Retiring Rep. Costello faces more decisions
WEST CHESTER » U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6, has until 5 p.m. Tuesday to make another crucial decision about his political future, a mere two days after announcing that he would not seek re-election to a third term in which he cited both an unfavorable election map and a frustrating political environment as factors in his move.
By that time, he must inform the state Department of State whether he wants to have his name removed from the May primary ballot, or say nothing and allow it to remain until removing it later this year.
Costello Monday declined to comment on what his intentions are, and was said to be working with state party Chairman Val DiGiorgio on what the best course of action would be.
Should he chose to have his name remain on the ballot, it would presumably give the party a chance to nominate him and then search over
the summer for a candidate with a chance of going head-to-head against presumed Democratic nominee Chrissy Houlahan and her well-financed, high-profile campaign. If he seeks to have it removed, the party would be faced with the possibility of having a relatively unknown candidate in the person of Chadds Ford tax attorney Gregory Michael McCauley represent it in this crucial midterm election.
Too, should he drop off the ballot and find that a challenge to McCauley’s nominating petitions was successful, it would leave the position open — allowing the embarrassing chance that Houlahan could run a successful write-in campaign and have the seat wrapped up before Memorial Day.
DiGiorgio could not be reached for comment Monday.
At least one commentator said Costello’s decision to leave the race was proving a frustration for Republican party leaders.
“Obviously, the Republican leaders in the 6th Congressional District are not very happy with Congressman Costello at this point,” said G. Terry Madonna, a professor of public affairs at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster and director of its Center for Politics and Public Affairs.
“He knew he was going to be in the battle of his life and that (Houlahan) might win. So he chose not to run. That left the party in the lurch,” Madonna said.
Costello filed nominating petitions for the 6th Congressional District seat in Harrisburg by the deadline last Tuesday, but said he did not make the final decision on whether to run until Friday, when he reportedly met with Chester County GOP leaders. The deadline for candidates to be listed on the ballot
came one month after the state Supreme Court issued the state’s new election map, and a day after a federal court in Harrisburg and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene in GOP challenges to the decision by the state court — meaning the new map that deleted parts of Lebanon and Berks counties where Costello had been popular would be where the 6th District battle would be fought.
Madonna said that although Chester County remains the suburban Philadelphia county with the strongest Republican base, “that doesn’t matter.” So many factors are stacking up against the GOP and its candidates in suburban areas with moderate voters — dislike for President Donald Trump, a tradition of presidential party losses in midterm elections, energized candidates — that simple voter registration edges would not necessarily have protected Costello. “There’s a wave coming,” he said.
Madonna gave slim odds on the chances of McCauley, the only other candidate who filed for the 6th District GOP nomination, of winning either the primary if Costello decides to leave his name on the ballot, or against Houlahan in the fall.
“He would not have been the candidate that the party would have endorsed for the seat (if he had sought the nod),” he said. “They would have wanted a higher profile candidate.”
The veteran political observer noted that Costello’s race is just one in the Philadelphia suburbs that Democrats are favored in — the new Delaware County centered 5th District and the
new 4th District in Montgomery County — that would mean a pick-up of three seats with a Democratic sweep.
After Connor Lamb’s victory in the hotly contested 18th District race in western Pennsylvania, Democrats are 23 seats away from taking the majority in the House of Representatives. Costello is the 24th Republican congressman to retire this year with no immediate plans to seek higher office, including fellow moderate U.S. Reps. Charlie Dent, R-15, of Allentown and Pat Meehan, R-7, of Chadds Ford.
Reaction to the decision, first reported in the Daily Local News Sunday and on MSNBC news with reporter Kacie Hunt, a graduate of Conestoga High School in the Tredyffrin-Easttown School District, came from a variety of sources.
Asked Monday what messages he had experienced since his announcement, Costello said it had mostly been positive.
“Some colleagues indicate understanding and support, but they are disappointed because they felt I was an important voice, “he said in a brief statement. “Some people I haven’t heard from in a while saying they felt I did a good job” He said he had a number of texts and emails.
His likely opponent was gracious.
“While Congressman Costello and I might have disagreed on many issues, I respect and thank him for his service to our country, Commonwealth, and community,” said Houlahan in a statement. “I wish him and his family well in this new chapter of their lives.
My campaign is just getting started. I look forward to continuing to travel throughout our district to listen to all of the people in our community.”
“I am disappointed,” said Jim Gerlach, the man Costello replaced in Congress who now works as president and chief executive officer of the Business-Industry PAC in Washington. “I think Ryan has done a good job representing the district, and it is an interesting district to represent. But this is something he had to decide on for himself and his family.” It was Gerlach’s decision, surprising at the time, not to seek reelection in 2014 that opened the door for Costello to run for Congress.
Gerlach declined to say what advice, if any, he had given Costello in the leadup to his announcement, but did acknowledge the tricky situation it puts the GOP in for fielding a candidate in the 2018 election. “The timing is unusual, no doubt about it. But he has to make his own decisions.”
National Republican Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Stivers released the following statement:
“Congressman Ryan Costello’s retirement is a great loss for both his colleagues and constituents. He’s been a fierce advocate for Pennsylvania’s 6th District and his leadership will be sorely missed,” it read. “We will work tirelessly to ensure this seat remains in Republican hands.”
On the other hand, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Evan Lukaske had this to say:
”Last year, NRCC Chairman Stivers singled out Congressman Costello’s race as a bellwether for whether Democrats could take back the majority, so Costello’s retirement is an ominous sign for Republican chances this November. Saddled with a toxic Republican agenda that no ‘moderate’ spin could erase, and facing a strong challenge from … Houlahan, Costello is taking a very early exit from this swing district.
“Costello’s exit should set off alarm bells for vulnerable House Republicans, who will also have to explain to middle class voters why they’ve given repeated handouts to the rich and biggest corporations, and who will face similarly tough, well-financed challenges from our deep field of impressive candidates.”
Ending weeks of speculation in local and national political circles, Costello had confirmed to the Daily Local News Sunday that he will not be running for reelection this year.
“It was a combination of factors,” Costello said of his startling decision, citing personal and political considerations that weighed heavily on him and a distaste for the prospects of waging a bitter and costly campaign to hold the office he has occupied since 2015. “It has been a deeply personal decision and evaluation.
“But those who love me agree, and those who I love agree, with it,” Costello said in a one-on-one interview.
He said his decision to leave the race was not a matter of fear that he would lose to Houlahan. Despite the new district boundaries that lean toward a Democratic victory in November, the overall voter registration figures are in Costello’s favor and internal polling suggests that he could eke out a win.
Rather, Costello cited the “political environment” for his decision. “Whether it’s (President Trump’s rumored affair with porn star) Stormy Daniels, or passing an omnibus spending bill that the president threatens to veto after promising to sign, it’s very difficult to move forward in a constructive way today.
“I think there is a lot of hate, from the left especially, and it’s a very angry environment,” he said. “It is a sad commentary on the state of our culture and political environment. It’s not me doing it, but I am the one who gets the brunt of it.”
“I am disappointed. I think Ryan has done a good job representing the district, and it is an interesting district to represent. But this is something he had to decide on for himself and his family.” — Jim Gerlach, the man Costello replaced in Congress and who now works as president and chief executive officer of the Business-Industry PAC in Washington