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<p>HERSHEY &#8212; The Republican Party of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Democratic Party unanimously voted Saturday to endorse candidates for the U.S. Senate.</p><p>The Republican Party is backing Lou Barletta in his quest for the GOP nomination in a crowded May primary field. If successful, the former Hazleton mayor will take on two-term incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, in November.</p><p>Also on Saturday, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party announced it unanimously endorsed Casey and Gov. Tom Wolf in their re-election bids.</p><p>The battle for the Senate seat is widely expected to be one of the most-watched races in the nation. Roll Call named Casey one of the 10 most vulnerable senators up for re-election this year.</p><p>&#8220;I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania,&#8221; Barletta said in a news release. &#8220;It&#8217;s time we end the Washington first way of doing business. Senator Casey is resisting our efforts to put Americans first, voting against tax cuts for workers and families, failing to protect the sanctity of life, refusing to secure our borders, and defending dangerous sanctuary cities. One vote in the Senate can determine the direction of our country, and that one vote can be us. I believe in term limits, and Senator Casey&#8217;s 12 years are up.&#8221;</p><p>Barletta adds the Republican Party of Pennsylvania to a list of conservative groups and leaders who have endorsed his campaign, including President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, the entire Pennsylvania Republican congressional delegation, and dozens of Pennsylvania state House and Senate members.</p><p><strong>&#8216;Democrats enthusiastic&#8217;</strong></p><p>The Democratic Party moved to hold an open primary for the office of Lieutenant Governor. The party also voted on and enacted a comprehensive sexual assault and harassment code of conduct.</p><p>John A. Hanna was elected chairman, Nancy Patton Mills was elected vice chair, and Lisa Rhodes was elected treasurer of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party until the party&#8217;s June reorganization meeting.</p><p>&#8220;We must do better as a party to ensure that we live by the values that we profess,&#8221; Hanna said. &#8220;Democrats are enthusiastic going into 2018. In 2017, we saw that Democrats are fired up, talking to their friends and neighbors, and organizing in their communities. We are going to turn this energy into action by electing Conor Lamb (for a western Pa. congressional seat) on March 13, re-electing Gov. Tom Wolf and Sen. Bob Casey, and getting Democrats up and down the ballot elected this November.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_Casey_recent_mug-cmyk.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Casey </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_Casey_recent_mug-cmyk.jpg</photo0><caption0>Casey </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_Barletta_Lou-CMYK-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Barletta </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_Barletta_Lou-CMYK-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Barletta </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

State political parties endorse Barletta, Casey in U.S. Senate race