Report: Sen. Pat Toomey may not seek reelection

Sen. Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania’s highest-ranking Republican in office, is expected to talk about his future plans Monday.

A spokesman for Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, would not confirm or deny a Sunday report by the Philadelphia Inquirer that he will not seek re-election to the Senate.

Toomey will make an announcement at 10 a.m. Monday, spokesman Steve Kelley said.

A Republican favorite for Pennsylvania Governor, Toomey, 58, also reportedly told sources he wouldn’t run in the state’s 2022 gubernatorial race — suggesting his time as an elected official will soon come to an end.

The Inquirer reported Toomey would leave public office at the end of his term, citing two people familiar with his plans. The New York Times also reported that Toomey had told U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, that he would not seek a third term.

The Associated Press also confirmed the news, citing a person with direct knowledge of Toomey’s plans.

Should Toomey leave office, his absence would prove impactful for Republicans in Pennsylvania, experts say. Leaving the Senate could potentially open his seat to Democratic candidates.

Toomey is also currently the only Republican holding statewide office in Pennsylvania, making him a likely candidate for governor in two years. If he doesn’t run, it’s not clear who would represent the GOP, which could make it easier for Democrats to retain the position as well as flip his Senate seat.

“If it is true, it’s a problem for the Republican party vis-à-vis leadership, and the fielding of candidates that would already have a significant base,” said Joe DiSarro, a political science professor at Washington & Jefferson College.

DiSarro said there are few Republican leaders in the state who have the name recognition and base of support as Toomey and Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, who resigned from the General Assembly in June.

In June, Turzai resigned to become general counsel of Peoples, the Pittsburgh-based gas utility.

Without Turzai or Toomey, DiSarro said, the state GOP would have a “vacuum” in leadership when it comes to a gubernatorial candidate. It would automatically put a Democratic candidate with name recognition — the favorite being Attorney General Josh Shapiro — at an advantage.

Much rests on the results of the Nov. 3 general election, DiSarro said.

If Trump is reelected, Toomey could be convinced to keep his senate seat, DiSarro said.

Toomey is serving his second term in the Senate. He began his career as a banker on Wall Street and he previously served three terms as a congressman, representing the 15th district.

After an unsuccessful Senate run in 2004, he was elected in 2010, after defeating the Democratic nominee, Joe Sestak.

As a senator, Toomey has largely focused on economic issues, in addition to becoming one of few Republicans to advocate for some gun control reform. Though hesitant to back then-candidate Donald Trump in 2016, he has mostly backed Trump policies. Last week, he praised Trump’s policies for fossil fuel extraction industries in Pennsylvania at the annual Shale Insight conference.