“Democrats boosted a MAGA longshot in the Pa. gov’s race. Now he’s got a real shot at winning.”

Yesterday I linked to a couple of Washington Post pieces on the Democrats “playing with fire” by supporting election denialists in GOP primaries. Today brings this new POLITICO piece focusing on how that strategy might especially backfire in Pennsylvania. Here’s the essence: “as the political environment has worsened for Democrats across the country, the gubernatorial race in Pennsylvania has begun to look more competitive than either party expected. Polls show Mastriano behind Shapiro by only three to four percentage points, which is within the margin of error.” The story also notes the key role that Pennsylvania’s governor potentially will play with respect to this swing state’s election laws in advance of 2024:

“Pennsylvania is a pivotal state. It’s going to play an enhanced role in the 2024 elections,” said Charlie Gerow, a Republican strategist who ran against Mastriano in this year’s gubernatorial primary. “For [the Republican Governors Association] to not be involved here would be a dereliction of duty.”

In an ELB post several months ago, I previously noted the possible change Pennsylvania might make to its method of appointing presidential elections (a change Pennsylvania Republicans contemplated before 2012 but ultimately did not pursue) if Republicans win the governor’s race there this year while holding on to both houses of the legislature.

“Be careful what you wish for…” may be a cliche, but cliches often are rooted in common-sense wisdom.

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