Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano has announced he will forgo a 2026 gubernatorial bid, denouncing what he describes as a corrupt political culture in Harrisburg while vowing to continue leading a grassroots conservative movement across the state.
The Republican lawmaker, whose district includes Chambersburg, Gettysburg and McSherrystown, confirmed late Wednesday that he will not seek the GOP nomination for governor, despite strong encouragement from the partys conservative base. According to Fox News, his decision effectively clears the way for state Treasurer Stacy Garrity to emerge as the leading Republican contender in the race to challenge Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro.
The retired Army colonel, a veteran of Desert Storms Battle of 73 Easting, framed his choice in explicitly spiritual terms, telling Fox News Digital that his political future will unfold on a different timetable. "God has not called us to run for governor in this season," he said. "Maybe 2028. Maybe 2030. But not now. That does not mean we are stepping away."
Mastriano rose to prominence during the COVID-19 era, when he led opposition to sweeping lockdowns imposed by then-Gov. Tom Wolf and enforced by then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro and key cabinet officials such as then-Health Secretary Rachel Levine and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. In an "Open Letter to the People of Pennsylvania" shared with Fox News Digital, he castigated both Shapiro and elements of his own partys establishment, while insisting that his "Walk As Free People" movement, born in resistance to those mandates, remains firmly intact.
"[Doug] and his wife Rebbie remain committed to leading and strengthening the grassroots conservative movement across the Commonwealth," Mastriano added in a statement to Fox News Digital. "This movement was never about one person or one campaign," Mastriano said in a statement issued from Gettysburg. "It has always been about faith, freedom, and the people of Pennsylvania."
Since the pandemic, Mastriano and allied lawmakers have crisscrossed the state, staging rallies from the small community of Jerome near Johnstown to the steps of the Capitol in Harrisburg. Supporters, often clad in "Walk as Free People" and "Mastrianos Army" shirts, gathered not only for protests but also for community events, including picnics in a lockdown-averse township outside Lancaster that became symbolic of resistance to heavy-handed state edicts.
Mastriano acknowledged his 2022 loss to Shapiro but argued the campaign demonstrated the strength of the conservative grassroots in a state long dominated by Democratic urban machines. He noted that the race produced the highest Republican turnout since 1962 and that his team collected 29,000 ballot signatures, a feat his backers say underscored his independence from party power brokers.
Supporters further contended that Mastriano was poised to become the first Republican gubernatorial nominee since Gov. Dick Thornburgh to win a primary without the intervention of party endorsement machinery. Thornburgh, who later served as attorney general under President Ronald Reagan, is frequently cited by conservatives as a model of principled Republican leadership in a purple state.
Mastrianos open letter underscored his long-running feud with GOP insiders, accusing party leaders of trying to predetermine outcomes rather than trust voters. "He further challenged Republican Party leadership, rejecting what he described as backroom deals and premature endorsements, and said future candidates must earn support directly from voters," the senators open letter went on, referencing his reservations about how the race was viewed by the establishment.
The senator reserved some of his sharpest criticism for Shapiro, portraying the Democrats administration as a product of elite interests far removed from everyday Pennsylvanians. Mastriano blasted the governors operation as a "machine corrupt and riddled with scandal, propped up by Hollywood elites and out-of-state billionaires who neither understand Pennsylvania nor respect its values."
He went further, questioning Shapiros national stature and suggesting that even Democrats recognize his limitations. "Josh Shapiro is not strong, not serious, and not fit to lead," Mastriano said, adding that former Vice President Kamala Harris "distanced herself" from him after vetting her potential running mates and instead choosing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Mastriano also accused the press of acting as an adjunct to the Democratic establishment, arguing that journalists targeted his movement while shielding Shapiro from scrutiny. He condemned members of the media who "spent years trying to destroy [the Walk as Free People] movement while admitting they gave Shapiro a free pass."
Although he is stepping back from a statewide run, Mastriano insisted his influence will continue to be felt in both the legislature and the broader conservative coalition. He said proof of his movements strength can be seen in its role in helping elect Sen. David McCormick, R-Pa., and in efforts aimed at re-electing President Donald Trump, signaling that his focus will remain on advancing an America First agenda in Pennsylvania.
Democrats, meanwhile, quickly moved to define the emerging Republican field, training their fire on Garrity as Mastriano exited the stage. When reached for comment, a representative for the Shapiro campaign directed Fox News Digital to a statement from the Pennsylvania Democrats that said the commonwealth is now "stuck with" Garrity.
"Today, it became clear that Pennsylvania Republicans will be stuck with yet again another Republican extremist, Stacy Garrity, as their candidate for governor. Garrity is an election denier who has never stated Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and peddled the dangerous lies that led to the January 6th insurrection," the statement read in part, appearing to obliquely reference Mastriano's decision.
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