# Pennsylvania Dopers: This Mastriano guy sounds like a disaster waiting to happen **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 18, 2022, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587 "2022-05-18T02:13:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/1 "2022-05-18T02:13:24Z")
How did this guy even get on the ballot in the first place? > **[Doug Mastriano](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Mastriano)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > > > Douglas Vincent Mastriano (born January 2, 1964) is an American far-right politician and retired military officer who has served in the Pennsylvania Senate since 2019, representing the 33rd district. A member of the Republican Party, he was the GOP nominee in the 2022 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, which he lost by 14.8 percentage points to Democrat Josh Shapiro. > Born in New Jersey, Mastriano served in the United States Army from 1986 t... ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/2 "2022-05-18T02:16:54Z")
I’m not too familiar with him ( I am a registered Democrat and this was a closed primary. I confined my studying to candidates in my party). I can say that Dr Oz and the rest all strove mightily to make the public think they were most like Trump. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/3 "2022-05-18T13:26:51Z")
I’m in the UK, so excuse me if I’ve got thing wrong. But this is a white, male, religious candidate who supports Trump, overturning the last election and QAnon. So isn’t he the perfect Republican candidate? 🤢 ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/4 "2022-05-18T13:33:49Z")
> [@glee](#): > > So isn’t he the perfect Republican candidate? 🤢 Not as far as party leaders see it. [https://thehill.com/news/campaign/3491906-mastriano-wins-pennsylvania-gop-governor-primary-despite-party-concerns/](https://thehill.com/news/campaign/3491906-mastriano-wins-pennsylvania-gop-governor-primary-despite-party-concerns/) I like The Hill’s comment after the article: “The Hill has removed its comment section, as there are many other forums for readers to participate in the conversation. We invite you to join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter.” In other words, “We’re tired of trying to police the rantings of yammering, hate-filled jackasses. Go away.” ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/5 "2022-05-18T13:38:08Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Not as far as party leaders see it. “He’s saying the quiet part out loud. Only Trump is allowed to do that!” ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/6 "2022-05-18T14:09:09Z")
I just read an article about this guy. Does he really have a chance in PA? ---
**Author:** ![SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpacemanSpiff_II)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/7 "2022-05-18T14:16:24Z")
I think a lot depends on whether he’s a lunatic or a scoundrel. IOW, if he’s a True Believer, and continues to base his campaign on this type of far out stuff, then he’s probably doomed in a purple state like PA. But if he just emphasized all this stuff to win the Republican primary and is capable of tacking to the center for the general election, then he has a much better chance in what looks like it might be a Red year. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/8 "2022-05-18T14:22:21Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Does he really have a chance in PA? I’d really really like to say “No!”, but the cynic in me is very doubtful. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/9 "2022-05-18T14:22:34Z")
From [this](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/05/18/us/pa-primary-elections-midterms#doug-mastriano-the-republican-nominee-for-governor-plans-to-steer-pennsylvania-to-the-right), he seems like a true believer. That might be paywalled. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/10 "2022-05-18T14:31:13Z")
He got on ballot because a significant segment of America is pro-white supremacy and pro-fascist. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/11 "2022-05-18T22:39:44Z")
He quoted the Bible in his acceptance speech, was supported by Trump, and represents the Republican Party. Any one of those are all some people need. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/12 "2022-05-18T22:42:55Z")
This is true, and Republicans love to vote for candidates like this. It’s America, people. It’s how it is, and it’s what we are. Republicans, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/13 "2022-05-18T22:47:25Z")
Yeah, and the GOP leadership disavows and then goes along and then acts shocked at the next white nationalist terrorist attack from one of their members. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/14 "2022-05-18T22:48:19Z")
I’m kinda sorta hoping that some long-buried skeleton in his closet gets unearthed, no pun intended. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/15 "2022-05-18T22:53:42Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > How did this guy even get on the ballot in the first place? Bear in mind that, generally, the Republican Party (and, the Democratic Party, for that matter) have little to no ability to prevent someone from running in their primary races. Depending on the state, there may be minimum numbers of signatures from registered voters needed on a petition in order to file, and party leadership can certainly make it clear who they prefer (or don’t prefer), and spend party resources behind their preferred candidate, but as a general rule, the parties have limited abilities to dictate, “no, you’re too out there, we won’t let you on our ballot.” ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/16 "2022-05-18T23:03:34Z")
I know pretty much anyone can toss their hat in the ring. However, in this case, HE GOT ELECTED. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/17 "2022-05-18T23:12:39Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > I just read an article about this guy. Does he really have a chance in PA? Absolutely. A rather similar guy named Donald Trump won PA in 2016 (although he lost my state in 2020). Political science evidence shows that moderates are a little more likely to win U.S. elections than those perceived to be extremists. But balance that against the likelihood of 2022 being a GOP year nationally. Then there is the Fetterman effect. I think Fetterman is an extremely strong candidate (and I say it as a centrist knowing that careful-not-to-say-socialist Fetterman is a progressive). One reason Fetterman will outperform, beyond his own everyman image, is that he lucked into an opponent, whether Oz or McCormick, who is an out-of-stater easy to peg as a member of the elite. If I am correct that Fetterman will exceed normal expectations, would Shapiro ride his coattails to beat Mastriano? Or would true swing voters think one D vote is all they have do give in the year of inflation? Does anyone know if senate-gubernatorial coattails exist? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2022, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/18 "2022-05-19T02:13:52Z")
Some context here: [Mastriano says Shapiro’s TV ad will help him win next week’s GOP primary](https://lancasteronline.com/news/politics/mastriano-says-shapiros-tv-ad-will-help-him-win-next-weeks-gop-primary/article_c79bc066-cfe4-11ec-87c3-2bb3d8e910f6.html) > [@](#): > > Shapiro, unopposed in the Democratic primary next Tuesday, is hoping to tip the scales in favor of Mastriano, believing he’ll be easier to beat in the general election this fall. . . . > > Shapiro’s TV ad is an unusual campaign tactic in Pennsylvania. G. Terry Madonna, a decades-long political observer and political science professor, said he can’t recall ever seeing an ad like this. > > “Shapiro wants to run against Mastriano because his support comes from the most ardent supporters of Trump,” Madonna said. > > Mastriano isn’t looking a gift horse in the mouth. > > “I’m glad he (Shapiro) did it,” Mastriano said. “Once again, he’s underestimated me.” Maybe Shapiro will win. But being manipulative is, aside from the questionable morality, high risk. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2022, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/19 "2022-05-19T04:20:16Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > [Doug Mastriano - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Mastriano) > > > [@](#): > > > > Mastriano has been described by some sources as far-right, a Christian nationalist (a label he rejects) and dominionist… So he rejects the label “Christian nationalist.” Does he reject or embrace the label “dominionist,” I wonder? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2022, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587/20 "2022-05-19T12:28:01Z")
This is a pretty dangerous development imo. Mastriano and a compliant legislature won’t hesitate a second to make sure Pennsylvania’s electoral votes go to the Republican candidate in '24, regardless of the actual vote totals. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pennsylvania-dopers-this-mastriano-guy-sounds-like-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/964587.md?page=2)