Trump backs Mastriano in Pennsylvania GOP governor primary

By MARC LEVY
Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Donald Trump has endorsed Doug Mastriano in the Republican primary for governor in Pennsylvania. The former president is siding with a far-right candidate who was outside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection and has worked to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Mastriano was already leading a crowded field of contenders despite running against the party establishment, and Trump’s endorsement puts him on even stronger footing heading into Tuesday’s primary. But there are growing fears from party leaders that Mastriano, a state senator and retired Army colonel, is too extreme to beat Democrat Josh Shapiro in November’s general election and could drag down other Republicans competing in the pivotal state.