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Rep. Allyson Schwartz Throws Hat In The Ring For Governor

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz on Monday became the fourth Democrat - and the first woman - to declare her candidacy for Pennsylvania governor in 2014.

"I'm running to replace (Republican Gov.) Tom Corbett. That's what this race is about," the fifth-term congresswoman said in a telephone interview.

Schwartz, 64, has said for weeks that she intended to run, but she planned to file papers Monday with the Pennsylvania State Department to set up a state fundraising committee.

Campaign aides said Schwartz also plans to transfer the $3 million held by her federal campaign committee into the state organization.

  • Listen to pollster Terry Madonna of Franklin and Marshall College about Schwartz's decision to join the race on NewsRadio 1020 KDKA:

Terry Madonna

Schwartz faces a potentially crowded field in a primary that's more than a year away.

Other declared candidates include Tom Wolf, a York County businessman and former state revenue secretary who has pledged to sink at least $10 million of his own money into the primary campaign, and state government veteran John Hanger of Dauphin County. Several others are still considering entering the race.

Schwartz is an advocate of abortion rights and gun control but has a more moderate record on other issues. For example, a bill she sponsored in her first term to provide tax credits to businesses that hire unemployed veterans was passed and signed into law.

She vowed that her Pennsylvania political campaign would not interfere with her duties in Washington.

"I'm blessed with great energy and focus," she said.

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(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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