Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R) conceded to his Democratic opponent for the states gubernatorial race Sunday, five days after he was projected to lose by multiple news outlets.
Difficult to accept as the results are, there is no right course but to concede, which I do, and I look to the challenges ahead, Mastriano said in a statement Sunday. Josh Shapiro will be our next Governor, and I ask everyone to give him the opportunity to lead and pray that he leads well.
The concession is notable for Mastriano, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump and has long spread unfounded claims of election fraud while questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 election that elevated Joe Biden to the White House.
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In November 2020, Mastriano tried to push through a resolution in the states GOP-controlled legislature that would have overturned Bidens win. The plot would have appointed alternate electors who would have then declared Trump the winner. Mastriano also chartered buses for Trump supporters ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021 stop the steal rally that preceded the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Governor-elect Josh Shapiro spent his campaign painting his Republican opponents as an extremist. He said earlier Sunday he hadnt yet heard from Mastriano but remarked that he didnt really mind.
I mean, who cares if he calls, right? the governor-elect told CNN . He doesnt get to pick the winner, the people pick the winner.
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Who cares about a phone call?
The people of Pennsylvania made their voice heard. That's all that matters. pic.twitter.com/05sZjUTmlw
Who cares about a phone call?
Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) November 13, 2022
The people of Pennsylvania made their voice heard. That's all that matters. pic.twitter.com/05sZjUTmlw
In his statement Sunday, Mastriano called for reforms to Pennsylvanias electoral system, saying residents deserved to have faith in our elections. Election officials worked to bolster the voting system ahead of the midterms amid unfounded GOP attacks and lies about fraud. Theyve since said their efforts, including more transparency and better communication, have worked .
In my role as a State Senator, I will do my very best to help Josh Shapiro deliver that to Pennsylvanians and, if he does, I will be the first to acknowledge and applaud his achievement, Mastriano said Sunday, adding that he wanted election results to be more quickly decided.
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