Doug Mastriano Projected Winner Of GOP Primary For PA Governor: AP

PENNSYLVANIA — The favorite has emerged from the large Republican field in the primary for Pennsylvania governor, as State Sen. Doug Mastriano has earned his party's nomination, the Associated Press projects. He'll face off against Democratic nominee, current Attorney General Josh Shapiro, in November.

Mastriano, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump and drew national attention for leading long-debunked claims about fraud in the 2020 election, had a commanding lead of 190,047 votes at 10 p.m.

He was trailed by former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta with 104,041 votes, and former U.S. Attorney and Trump-appointee Bill McSwain with 68,285 votes. Nearly 60 percent of precincts had reported just after 10 p.m.

>>Josh Shapiro Secures Democratic Nomination For PA Governor

Shapiro responded to Mastriano's win Tuesday night.

"Doug Mastriano will be my opponent – and he is the most extreme gubernatorial candidate in the country," he said. "He would ban abortion, end vote by mail, and rip away our freedoms. Pennsylvania is a swing state. We can't take anything for granted."

Mastriano has been a staunch Trump supporter from the get-go. He secured the former president's endorsement just days before the primary.

Mastriano, however, was not the universal choice of the Republican establishment, which had largely backed McSwain and Barletta. The Republican Governor's Association issued a tepid statement, moments after the race was unofficially called, which did not mention Mastriano by name beyond saying that Republican voters had "chosen" him.

"The R.G.A. remains committed to engaging in competitive gubernatorial contests where our support can have an impact in defending our incumbents and expanding our majority," executive director Dave Rexrode said.

9:36 p.m.

Favorite Doug Mastriano holds a large early lead, with the race whittled down to three top competitors early on.

• Doug Mastriano: 114,767
• Bill McSwain: 44,766
• Lou Barletta: 63,935

8 p.m.

Polls closed at 8 p.m. and results will begin to trickle in shortly.

Original story

Eight Republicans battled at the polls Thursday in a long-anticipated primary matchup to determine the next governor of Pennsylvania. The winner will face off against the long-presumptive favorite and lone standing Democratic nominee, current Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

State Sen. Doug Mastriano, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, is the steady leader in the polls. But a crowd of big names who also are looking to court the MAGA vote trail behind him, including former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, former U.S. Attorney and Trump-appointee Bill McSwain, and Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale.

RELATED: Days Before Election, Trump Endorses Mastriano In PA GOP Governor Primary

Mastriano received Trump's endorsement over the weekend, just days before the primary.

“He will (also) Fight Violent Crime, Strengthen our Borders, Protect Life, Defend our under-siege Second Amendment, and Help our Military and our Vets," Trump said in a statement over the weekend. "He is a fighter like few others, and has been with me right from the beginning, and now I have an obligation to be with him."

According to CNN, Mastriano barred the media from covering a recent rally, forcing correspondent Kyung Lah and photojournalist Ronnie McCray to cover it from a hotel balcony across an indoor pool from the event. It likely only boosted his profile among the far right crowd of his base supporters, much as it did for Kathy Barnette, who did something similar at a rally last weekend.

Mastriano leads the polls at 34 percent, according to the latest aggregate of polls from RealClearPolitics. He's trailed by Barletta at 20 percent and McSwain at 15 percent.

Others in the field include Charlie Gerow, Melissa Hart, Dave White, and Nche Zama.