U.S. Rep. Schwartz to set up political panel, a key move in run for governor

U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D., Pa.) said Friday that she would establish a state political committee in the next few weeks, an important procedural precursor to her expected run for governor of Pennsylvania.

The six-term representative from Jenkintown has been traveling around the state trying to line up support.

Should she pull the trigger, Schwartz said, she would not file to run simultaneously for her House seat.

"Legally, I'm allowed to, but it wouldn't be right," she said. "I am interested in running for governor. . . . I want to be all in."

Earlier in the week, Schwartz took a step in that direction when she quit as fund-raising chairperson of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Schwartz is one of several Democrats thinking of taking on Republican Gov. Corbett in 2014 - among them state Treasurer Rob McCord, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, State Sen. Mike Stack 3d of Philadelphia, former Revenue Secretary Tom Wolf, and former Philadelphia mayoral candidate Tom Knox. Only the former state environmental secretary, John Hanger, has formally announced a run.

On the Republican side, Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr. has made noises about a primary challenge against Corbett.

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