After contentious primary, Pa. Republicans prepare to nominate challenger to Gov. Tom Wolf
State Sen.
The stakes are high: The
Wagner and Mango have invested millions of their own dollars bashing each other in television ads. Mango has lobbed deeply personal attacks, labeling Wagner a "deadbeat dad" and slumlord.
Ellsworth, former chair of the
Public polling has been scant, though a survey released this week showed Wagner with a double-digit lead over both opponents. A big chunk was still undecided.
The campaigns have spent a combined
Wagner, whose shoot-from-the-hip style has drawn comparisons to Trump, has effectively been running for governor since he won the state's first-ever write-in campaign to the
The president of
"I see firsthand how much state government takes," he says in his most recent ad. "I'm blunt, outspoken, and determined. I'm a garbageman. You won't always agree with me, but know this, I'm on a mission to protect your paycheck, cut your taxes, and I will always put you first."
While Wagner has focused his message on jobs and what he calls excessive regulations, Mango has campaigned as a social conservative in the mold of
In debates and in television ads, Mango has slammed Wagner for sponsoring legislation that would extend anti-discrimination protections to LGBT people in the workplace, housing, and public accommodations like schools.
Mango argues that the legislation would open the door to boys "sharing bathrooms" with girls. The bill doesn't mention bathrooms, but experts have said that judges could interpret it as protecting transgender people's right to use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity.
Mango's message has been amplified by a conservative outside group called
Wagner says the attacks are misleading and that the anti-discrimination measure is a matter of fairness.
The race grew ugly last month, when Mango, angry that the senator had branded him an "Obamacare advocate," ran an ad that depicted a "deadbeat dad" cartoon-like version of Wagner being hauled into court and ordered to pay
A judge wrote that Wagner's "total arrearage" under a recalculated obligation was about
"I'm not attacking anyone's character," Mango said at a debate last month. "What I'm doing is revealing my opponent's character."
Mango's ad teased a forthcoming spot about "Violent Wagner," but the campaign had not aired it as of Friday.
Taking a new tack, its latest ad shows the sun rising in a "new day" for
Ellsworth, who led the
While the candidates largely agree on issues like rolling back regulations, lowering the corporate tax rate, seeking a federal waiver to impose work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries, and ending Wolf's moratorium on the death penalty, there are notable differences.
Wagner and Mango say they support legislation that would eliminate property taxes and make up the difference for school funding by raising the sales and income taxes. Ellsworth argues that's a risky way to fund schools, because revenue would dry up in an economic downturn.
She wants to freeze property taxes for anyone who's been paying the levy in
Unlike his rivals, Wagner wants to raise the state's minimum wage, which matches the federal
But any proposal, of course, will need the backing of the state legislature, which, though now dominated by
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