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The midterm elections in Pennsylvania have taken an interesting turn. After several months with Democrats comfortably leading in the polls, a new poll shows slight differences in the races for the Senate and the governor’s seats, which will be decided next November 8th.
According to the latest Trafalgar Group poll for the keystone state, Republican Doug Mastriano is only two points behind his Democratic challenger for governor Josh Shapiro, with 45.4% to 47.4%, respectively.
After Donald Trump’s endorsement, Mastriano, a retired colonel, and current state senator, breezed through the Pennsylvania GOP primary. His goal is to return to the GOP, a governorship lost in 2014 after Tom Wolf defeated Tom Corbett.
Without any doubt, what was a surprise in the said poll published by Trafalgar was the surge experienced by Mehmet Oz in the Senate race. The Republican came within two points of John Fetterman in a key election for the future of the Senate.
According to the poll, the current lieutenant governor beats his opponent by 47.7% to 45.9%, the smallest gap between the two since pollsters began measuring this race.
Oz’s performance comes after a series of fateful public appearances for the Democrat, in which he was seen struggling to express himself due to the stroke he suffered in May of this year.
In addition, a super PAC recently recalled a controversial episode in which Fetterman chased an unarmed and innocent African-American man at a shotgun point.
After much back and forth, both Senate candidates agreed to debate at the end of October, which did not go over well with the Oz campaign, as early voting began in September.
Both elections prove to be among the most consequential of this 2022 cycle. The one between Mastriano and Shapiro could have significant implications for 2024, while the Senate one could decide which party is in the majority in the Senate starting next year.
Joaquín Núñez es licenciado en comunicación periodística por la Universidad Católica Argentina. Se especializa en el escenario internacional y en la política nacional norteamericana. Confeso hincha de Racing Club de Avellaneda. Contacto: [email protected] // Joaquín Núñez has a degree in journalistic communication from the Universidad Católica Argentina. He specializes in the international scene and national American politics. Confessed fan of Racing Club of Avellaneda. Contact: [email protected]