The Republican Committee of Lancaster County is looking for candidates to run in the 2026 midterm elections.
The party announced Thursday that any person interested in receiving the committee’s endorsement must submit an official letter of intent by 5 p.m. Dec. 22. Letters can be emailed to Elizabeth@goplancaster.com or mailed to the committee’s East Hempfield Township headquarters at 2260 Erin Court, Lancaster, PA, 17601, Attn: Republican Committee of Lancaster County.
The following offices are up for endorsement next year: Congressional District 11; state Senate Districts 36 and 48; state House Districts 37, 41, 43, 49, 96, 97, 98, 99 and 100; and Republican state committee members (eight men and eight women).
Kirk Radanovic, chair of the county GOP, said the annual endorsement convention will take place Feb. 17 and will be open to the public. Candidates interested in receiving the party’s support are also asked to participate in straw poll interviews with committee members ahead of the convention.
The party’s endorsement is powerful because the candidate who secures the endorsement usually wins the primary election in Lancaster County. Candidates who do not earn the endorsement often drop out of the race.
Four Republicans already have announced their plans to challenge Democratic State Sen. James Malone for the 36th District seat: state Rep. Tom Jones of the 98th District, former Rapho Township supervisor Jere Swarr, New Holland Borough Council President Patrick Morgan and Manheim Township Commissioner Mary Jo Huyard.
Radanovic this week declined to comment on the growing interest in the seat, saying he has yet to receive any formal statements of interest from any candidates.
Democratic County Committee Chair Tom O’Brien said the party also will begin accepting endorsements in early December, though the party has yet to release information to potential candidates. The party’s endorsement convention will be Feb. 25.
O’Brien said he does not expect challengers to the party’s incumbents, Sen. Malone, State Rep. Nikki Rivera of the 96th District and State Rep. Izzy Smith-Wade-El of the 49th District, though every applicant will go through an interview process.
“We think we’ll probably have a full slate of candidates,” O’Brien said.
The spring primary is slated for May 19.
