Race to the Pa. Governor's Office

Doug Mastriano went from political obscurity to contender for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in just a couple years. A retired Army colonel from Franklin County, Mastriano was elected to the state Senate in 2019, his first elected office. He started to gain a following among conservatives in 2020 as an opponent of Gov. Tom Wolf's pandemic restrictions, then rose in prominence as he promoted Trump’s false claims of a stolen election. Mastriano has won praise from Trump — no doubt an asset in the primary. But some Republicans think he’s too extreme to win a general election.

Joe Gale has been running against the GOP establishment for years. He’s served on the majority-Democratic Montgomery County Board of Commissioners since 2016, after he beat the party’s endorsed candidate (the minority party automatically gets one seat on the three-member board). He drew protests last year after calling Black Lives Matter a “hate group.” He’s hoping to show he’s even more anti-establishment than Mastriano — a tough task.

Lou Barletta made his name in politics as an outspoken opponent of illegal immigration while serving as mayor of Hazleton, in Northeastern Pennsylvania. As a congressman, he became a high-profile supporter of Trump's 2016 campaign. That alliance helped him glide to the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate in 2018. He lost big in the general election but is now betting that his pro-Trump credentials, political experience, and name recognition will help him win another statewide primary.

Nche Zama is a cardiothoracic surgeon from Monroe County. He immigrated to the U.S. from Cameroon as a teenager with $20 in his pocket and has described how America gave him the opportunity to work hard and become a doctor. His personal story, he says, points to the importance of strong education and healthcare systems. As a newcomer to politics, Zama’s biggest challenge is raising money and getting voters to know him.

Charlie Gerow is a veteran GOP strategist from Cumberland County, outside Harrisburg. Gerow started his political career working for Ronald Reagan and says he’s campaigning as a “conservative happy warrior” who can expand his party’s appeal. Prior to founding a public affairs firm in 2001, he ran unsuccessfully for local, state, and federal office. He co-chaired Carly Fiorina’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Bill McSwain was a political newcomer in 2017 when Trump named him the top federal prosecutor in the Philadelphia region. McSwain often went after what he called “culture of lawlessness” fostered by the city’s Democratic leaders. While plenty of Pennsylvania Republicans share that view, he’ll have to develop a broader message to win statewide. He’s trying to gain credibility with Trump supporters while also appealing to suburban moderates, but his early flap with former Attorney General Bill Barr over the 2020 election shows that’s a tough needle to thread.

Dave White is a former Delaware County councilman who has close ties to building trades unions. A union steamfitter and owner of an HVAC company, White emphasizes his blue-collar roots — a profile that could help give him cross-party appeal in a general election. But to win a primary he'll have to overcome potential skepticism from conservatives suspicious of organized labor. He'll have at least one advantage over some of his rivals: money. White says he's already put $2 million of his own cash into his campaign.

Jake Corman has served in the state Senate for more than two decades, representing the district his father once served. This year, he became the highest-ranking member of the Senate — president pro tempore — and before that was the majority leader. Those leadership roles have helped elevate his profile in Harrisburg and cultivate relationships with donors. But the Centre County Republican came under criticism from Trump earlier this year over perceived 2020 election-related slights, and it remains to be seen whether Corman can make more inroads with the MAGA faithful. In August, Corman took control of what Republicans call a "forensic audit" of the election, ousting Mastriano in the process.

Melissa Hart was 28 when she became the first Republican woman elected to a full term in the state Senate. She then became the first female Republican elected to federal office in Pennsylvania when she won a U.S. House seat in Western Pennsylvania. Hart’s been out of politics for the last 14 years, working as a lawyer and consultant. She’s now running to again make history: Pennsylvania has never had a female governor or senator, and Hart will be the only woman in a field of at least 10 men. She told The Inquirer she'll officially launch her campaign as a “practical problem solver” in early 2022.

Jason Richey is a partner and litigator at the Pittsburgh-based law firm K&L Gates. A first-time candidate for public office, he’s focusing on the economy, proposing a “Contract with Pennsylvania” that includes eliminating income taxes on individuals and businesses. His biggest challenge is getting voters to know who he is.

Guy Ciarrocchi has worked in Republican politics for decades, leading President George W. Bush’s 2004 reelection campaign in Pennsylvania and serving as chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley during Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration. Most recently, he’s been CEO of the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry. He’s aiming for the center-right lane as an alternative to the pro-Trump MAGA crowd. But he’ll have to show why he — and not someone like fellow Chester County resident Bill McSwain — is the best alternative.