Before he shut down the schools in Montgomery County in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Gov. Tom Wolf got in a little politics.
The Democratic governor is backing Delco union leader John Kane in the Democratic primary in the 9th District Pa. Senate race.
Kane, who recently moved to Birmingham in Chester County - and into the 9th District - is locked in a primary battle with Edgmont businessman Brett Burman.
“John Kane has been a vital partner to me in working to grow the middle class and improve the lives of working people,” Wolf said in a release. “I need John in Harrisburg so he can keep fighting for working people and champion Democratic causes like investing in our public schools, pushing for quality, affordable healthcare for everyone, protecting women’s reproductive rights, and addressing climate change. Today, I am proud to endorse John Kane for SD-9.”
Wolf took 62.93% of the vote in the 9th District in his last run for governor.
For his part, Burman said he was not surprised by Wolf's endorsement, since both he and Kane are backers of the controversial Mariner East pipeline.
"This is hardly surprising because both Gov. Tom Wolf and John Kane support the Mariner East pipelines and the expansion of fracking in Pennsylvania," Burman said. "I have taken a clear and consistent stance against the unsafe operations of Mariner East and the destruction of our environment."
Kane has been endorsed by both U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-5 of Swarthmore, and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-6 of Chester County, the two members of the U.S. House from the district, which sits in both Delaware and Chester counties.
Kane also has been endorsed by the Delaware County Democratic Committee, while Burman has earned the backing of Chester County Democrats.
The winner will face incumbent Republican Sen. Tom Killion in one of the crucial races on the November ballot.
“It means the world to me that Gov. Wolf has endorsed me in this race,” said Kane. “Like all Democrats, I’ve been a proud supporter of his since he ran in 2014. I’m honored that he sees me as a partner in the fight for progress. I look forward to working alongside the Governor to serve the people of Chester and Delaware counties and fight on their behalf.”
It's not Kane's first run for the Senate. He fell to Republican Tom McGarrigle in a race for the 26th District seat back in 2016.
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