Jim Gerlach joins Governor's race

The race for Governor of Pennsylvania is on, and it includes U.S. Representative Jim Gerlach. The Republican became the first candidate to officially announce a run Tuesday.

The race for Governor of Pennsylvania is on, and it includes U.S. Representative Jim Gerlach. The Republican became the first candidate to officially announce a run Tuesday. But many experts say there’s a good chance he will face at least two primary challengers: Attorney General Tom Corbett and former U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan. Gerlach is not running for re-election for a congressional seat that represents parts of Berks, Chester, Lehigh and Montgomery counties.

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Jim Gerlach says he’s well suited to be Governor of the state: he’s a western Pennsylvania native and a four-term U.S. Congressman from Chester County.

Terry Madonna is a political science professor at Franklin and Marshall College. He says Gerlach will likely face a tough primary battle and is no stranger to tight races.

Madonna: Congressman Gerlach not arguably represents a district in Southeastern Pennsylvania that’s very competitive, he’s had very very tough races – three elections, two of which he won by a scant 2 percentage points. And the Democrats were you know fielding a very strong candidate.

As for the competition for the seat Gerlach is leaving, Madonna says it will be one of the nation’s top congressional contests next year. He says either party could win.