State Rep. Brandon Neuman (D-Washington) confirmed that he will seek two offices this year: re-election to his House seat in the 48th District and the Lieutenant Governor’s office.
His competition for the Lieutenant Governor nomination is well known: Congressman Mark Critz, State Senator Mike Stack, Harrisburg City Councilman Brad Koplinski, Bradford County Commissioner Mark Smith and Brenda Alton.
But he recently got a challenger in his home district.
Republican North Strabane Township Supervisor Sonia Stopperich announced yesterday her candidacy for Pennsylvania’s 48th legislative district seat.
Neuman just recently announced his campaign for Lieutenant Governor.
“There is precedence in the state’s history for the lieutenant governor to ascend to the governorship,” Neuman said. “The lieutenant governor must illustrate that they can work with the Senate and the House to move legislation and to work with the federal government in times of emergencies.”
Neuman’s recent financial report for lieutenant governor showed that the State Rep. raised over $90,530, with $10,352 transferred from other campaigns. He currently has $34,385 on hand in the account used for his Lt. Gov. bid.
Originally only running for re-election in his district, many of his donors may not have known which campaign they were funding.
A State Rep. running two separate campaigns is not without precedent.
In 2010, Scott Conklin (D-Centre) won the Democratic primary in the lieutenant governor’s race and also ran for re-election in Pennsylvania’s 77th legislative district. He received a challenger in his district and near the end of the race transferred $15,000 from his lieutenant governor account to his House account to defend his seat.
6 Responses
Tom I’m with you. If you have confidence enough in your self and have what it takes to be LG then just run for it. But I guess he doesn’t have that much confidence in his self. To me thats a sign of a poor leader.
Newman should pick between LG Race or House Race. Would never consider voting for anyone who campaigns for two offices at the same time. A disservice to both his district and the state voters. All in or stay out
Peter Russo –
You won the pseudonym game.
Sonia’s boyfriend, the disgraced North Strabane official under an active state ethics investigation, sent her campaign announcement from his official government account. His excuse: I hit the wrong button. Sonia’s response: Dont ask me, I was at work all day.
There is so much professional and personal scandal swirling around Sonia these days you’d think she was living in a cesspool.
Although I don’t really think Newman has a chance, it is good to see young Democrats step up. He is probably running more to get state wide name recognition than anything else.
I used to think the Dems didn’t have a bench for state wide races but it seems that we are in a good spot!
As long as Mike McAleer never hears about this, Rep. Newman will be fine