Two former candidates for governor are seeking the Republican nomination to serve as the running mate this fall to Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s bid for the state’s highest office.
Allegheny County Republican Committee Chairman Jason Richey and retired UPS executive John Ventre of Hempfield make up the field of candidates running this spring for Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor. Both briefly ran aborted campaigns for governor in 2022, but bowed out before that year’s primary.
Garrity is unopposed in the GOP primary for governor and is expected to run against incumbent Democrat Josh Shapiro and his running mate, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis this fall.
Richey, 54, of Sewickley, is an attorney at K&L Gates based in Pittsburgh.
He was endorsed by Garrity as her running mate.
“Not only is Jason Richey an accomplished attorney, but he is also a committed civic leader in the Greater Pittsburgh area. Jason understands the potential Pennsylvania has, but only if our commonwealth has the right leadership. Jason shares my serious concerns about Josh Shapiro’s failed tenure as governor,” Garrity, 61, of Bradford County, said in a statement issued earlier this year.
Ventre, 69, said he disregards Garrity’s endorsement of Richey.
“It didn’t come from her. The party said this is the guy they want and in my mind she didn’t pick him,” Ventre said.
He said he briefly spoke with Garrity last fall, before she formally announced her bid for governor, but has not met with her during the campaign.
Richey said he was recruited by Garrity and U.S. Dave McCormick to run for lieutenant governor.
“We need to defeat Josh Shapiro. For 12 years the failed (former Gov. Tom Wolf) and Shapiro administrations has left Pennsylvania lacking,” Richey said.
He said he backs efforts to fuel the state’s energy industry by promoting increased production of natural gas as a means to grow revenue. That revenue would be used to offset property taxes and eliminate the state’s income tax, he said.
Ventre, who has been unsuccessful in two runs for Westmoreland County Commissioner, said he sees himself as a perfect fit for lieutenant governor. In that role he said he wants to push Garrity to support the elimination of the state’s fuel tax, form a cabinet-level position to oversee excessive state spending and implement school choice programs.
According to financial reports on file in Harrisburg, Ventre’s campaign has raised no money and spent just more than $4,400. Richey’s campaign has seen donations of more than $60,000 since the start of the year and has spent just less than $7,700 through the end of March.