Without seeing the questions asked, it is hard to judge why the reactions counted. He does have some controversial positions.
“Mr. Mastriano, a retired Army colonel who chartered buses to the Jan. 6, 2021, rally that led to the attack on the Capitol, has vowed to ban abortion without exceptions and pledged to enact sweeping new voting restrictions. He would be likely to accomplish those measures given the Republican advantage in the state legislature.” From another article on the PA elections posted today at FR,
“He would be likely to accomplish those measures given the Republican advantage in the state legislature.”
The “Republican advantage” in the state House has maybe a 50% chance of remaining in effect after November. Democrats are expected to pick up close to the number of seats they need in order to seize control.
The PA Democrat Supreme Court successfully gerrymandered both the PA House and Senate in a massive way, but the effect on the Senate may not be apparent until after the 2024 election.