Report: Jay Paterno Eyeing Congressional Run
Jay Paterno has never made his political interests a secret. The former Penn State quarterback and coach campaigned for President Obama and has long been active in local Democratic circles.
It comes as little surprise that Paterno is considering a run for Congress. The Patriot-News, citing “prominent Democratic figures in Centre County and Pennsylvania,” say that Paterno has indicated interest in challenging incumbent Rep. Glenn Thompson in Pennsylvania’s Fifth Congressional District.
Paterno has a tough challenge if he does decide to jump in the race. PA-5 — which includes State College — has long been and is likely to continue to be a blood-red Republican district. It would take a prominent and unique figure like Jay Paterno to even have a chance at unseating Rep. Thompson. The Patriot-News says that a decision from Paterno is coming in about a month.
Paterno already has one supporter in gubernatorial candidate Rob McCord, who encouraged Paterno to run at a Centre County Democrats dinner earlier this month.
“Jay is a smart, capable leader who really wants to help people,” McCord said. “I believe he would win that congressional seat and make a great member of Congress. I’d love to see him get in that race.”
Paterno-family politics has always been an interesting case study. Despite actually donating to Obama’s 2008 campaign, Joe Paterno was a well-known conservative. Jay’s brother Scott ran unsuccessfully for congress in 2004 on the Republican side against then-Rep. Tim Holden.
What lies ahead for JayPa we’ll know soon enough, but personally, I’m excited for the book.
Your ad blocker is on.
Please choose an option below.
Purchase a Subscription!
About the Author
‘Unforgettable’: Penn State Men’s Hockey Thankful For Spengler Cup Experience
Five Nittany Lions represented the U.S. Collegiate Selects team in Davos, Switzerland, under the leadership of Guy Gadowsky.
Reflecting On Penn State Football’s 2022 Recruiting Class
How did Penn State’s most hyped recruiting class perform?
Where Jalen Pickett Stacks Up In Penn State Hoops’ Top NBA Single-Game Scorers
Pickett’s 29 points on January 5 are tied for the fifth-most a Nittany Lion has ever scored in the NBA.
Hometown Brewery Releases Beer Honoring Evan Pugh
Penn State’s first president Evan Pugh was born in 1828 at Jordan Bank Farm, three miles south of the city center of Oxford, Pennsylvania, an hour west of Philadelphia in Chester County. One-hundred eighty-nine years later, an Oxford brewery is honoring one of the preeminent champions of “liberal and practical” higher education in the form of a delicious Porter.