Decision 2020

What you need to know about governor candidate Scott Wagner

Scott Wagner has only been a politician for four years, but is already setting his sights high as the Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor in November.

Wagner, 63, was born and raised on a York County farm, which is where he says he learned a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility. He says he also worked for his uncle's construction business as a young man.

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He graduated from high school in 1973 and enrolled at what is now the Pennsylvania College of Technology. However, he left after one semester to pursue business interests.

Wagner was involved in several fields afterward, including real estate, a laundromat and a ski shop. He even worked as a bail bondsman for a time.

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Over the last few decades, his primary interests have been in waste disposal and trucking. He currently owns York-based Penn Waste and KBS Trucking, among other businesses.

Wagner's entry into politics came when longtime Republican state Sen. Mike Waugh abruptly resigned his 28th District seat in January 2014. Wagner declared his interest in the seat, but the state Republican Party backed state Rep. Ron Miller.

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However, Wagner pushed a strong write-in campaign for the March 2014 special election and became the first person elected to the Pennsylvania Senate as a write-in candidate. He won the Republican nomination in the primary two months later, and was reelected in the regular election that November.

In May of this year, Wagner held off Paul Mango and Laura Ellsworth to capture the Republican nomination for governor, and he resigned his state Senate seat in June to focus on the campaign with lieutenant governor candidate Jeff Bartos.

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Wagner's platform is strongly pro-business, and he advocates for reduced state spending and regulation. He has long criticized labor unions but supports raising the minimum wage to $8.75 an hour.

Wagner has backed legislation banning discrimination against LGBTQ residents.

President Trump endorsed his campaign in August.

Wagner married his fourth wife, Tracy, in 2014. He has two daughters.

 

Cox Media Group

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