The first Republican enters the race for the Trump friendly 8th Congressional district represented by Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna).
Teddy Daniels, a former police officer and wounded combat Army veteran, announced on social media a bid for the Congressional district in Northeast Pennsylvania.
In his announcement video, he describes himself as a “pro-Trump conservative” and believes the Democratic Party is not a “legitimate party.”
“The Democrat Party to me is no longer a legitimate party,” Daniels said. “They have forgotten the hard working men and women. They have forgotten about the people who sit at night and worry about putting food on the table or paying bills.”
Daniels said he is “100% pro-second amendment, pro-life, pro-economy, pro-immigration reform and I believe that Americans need to come first,” in the announcement video.
In addition to advocating for those positions, his campaign website’s issues page includes focusing on healthcare, national defense, securing the souther border by supporting a wall between the United States and Mexico, supporting term limits, and more.
Daniels lauds Trump for making America “safer and richer” and believes the Democratic Party is attacking the moral fiber of the nation.
“The Democrats in Congress are spending all of their time taking about impeachment and doing nothing about the important issues facing every day folks, while President Trump keeps his campaign promises and has made America safer and richer,” Daniels says on his campaign website.
“The moral fabric of this country has been under attack by the radical left for the last several years,” Daniels said in his campaign announcement video. “That’s not what we stand for. That’s Unamerican.”
Cartwright is currently in his fourth term in Congress representing Northeastern Pennsylvania. He bested self funding GOP businessman, John Chrin, in 2018 by 9 points in the newly drawn congressional boundaries that voted for President Donald Trump by 10 points in 2016.
Cartwright is one of three Democrats being targeted by the NRCC for 2020 in Pennsylvania.
Despite Daniels social media announcement, Cartwright is still currently the only candidate that has filed paperwork to run in 2020, based on a Tuesday review of FEC.gov under the 8th District page, however an FEC filing does show that he has filed to run for office. The Times Leader reported in June that former Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Luzerne) has not ruled out a bid for the seat, although a Philly Clout article released on Friday states that he is not “looking to run for office again” and is instead boosting his new “LOU PAC” supporting tough-on-immigration candidates and private funding for the border wall.
Per release, Republican Teddy Daniels has entered the #PA08 race against Matt Cartwright. Daniels is a retired police officer and Army veteran. District is Scranton and environs–tilts GOP on paper but wasn’t very competitive in 2016 or 2018.
— Alex Clearfield (@AlexClearfield) August 6, 2019
PoliticsPA is seeking comment from the Cartwright campaign.
This story was updated to note that despite Cartwright currently being the only candidate listed as being filed with the FEC under the 8th District tab, Daniels has filed with the FEC.
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24 Responses
Is this guy a .cartwright plant?
I am certain that is a Burger Ming napkin in his suit coat pocket.
King
Teddy Daniels is delusional about what Trump means and has done to America. A dangerous guy in my opinion.
Teddy Daniels looks like he never wore a suit before.
He wore the suit of the US Military and was wounded while wearing that suit. Is that a suit you wore?
Waaaa, quit your bitchin
Snowflake
I live in Cartwright’s district. This guy has NO chance of winning.
Check his resume. Maybe he’s another John Radcliffe
Finally, a true American and patriot.
Brought to you by friends of this angry guy running for office.
Looks like a pretty even-keeled guy. Probably has pragmatic, nuanced opinions on things.
Oh do tell
Are you serious? Nuanced??? Repeating clichés and Republican talking points is not nuanced nor pragmatic. It’s predictable. Will lead to defeat. The tweet above by Alex Clearfield saying this district tilts Republican is simply wrong. Although the district has been in different forms with redistricting aside from Rep Barletta’s tenure it has been represented by Dems. Some R coming in and repeating R talking points manufactured in DC is not going to get the job done.
Guys Im kidding.
He needs to calm down. He’s hysterical.
Just what the GOP needs, another angry male who will restore America’s morals by backing everything immoral that the immoral Donald Trump says or does.
Teddy Daneils is filed iwth the FEC. TEDDY DANIELS FOR CONGRESS HOUSE – PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ID: C00713511
Calm down
Why? The article said no one but Cartwright has filed. Gee, I wonder why the article was incorrect. Calm down yourself.
As an fyi, it is assumed the proper papers were filed along with names of committees. One needs not debate the obvious that this was done. For future reference and to appear hip to what is going on kindly debate substance not procedure. Understand?
If the GOP wants to pick up seats, they need to stop running extreme right-wingers.
While I agree, it is sad that the position list of enforcing laws and supporting constitutional rights is now considered right-wing.