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Inky: Wolf to Withhold Endorsement in Senate Dem Primary

While Gov. Tom Wolf has already issued his support for Attorney General Josh Shapiro in the 2022 race for Governor, he will not endorse a candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate next year, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer

“I’m not weighing in on the primary,” Wolf said in an interview Thursday with the Inquirer

Wolf added to the Inquirer that he’s “letting the Democrats decide who they want in the primary, and then I will support that candidate.”

The crowded Democratic field for U.S. Senate includes Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh, State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia), Dr. Kevin Baumlin, and former Norristown Borough Council President John McGuigan

State Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Elections Commission for U.S. Senate and formally announced his exploratory committee in April, while Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Allegheny) is also reportedly weighing a run. 

According to the FEC website, Brandaun Dean, Larry Johnson, Alexandria Khalil, Kyle Norton, and Alan Shank have also filed statements of candidacy for the Democratic primary.

Although Wolf is withholding an endorsement in the 2022 race, he backed a candidate the last open Senate race for Democrats. 

In 2016, Wolf endorsed Katie McGinty, his former chief of staff, in the Democratic primary over Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Delaware) and Fetterman.

The Inquirer reports that Wolf pointed out that Shapiro is “the only major Democratic figure said to be considering a run for governor,” while the Senate race includes several candidates already. 

Wolf said to the Inquirer that all of the Senate candidates who have announced so far are “really good people,” and he “would have no problem with any of them” getting the party nomination.

7 Responses

  1. Fetterman appears to be leading the pack. Statewide office, family wealth, fundraising ability.

    If Lamb enters though, I suspect going to have quite a race. Another strong fundraiser, strong Union support, young with a resume, and high name ID for not holding statewide office. Much broader appeal to moderates in a general, but a vulnerability in a primary.

    Or who knows, maybe another candidate will emerge, or those I perceive to trail Fetterman now may run exceptional campaigns. Just my thoughts, haven’t seen any numbers, and a year is a lifetime.

  2. For God’s sakes lets not make this Senate matter some dramatic moment. Fetterman will win the nomination and Wolf need not meddle. Wolf’s endorsement is not necessary in the equation. As for Gov, Josh Shapiro is not being seriously challenged by any other Dem and is well known as the strongest Dem to take on the wacky brigade of Trumpers making a run for Gov. The Gov race is turning into an odd combination of “political fantasy campers” and “Trumpers” on the Republican side and

    1. Funny that there isn’t a politician in Harrisburg who likes Fetterman. Wolf held his nose for long enough, but to not endorse your own LG is quite a snub.

      Further, Lamb beats Fetterman straight-up 99 out of 100 times. Its a novelty to have a trust-fund kid turned communist skin-head as your LG, it is an embarrassment to have him as your Senator.

  3. He’s not coming out in support for his Lt. Governor??? That’s all anybody needs to know…

  4. So it is clear to Wolf that Shapiro is the best Guv candidate, but he’s not so sure about those running for Senate?

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