Barletta may run for Casey’s seat

Senate. Republicans control the chamber with 52 seats.

Mr. Casey of Scranton, first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006, enters next year’s re-election race favored by a voter-registration advantage for Democrats. But Mr. Trump was able to overcome those statewide odds, and the incumbent Democrat — and vocal Trump critic — will be among 10 Senate Democrats defending seats in states that Mr. Trump won last year.

Mr. Barletta was a visiblesupporter of Mr. Trump during his presidential campaign last year, and having the president’s support could be significant in an expensive, statewide contest. He endorsed Mr. Trump a month before the Pennsylvania primary, when few congressmen were doing so. Mr. Barletta and U.S. Rep. Tom Marino, R-Lycoming, became campaign surrogates.

Mr. Barletta later served on Trump’s transition team and was rumored as a candidate to lead the Transportation or Labor departments.

State and national Democrats responded to the report of Mr. Barletta’s plans by criticizing the congressman’s support for the House-passed Republican health care bill.

“At every turn, Congressman Barletta is looking out for himself and the wealthy special interests he serves, while Pennsylvania’s seniors and working families pay the price,” said David Bergstein, spokesman for the D.C.based Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Mr. Barletta represents a House district that stretches from south-central Pennsylvania through northeastern Pennsylvania, including parts of Carbon County.

He won his House seat during the Republican midterm wave of 2010, after drawing national attention when, as mayor of Hazleton, he pushed an ordinance meant to punish businesses that hire undocumented immigrants and landlords who rent to them. He has remained a vocal critic of illegal immigration and has been supportive of Mr. Trump’s efforts to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.