Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser of Dallas announced he will not enter the race to challenge Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro next year and instead will remain in Congress to push for the agenda of President Donald Trump.
Trump endorsed Meuser, R-9, at a rally in Pittsburgh in May, telling the Congressman if he runs “you have my full support. And you’ll win.”
In his statement, Meuser said his focus “needs to remain on doing my job, serving my constituents, and executing the plans to strengthen our country.”
He said he feels he can best do that with Republicans having majorities in Congress and Trump at the helm.
“The U.S. is on the move, and under President Trump’s leadership, we will continue to maximize opportunities to make our nation even stronger, safer, more robust and affordable for all Americans. Just last week, I helped lead the fight to pass President Trump’s tax cuts for families and small businesses, legislating and codifying border security, enacting U.S. energy dominance initiatives, strengthening our military, and bringing fiscal accountability to what was excessive spending,” Meuser said. “This was just the beginning. Continuing the progress we made is too important, which is why I have decided to remain in the U.S. House of Representatives, working with President Trump and our Republican majorities in both the House and Senate to pass his agenda and forgo a campaign for Governor of Pennsylvania.”
Meuser’s district includes parts of Luzerne, Berks and Lycoming counties, and all of Bradford, Columbia, Lebanon, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming counties.
The fourth-term congressman said he’s confident the GOP will field a candidate who can defeat Shapiro next year and “make Pennsylvania a leader among states and the best place to live.”
Shapiro, who has won several statewide elections and was a front runner to be Kamala Harris’ vice presidential candidate in 2024, is running for reelection 2026. He easily defeated state Sen. Doug Mastriano in 2022, 56.4% to 41.7%. His popularity in leading a large swing state and his national fundraising prowess have placed him in the conversation of potential 2028 presidential candidates on the Democratic side.
Mastriano and state Treasurer Stacy Garrity are two names being floated as possible challengers to Shapiro following Meuser’s decision.
The Democratic Governors Association reacted to Meuser’s announcement by saying his candidacy against Shapiro would have been doomed.
“Even longtime Congressman Dan Meuser — Donald Trump’s hand-picked candidate for the Republican nomination for governor — knows he can’t go up against Governor Josh Shapiro and win. Meuser knows that it would be a losing battle to put his record of voting to cut health care, jobs, and food assistance for Pennsylvanians up against Governor Shapiro’s record of cutting costs, enhancing public safety, funding our schools, and delivering for all Pennsylvanians,” the statement said. “His decision to bow out should be a warning sign to the RGA (Republican Governors Association) and any other wannabe GOP gubernatorial candidate — in Pennsylvania and beyond — who backed this disastrous and unpopular legislation.”
Greg Rothman, chairman of the state Republican Party, praised Meuser.
“On behalf of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, we are grateful for Congressman Meuser’s work in Congress, fighting for the people of our great Commonwealth and promoting and passing the Trump-Vance agenda of peace, prosperity, and America First. Also grateful for the pivotal role Dan played in the election of Donald J. Trump and winning Pennsylvania,” Rothman said. “Congressman Meuser will continue to be a leader in our party for many years to come.”
Meuser’s decision also avoids the possibility of him meeting the same fate as Republican U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, a Republican from Hazleton who decided to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey in 2018 at Trump’s behest inside of running for reelection to the U.S. House. Casey defeated Barletta, 55.7% to 42.6%. Barletta later campaigned for governor in 2022, but lost the Republican nomination to Mastriano.