Jake Corman Exits Race for Pennsylvania Governor, Then Enters Again

Jake Corman re-entered the race after he spoke with Donald Trump.

Jake Corman did the hokey-pokey Tuesday. He pulled himself out of the Pennsylvania governor’s race and then put himself back in.

Republican Jake Corman filed paperwork with the Commonwealth Court on Tuesday morning to have his name withdrawn from the primary ballot.

By Tuesday afternoon, he announced that he had spoken with former president Donald Trump, and he planned to stay in the race. “He encouraged me to keep fighting, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

The president pro tempore of the state Senate announced his candidacy last November and is set to face a long list of other GOP hopefuls in the May primary.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro is the lone Democratic candidate.

Christina Digiulio is running in the Green Party, and Jonathon Hackenburg and Joe Soloski are running as Libertarians.

Corman has used his experience in the state Legislature to campaign for governor, saying he was uniquely qualified for the post because of his understanding of the legislative process and knowing what it took to work with the General Assembly to get things done.

In announcing his bid for governor, Corman said he would not seek re-election to the Senate seat he has held since 1999.

Eight other GOP candidates are vying for the nomination:

• Lou Barletta
• Joe Gale
• Charlie Gerow
• Melissa Hart
• Doug Mastriano
• Bill McSwain
• Dave White
• Nche Zama