PA Bill Number: HB1472
Title: In primary and election expenses, further providing for reporting by candidate and political committees and other persons and for late contributions ...
Description: In primary and election expenses, further providing for reporting by candidate and political committees and other persons and for late contrib ...
Last Action: Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT
Last Action Date: Apr 22, 2024
District 166-Vitali foe Sarah Armstrong named in Right Women, Right Now 14 in '14 Races to Watch :: 09/03/2014
Sarah Armstrong, a Radnor resident who is challenging state Rep. Greg Vitali for the 166th District seat, received the endorsement of a national group, the Republican State Leadership Committee's Future Majority Project. Armstrong was named one of the Right Women, Right Now 14 in '14 Races to Watch.
Jill Bader, a spokeswoman for the RSLC, said the group will be supporting Armstrong's campaign though email and social media. The committee had not yet determined whether any financial support would be included, Bader said.
The goal of the RSLC is to "recruit and elect candidates around the country" for state offices, she said. The RSLC is seeking to promote both ethnically diverse and women candidates. New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval co-chair the Future Majority Project and Right Women, Right Now project, which is intended to "proactively grow the Republican Party," Bader said.
"I'm honored that my campaign for state representative has received national attention," said Armstrong. "As a wife, mother, and businesswoman, I know that it
is imperative that the unique perspectives and concerns of women are represented when important legislative decisions are being made. I'm very pleased to offer the skills and insights that I have developed personally and professionally to the residents of the 166th District. I look forward to bringing new energy and collaboration to the legislature to craft the best answers for the challenges confronting Pennsylvanians."
Meanwhile, Vitali responded by saying, "I try to be the best legislator I can be. I don't worry too much about who my opponent is or what they are saying . My feeling is that if you do your job on a day-to-day basis things will take care of themselves on Election Day."
The goal for Right Women, Right Now for 2012 was to identify 150 new Republic women candidates and elect 75 to office. That year group identified 191 new candidates and elected 84 Republican women to state-level offices in 36 states.
For this election cycle they have identified 244 diverse candidates and 558 women, said Bader, and named 38 candidates around the U.S. with 14 diverse candidates for their 14 in '14 Races to Watch and 14 women were named for Right Women, Right Now 14 in '14. Armstrong is the only Pennsylvania candidate named to the list.
"We are unveiling our plans for the fall," said Bader. "These are our top targeted districts that have outstanding candidates." The candidates selected are "doing a great job with campaign infrastructure" and are out there "knocking on doors," she said. The RSLC will also launch on online campaign school for the candidates.
Bader said it was important for the Republican Party to appeal to voters from all groups.
"Our party and our nation works best when everyone comes to the table," said Bader. She called the RSLC "the farm team for the Republican Party" that's cultivating "a stronger and more diverse bench for the future, a strong bench for the party to draw from."
Terry Madonna, a political scientist, pollster and professor at Franklin and Marshall College, said Armstrong's bid against an entrenched state legislator remains a long shot, although gaining the endorsement of the RSLC was a smart move.
"Vitali has been in the House for a long time," said Madonna. "It's going to be hard to defeat him without a major mistake. It's smart to use the tactic the Armstrong campaign is using, especially given the nature of that suburban district, but that alone is not enough. He has to have made a big mistake or to have completely disregarded his constituents, i.e., service and meetings with them."
