A long-time communications executive is running for Governor in 2022.
Charlie Gerow, CEO of Quantum Communications and Vice Chairman of CPAC and the American Conservative Union, formally announced his intentions to seek the Republican Party nomination for Governor on Thursday evening.
“I know what needs to be done,” Gerow said, when asked about why he entered the statewide race, in an interview with PoliticsPA. “And I know how to do it.”
“The time is right for a sensible, solid, conservative who can build coalitions to win to run on the Republican side and that’s why I’m running,” he continued.
Gerow said that there will be several issues on the minds of voters for the 2022 election, but specifically pinpointed his support for a constitutional amendment to recall and replace any governor, cleaning up state government, job creation, and education.
His campaign website touts his background in GOP politics, which includes beginning his career on the campaign staff of Ronald Reagan and supporting “the Right to Life,” school choice, Pennsylvania energy, and being a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.
Gerow also released a 1:30 plus long video that highlights his upbringing, work for Reagan’s presidential campaign, while also criticizing the “liberal media.”
This will be Gerow’s first run for statewide office in Pennsylvania. In the 1980s and 1990s, he launched multiple unsuccessful campaigns for the state Senate and Congress.
While Attorney General Josh Shapiro has been viewed as the Democratic frontrunner for Governor, the GOP race appears to be much more wide open.
Although Gerow, who also previously served as the national co-chair to Carly Fiorina’s 2016 presidential campaign, has spent decades cultivating a network of Republican professionals and has built relationships with many GOP insiders, he believes that his message will resonate with Trump voters.
“I’ve also had the opportunity to be on the air on television several days each week for 21 years,” Gerow said, in response to how he can connect with those voters. “So, I’ve had the opportunity to directly communicate with an awful lot of folks through the media for decades.”
“And I think that helps to translate,” he continued. “But most important, I think the message that we have will connect with voters in the ways that Trump loyalists will really really like and Trump enthusiasts will really really like.”
Gerow also said that he’d be able to “take on” Shapiro “in the media” and “beat him on a debate stage.”
Congressman G.T. Thompson (R-Centre), who is backing Gerow’s bid for Governor, said that he thinks Gerow would be a “governor who can make things happen.” Thompson is serving as Gerow’s honorary campaign chair.
Gerow told PoliticsPA that he’ll be rolling out additional campaign co-chairs, but said that Gen. Chris Bernie will serve as the campaign chair and former GOP Treasurer candidate Otto Voit will serve as campaign treasurer.
Former Congressman Lou Barletta, Jason Richey, an Allegheny County resident and partner at Pittsburgh’s K&L Gates law firm, Dr. Nche Zama, former Corry Mayor Jason Monn, and Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale have all formally announced bids for the statewide office.
State Sens. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) and Scott Martin (R-Lancaster) announced exploratory committees for Governor earlier this month, while Congressman Dan Meuser (R-Luzerne), state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin), and former U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain, are also reportedly weighing a run for Governor.