March 15, 2018
After a stunning special election defeat in the state’s southwest, Pennsylvania Republicans face another headache: U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello’s potential retirement. Costello, of Chester County, has warned GOP leaders that he may not run for another term in the U.S. House, according to four sources familiar with the conversations, leaving party officials worried about fielding a candidate in a highly-competitive district that could flip to Democrats. The concerns about Costello’s future have swirled for weeks, dating back to when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court redrew the state’s congressional map and made his district, the Sixth, more favorable to Democrats. If he joins other Republicans in retiring, Democrats would likely become the favorites to pick up his seat. The race is already seen as a top-tier contest, even with Costello involved, and Democrat Chrissy Houlahan is one of her party’s top recruits.
Costello, the sources said, may still run. But he is less than a week away from a March 20 deadline to file petitions to get on the primary ballot and has not made a definitive statement about his plans. If Costello were to decide not to run now, the GOP would have little time to find a replacement candidate. Republican leaders sounded out at least one alternative candidate in case Costello quits, but that person turned them down, two Republican sources said. They, like others interviewed for this story, requested anonymity to discuss private conversations. Republicans are already facing stiff headwinds heading into the fall midterm elections, with Democrats targeting several districts in the Philadelphia area. Reps. Pat Meehan, of Delaware County, Frank LoBiondo, of South Jersey, and Charlie Dent, of Allentown, are all retiring, opening opportunities for Democrats.
