The fight for the Pennsylvania governorship is one of the most alarming of the midterm elections. And that’s because of one man: Doug Mastriano.
Where to start with this man? He embodies all the political divisiveness and issues that America is currently facing, and is now making comments and commitments that are terrifying minority voters.
Mastriano is the embodiment of what is rapidly becoming the modern MAGA politician. He continues to push that the 2020 election was false, though this has been proven numerous times to be completely false. Even Donald Trump’s attorneys admitted he lost, though this is not enough to convince men like Mastriano. Though my money is that Mastriano is not just doing this because he passionately believes in the “stolen” election - right now, this is the best appeal possible to much of his voter base. The majority of Republican voters still believe Trump’s claims of fraud. Mastriano is catering to his voters, like many politicians have done - stoking beliefs and increasing devision for political profit.
The Republican candidate for governor does not stop at promoting the stolen election, however. He also has taken a hard stance on the hottest political issue right now, one that has repercussions for millions upon millions of women nationwide: abortion. Mastriano has argued that abortion should be banned outright, zero exceptions. If Mastiano wins for governor and Republicans take the state senate, there is little doubt that this is what will happen. Even among Republicans, this is a very harsh take of the issue; Republican politicians as of late have realized that this conservative stance is not very popular, and may be costing them votes. Mastriano is not only likely to lose some votes on this issue, but also on his alarming anti-semitism.
Anti-semitism is a horrifying prejudice against people of the Jewish faith. In the past, it has been the cause of the persecution of Jewish people. Over the years, Jewish people have been scapegoats for everything from the plague to societal problems. With no basis in actual fact, the blame Jewish people have taken is based purely in contempt of their religion. The Holocaust was the horrifying genocide of millions of Jewish people, based in the virulent anti-semitism that pervaded Nazi Germany. Mastriano is, to a highly concerning extent, exposing that he may have some of this prejudice. Mastiano’s political opponent, Josh Shapiro, is Jewish, went to a religious school that blended his faith with secular education. Mastiano claimed that a Jewish school was a place for “privileged, exclusive, elite” which is why Shapiro holds a “disdain for people like us.” These statements have been rightfully called out as anti-semitic, and Mastiano has defended his comments. This is extremely concerning behavior for someone who is running for the governorship of a US state. He is also outspoken in his support for “Christian power” and his distain for secular government.
All together, I think we would be justified in our fear for what his victory would mean for American politics.