Pennsylvania State Senator Doug Mastriano has made it clear that he won't be throwing his hat into the ring again in 2026, citing a divine intervention that has led him to believe that running for governor is not God's will.
During a recent livestream with his wife Rebbie, Mastriano revealed that he and his wife had prayed, fasted, and discussed their decision extensively before making the announcement. Despite receiving numerous pleas from supporters urging them to run, the pair ultimately came to the conclusion that they were being called to do something else.
"We've been faithful servants of this great state for a number of years... but we believe, with full peace in our hearts, that God has not called us to run for governor this year," Mastriano said during the Facebook livestream. The decision not to seek re-election highlights the significant challenges Mastriano faced during his 2022 campaign, including criticism over his role supporting former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Mastriano's statement also comes as Governor Josh Shapiro is expected to announce his reelection campaign in the coming days. The Pennsylvania primaries are set for May 19, with a general election scheduled for November 3.
During a recent livestream with his wife Rebbie, Mastriano revealed that he and his wife had prayed, fasted, and discussed their decision extensively before making the announcement. Despite receiving numerous pleas from supporters urging them to run, the pair ultimately came to the conclusion that they were being called to do something else.
"We've been faithful servants of this great state for a number of years... but we believe, with full peace in our hearts, that God has not called us to run for governor this year," Mastriano said during the Facebook livestream. The decision not to seek re-election highlights the significant challenges Mastriano faced during his 2022 campaign, including criticism over his role supporting former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Mastriano's statement also comes as Governor Josh Shapiro is expected to announce his reelection campaign in the coming days. The Pennsylvania primaries are set for May 19, with a general election scheduled for November 3.
he's putting his faith first and not letting politics dictate his next move 
i feel like we need more people in politics who prioritize their values over just trying to win elections u know? anyway, it's gonna be super interesting to see how governor shapiro handles the campaign trail without mastriano as a contender 
might make for some juicy debates!
? like is it really just their wife telling them no or is there something deeper going on? and what's the real reason behind Mastriano's decision to not run again? is it truly about listening to his inner voice or is there some external pressure at play? it makes me wonder, when do we start making decisions for others instead of ourselves? 
. I get why he wouldn't want to run for governor again, especially with the drama that went down during his last campaign 
. It's not easy navigating all those politics and public scrutiny, you know? 
On the other hand, it does leave a void in the Republican field for the primary. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what else is in store for PA! 
but seriously can't wait to see josh shapiro run for re-election gonna be a wild ride in pennsylvania primaries may 19 is around the corner 
he's got a 93% approval rating and is leading in polls by like 20 points 
meanwhile Mastriano's trying to spin this "divine intervention" thing which is pretty funny lol what's the real story here tho? 
! I MEAN, RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR CAN'T BE EASY ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE CRITICISM HE FACED IN 2022. IT TOOK HIM AND HIS WIFE SOME SERIOUS PRAYER AND SELF REFLECTION BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY FOUND PEACE ABOUT LEAVING THE SCENE 
Plus, it's not like we know all the details about what went down in those 2022 primaries... maybe Mastriano just really didn't want to deal with all that drama anymore 
. And can we talk about how weirdly convenient it is that Governor Shapiro is announcing his reelection campaign around the same time? Like, I'm sure that's a total coincidence 
.
but I guess you can't force someone to do what they don't feel is right for them. I'm actually a bit curious about who'll run against Shapiro now 
Maybe someone new will bring a fresh perspective to the table? Either way, it's gonna be interesting to watch how this plays out 
.
. And hey, maybe this is just the universe's way of telling him it's time for a change 
. You never know what's gonna happen in 2026... might be interesting to see 
.
anywayz, it makes me wonder what other ppl are thinking about this. some people might be all like yay cuz hes out of the picture but honestly, i think this whole thing is kinda messed up. Mastriano was a major player in the primaries last time and now he just decides to throw in the towel? whats next? 
Anyway, poor Josh Shapiro is gonna have to deal with all the drama now 
. But still, it feels like a big loss for the GOP in PA 
. Shapiro's gonna be a strong contender and I think he'll have an easy ride to reelection 
. As for Mastriano, who knows? Maybe this 'divine intervention' thing will actually help him find something else that truly fulfills him 
. Maybe some fresh blood will come in and bring change 
? Shapiro might have a tough road ahead but he's got experience on his side 
. Either way, it'll be interesting to see what the future holds for PA 
. And what about all those supporters who were rooting for him? They must be pretty disappointed 
.
. The primaries are gonna be super interesting this year with Josh Shapiro running for re-election