State Senator Jake Corman is getting help in his bid to win the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania governor from a nationally known pollster: Kellyanne Conway, former campaign manager for Donald Trump.
Corman's campaign announced Friday that Conway is joining his team as campaign pollster and a special adviser. Conway was campaign manager for Trump in 2016, when he beat Democrat Hillary Clinton, including in Pennsylvania. President Joe Biden beat Trump in Pennsylvania in 2020.
Corman, who is Senate President Pro Tempore, is a native of Bellefonte, Centre County. He is facing a stiff battle in the bid for the Republican nomination for governor. Thirteen Republican candidates appeared at a recent debate. Attorney General Josh Shapiro is expected to win the Democratic nomination.
“Kellyanne Conway is a proven winner who’s ready to help Republicans take back the governor’s office here in Pennsylvania,” Corman said in a news release. “Her experience in communications and polling is second-to-none. Kellyanne knows what it takes to win tough campaigns, and we’re excited to have her on our team.”
Conway founded The Polling Company Inc./WomanTrend, a privately held company she operated from 1995-2017. She now runs KAConsulting LLC. A lawyer, Conway was licensed to practice law in four states, including Pennsylvania.
“Pennsylvania needs a strong, principled leader who will end years of destructive progressive politics in the governor’s office,” Conway said in the announcement. “Jake Corman is that leader. He has the experience to take command quickly and restore the personal freedoms stripped from Pennsylvanians by Gov. Wolf during the pandemic. He’ll create jobs, expand educational opportunities and give law enforcement the tools they need to stop the violence plaguing Pennsylvania communities.”
Corman was one of those to successfully legally challenge the Wolf administration's mask mandate in Pennsylvania schools last year.
Pennsylvania is seen as a key battleground state in elections for U.S. House and president. Legislative redistricting is currently underway.
