Trump Ally, Ex-State Rep. Rick Saccone To Run For Lt. Governor

HARRISBURG, PA — Former state Rep. Rick Saccone, an ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump who gained notoriety for his video posts from the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot, will run for lieutenant governor next year.

Saccone has launched a campaign website and stated his intent to run on his personal Facebook page.

"I promise to be the alarm bell dissenting against the abuses of government and earnestly denouncing with wrath its perpetrators," he said. "Do you want a lieutenant governor like that? Within the next few weeks, I will be making my official announcement."

Saccone, 63, of Elizabeth in suburban Pittsburgh, was a four-term lawmaker who twice ran unsuccessfully for Congress. In March 2018, he lost a U.S. House special election to Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Mt. Lebanon. In May 18, he lost a Republican primary fight for a different U.S. House seat to Rep. Guy Reschenthaler of Jefferson Hills.

A video posted to Saccone's Facebook page, since taken down but still available via online searches, show him at the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6. The videos appears to support efforts by Trump supporters to prevent Congress from counting Electoral College votes confirming Joe Biden's victory in last year's presidential election.

"We’re trying to run out all the evil people in there, all the RINOs (Republicans in name only) that have betrayed our president, we’re going to run them out of their offices,” Saccone said in the video. “I’m telling you there are hundreds of thousands of people here to support our president and save our nation. Are you with me?”

That video resulted in Saccone's subsequent resignation as an adjunct professor at St. Vincent College in Latrobe.

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