will represent the Democrats once again in this special election.

The conferee meeting starting on Saturday morning will include a total of 202 delegates from the 15 different counties included in the 12th District. Lycoming County, where the meeting is being held, holds by far the largest number of conferees, 36. The number of delegates per county is tied in with the number of votes Donald Trump received in the 2016 presidential election.

The slate of potential candidates includes a pair of state representatives, a GOP county chair, a county commissioner and more.

On Tuesday night, a number of the potential nominees stated their case to the Mifflin County Republican Committee according to the Lewistown Sentinel. The list of people who spoke includes state Reps. Fred Keller (R-Snyder) and Jeff Wheeland (R-Lycoming), Doug McLinko, of Bradford County, Stacy Garrity, of Bradford County, Jessica Bowman-Hosley, of Clinton County, Pat Miller, of Centre County, Chris Hoffman, of Juniata County, Malcolm Derk, of Snyder County, Joseph Moralez, of Northumberland County, Joe Peters, of Wyoming County, Robert Noerr, of Clarion County, Maria Montero, of Lycoming County, Dr. Davis Haire, of Wyoming County and Kevin Ferrera, of Clinton County, the Lewistown Sentinel reports. Bobby Jeffries, of Dauphin County, Chuck Risio, of Centre County and Matthew Timm, of Susquehanna County were expected to speak that night, but were unable due to scheduling reasons. Tioga Publishing also reports that James Canning, of Bradford County, Gerald Carlin, of Susquehanna County, Brian Fuller, of Snyder County, and Matthew McDermott, of Lycoming County are also seeking the seat.

The nominee will need to collect 102 votes, a majority plus one, to walk away victorious.

Marino was the first Republican Congressman in Pennsylvania to endorse President Donald Trump in the 2016 GOP Primary

Trump carried these boundaries by over 35 points in 2016, while Marino walked away with a 32 point victory in his most recent re-election bid.

13 Responses

    1. What a joke! Fred Keller? The men in the R Party of this Commonwealth will never learn it’s time to be more inclusive. Good ol’ boys network continues. Two very qualified women, one a decorated war vet, and Keller was the choice? Pathetic.

      1. The most qualified candidate won. That’s how it should work. Rs don’t play identity politics like Ds. May the best person win, and he did.

        1. Republicans have been peddling identity politics, probably more so than the Dems. Their whole politics is white identity politics

  1. They will probably most likely going to endorse a female candidate in today’s convention because that way for the Republican Men in Pennsylvania can add a woman in their company in Pennsylvania.

    1. Garrity’s experience as an executive and as a military combat officer makes her more qualified than many of the men in the running. If they are picking the most qualified candidate, regardless of gender, yes she will be selected.

  2. Joe Peters jumps back and forth from Wyoming County to Scranton all the time to further his political career. What a joke

  3. This has the potential to end up a mess. Smart money would be on Jeff Wheeland based on him being from Lycoming County. The Garrity lady looks like a far right kook, but in the times of Trump, that could carry the day.

    1. Garrity is a solid conservative who did three tours in the Middle East and won a bunch of medals from the military. I just love how strong women somehow get dismissed as kooks. She’s a conservative with a conservative agenda.

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