The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is sponsoring a Nexstar Media, Inc. hosted prime-time debate for the Republican Candidates for Pennsylvania Governor this Wednesday, April 27 at 8:00pm. PA Chamber President and CEO, Gene Barr was a special guest on This Week in Pennsylvania to promote the debate, noting that “we are looking for the candidates to address those issues that matter to Pennsylvania. Despite having tremendous assets in this commonwealth, in terms of our natural resources, our people, our proximity to markets, our educational and healthcare facilities, we trail other states. We’ve seen $22 billion of investment that could have gone into this commonwealth go elsewhere, and we weren’t even considered for most of it, because our business tax structure is uncompetitive and our permitting and regulatory structures tell people don’t invest here. I want to hear these candidates tell people their plans to build jobs and build prosperity in Pennsylvania that will keep our young people here and create more vibrant communities.”
Candidates Lou Barletta, Doug Mastriano, Bill McSwain and Dave White will deliberate on issues like the current state of our economy, foreign policy, infrastructure, and others. In order to be eligible to participate in the program, candidates had to reach at least 5% in the latest polls. WHTM abc27 News anchor and Capitol Bureau Reporter Dennis Owens and WPXI Anchor Lisa Sylvester will serve as co-hosts for the debate.
The debate is slated to reach over 9 million viewers and will be aired on WHTM-TV (ABC) in Harrisburg/Lancaster, Lebanon, York, WPXI-TV (NBC) in Pittsburgh, WPHL-TV (MyNetworkTV) in Philadelphia, WTAJ-TV (CBS) in Johnstown/Altoona/State College, WBRE-TV (NBC) in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton, WJET-TV (ABC) and WFXP-TV (FOX) in Erie, and WYTV-TV (ABC) in Youngstown, OH. It will also be livestreamed on stations in New York, Maryland, Ohio Pennsylvania and Washington DC. Read more from abc27 News here.
Spending for the 2022 Gubernatorial election is expected to be historic with Republican candidates for Governor already collectively raising and spending more than $9 million in the first quarter of 2021 alone. Republican candidates will face off in the Primary on Tuesday May 17 with the winner challenging presumptive Democratic nominee Josh Shapiro on November 8.