Fourth-term Rep. Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania says President Trump has encouraged him to run against incumbent Sen. Bob Casey, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, in 2018. Political handicappers say the race leans or is likely Democratic at this point, given Casey’s strong electoral record in Pennsylvania and his 54 percent share of the vote in his re-election in 2012.
Barletta, who represents a northeastern Pennsylvania congressional district, told the Associated Press and Roll Call that Trump encouraged him during a telephone conversation this week to challenge Casey. Barletta declined to say when he would decide whether to enter the race, said Roll Call. Three Republicans have already announced they will run, and Rep. Mike Kelly, from northwestern Pennsylvania, also is mulling joining the race.
Seven of the 10 Democrats on the Agriculture Committee have terms expiring in 2016, including Debbie Stabenow, the panel’s senior Democrat. Together, the committee accounts for nearly one-third of the 23 Democratic senators facing re-election in 2018.