Shapiro Is In: Last week, Attorney General Josh Shapiro put the rumor mill to rest when he officially kicked off his campaign for governor. The 48-year-old southeastern Pennsylvania Democrat, a former state House member who was elected last year to a second term as the state’s AG, announced his candidacy early Wednesday morning and immediately hit the campaign trail, with events in Pittsburgh and Montgomery County and nationally televised interviews. Next year’s Pennsylvania gubernatorial race is expected to be one of the most closely watched in the country.
Meuser Is Out: In the face of an ever-growing slate of Republican gubernatorial candidates, U.S. Rep Dan Meuser announced his decision last week to make a run for his third term in Congress in 2022 rather than launch a campaign for governor. “I feel it is best to continue to do my job for my constituents, and in order to help win back the House,” Meuser said in a statement. “This has led me to what I think is the right decision for Pennsylvania and my country – and that is to remain in the U.S. House, work towards reelection, and yes, fight to accentuate the positives that have made our country great and will make the commonwealth of Pennsylvania great again.”