Posted on 08/29/2017 7:10:47 AM PDT by jiggyboy
HAZLETON — Congressman Lou Barletta, a Republican from Hazleton, officially announced this morning he will challenge Democrat Bob Casey for a U.S. Senate seat next year.
Barletta made the announcement this morning in a campaign video.
Barletta has been a U.S. Representative for the 11th district since 2011, last winning re-election in 2016. He was one of the first Pennsylvania lawmakers to support Donald Trump's candidacy for president and he served as Pennsylvania Campaign Co-Chair and was named to the Executive Committee of President Trump’s Transition Team.
"I don’t see running for the Senate to represent Pennsylvania as an opportunity. I see it as a responsibility," Barletta said.
Barletta will challenge Sen. Casey, who has been a senator since 2007 because "Pennsylvania deserves better than an obstructionist senator," Barletta said.
Casey has been one of President Trump's most vocal opponents since the president took office earlier this year, including voicing his opposition to the president's refugee rulings and against Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch.
Barletta made a national name for himself as mayor of Hazleton, becoming the first mayor in America to pass an ordinance dealing with the problem of illegal immigration.
FR thread from July 31 when he first talked about it http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3573459/posts
Hope he is as good as Santorum when it comes to debates. Casey is an empty suit. Still, he got elected twice.
This is why I continue to hold my nose and remain registered with the GOP in PA.
To have the chance to vote for guys like this in the primary (as opposed to whatever piece of RINO garbage the party in Harrisburg serves up)
Good, PA need at least one Senator that’s not a Cheap Labor Express stooge.
Because Casey is still running on his daddys name. Ironic because his dad was prevented from speaking at the DNC convention because of his pro life stance. Add to that the fact that most people in PA are like 90 years old and vote D because they have done so since FDR and it will be tough to unseat this idiot.
Yay! Great news. I’ll be voting for him.
I recall seeing a video of Santorum debating Hitlery over abortion on the floor of the Senate American House of Lords. He destroyed the witch.
I live in PA. The old dog dems are dying out.
We went for Trump last November, as you may recall.
I believe you are correct. Last December, my husband was in the hospital. The guy in the bed next to him was 93 years old. The old guy’s 7 kids came in to visit. All in their 50’s and 60’s. We got to talking to them. They said they were all democrat, and all voted for Trump. They said their dad would have voted for Hillary if he was able.
I forgot to mention that my husband was in the hospital in Pittsburgh.
“I forgot to mention that my husband was in the hospital in Pittsburgh.”
I hope he’s okay. I’m about 45 minutes west of Philly. Conservative town. It seems the original home owners in our neighborhood are blue dems, and passing away.
He has my vote!
One of our (R) family married into a family from Carlisle, PA. That whole family is D., brainwashed, SCARED of Repubs. But last fall a big slug of them broke free, left the plantation, and voted for Trump. Man, is there tension in THAT family! But the runaways are still hanging tight for our President Trump.
me too!!!
That was surprising. Trump did a great job here even though the large cities went to Clinton. I hope it carries though to this race. Casey is truly an empty suit who wouldn’t be able to get a job at Walmart as a greeter. I will vote for Barletta and hope we can dump Toomey who is a great disappointment.
I’m also a PA voter. I’ll be voting for Barletta.
I think that Barletta was the first member of congress to back Trump. When he was first elected to congress he unseated Paul Kanjorski(D) who owned that chair for 26 years. Lou is a good speaker, fast on his feet and will make Casey work to retain his throne. All in all, Barletta is a good guy, will have the backing of Trump and is probably one of the best candidates to take on Casey. I have spoke to him on several occasions and he is impressive and, most important, genuine.
I lived in the 11th PA until a few years ago when we were re-districted and now have a (D)ope representative.
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