Karen Shuey: Two Berks commissioners endorse Jeff Bartos for U.S. Senate seat
Jan. 14—Two Berks County leaders announced they are throwing their support behind Jeff Bartos to win the Republican nomination for the hotly contested U.S. Senate seat.
Commissioners Christian Leinbach and Michael Rivera released a joint statement this week outlining why they are endorsing the Montgomery County real estate developer for the nomination and what they believe he can bring to the position.
"The election is an opportunity for Republicans in Pennsylvania to deliver the Senate majority, with a candidate who knows our values and our communities, which is why we're proud to support Jeff Bartos," the commissioners wrote. "A born and bred son of Berks County, no one has spent more time understanding our individual needs than Jeff Bartos."
Bartos grew up in Berks, attending schools in the Gov. Mifflin School District before transferring to Lancaster Country Day School for his high school education. After completing college and law school, he eventually settled in Montgomery County when he landed a position working at a large law firm in 1997.
The commissioners said Bartos, who ran for lieutenant governor in 2018, earned their support by how he handled the COVID pandemic.
"He spent the pandemic saving our Main Street businesses, and Jeff will take our values to Washington," they wrote. "Pennsylvania has a fighter in Jeff Bartos, and we're proud to endorse him for Senate."
The race features an open field, with the incumbent not appearing on the ballot. Republican Sen. Pat Toomey announced in October 2020 that he would be retiring from the post.
The race for the Senate seat has drawn a lot of interest and an enormous amount of money, with more than a dozen candidates on each side of the political aisle throwing their hat into the ring. The seat is seen as crucial to both parties as they compete for control of the chamber and is expected by many to be one of the most expensive Senate races in history.
The primary is May 17.
