Pennsylvania GOP Rep. Jim Gerlach’s decision to abandon his bid for governor and run for reelection makes him look indecisive and perhaps even a bit poll-driven, two qualities that may provide several Republicans running for the seat some room to stay in the race. In particular, wealthy 31-year old businessman Steven Welch, whom GOP leaders convinced to switch from the open 7th CD race to the open 6th CD race, looks poised to give Gerlach a run for his money.
Republicans say Gerlach’s race switch will keep this seat securely in their hands, but it is too early to tell how either party’s May primary will shake out. Welch (and possibly Tea Party-aligned state Rep. Curt Schroder) could gain traction by portraying Gerlach as a consummate insider and office-shopper who carved out his own congressional district while in the state legislature and has sported one of the most liberal voting records in the state’s GOP delegation.
It’s important to keep in mind that incumbent upheaval is no stranger to Pennsylvania’s GOP primary. Only four years ago, 17 state legislators (mostly
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