Matt Shaner

In the closing days of the primary campaign, Derek Walker loaned himself $191,000 and Matt Shaner loaned himself $400,000.

While Glenn Thompson's report was not available on the FEC website, it's reported that he raised only $18,000 – not a lot for the chairman of the county Republican Party. Jeffrey Stroehmann refused to discuss his spending when prompted by CentreDaily, but disclosed a $20,000 personal loan to his campaign to the FEC.

What's noteworthy about the spending patterns is the degree to which the top Republican money-raisers relied on self-finance, but ended up splitting the vote.

Glenn Thompson won a narrow victory in last night’s Congressional District 5 Republican primary. He got 19.4 percent of the vote, in comparison to Derek Walker’s 17.7 percent and Matt Shaner's 17.5 percent and Jeffrey Stroehmann's 13.7 percent, according to the Department of State’s website.

“Since day one in my bid for the Republican nomination, I have run an issue oriented, positive, grassroots campaign,” said Thompson. “My motto of ‘People above Politics’ will remain the key focus of the campaign as we begin the long journey toward the November general election.”

Thompson will take on Mark McCracken (D) in the general to fill the seat of retiring Rep. John Peterson (R).

PA-05 is about as solid a Republican district as you can get. George W. Bush beat John Kerry with 61% of the vote. With John Peterson retiring it was assumed that the winner of the Republican Primary election would be the next Congressman from the 5th district.

As the Republican primary in Congressional District 5 heats up and rivals Matt Shaner and Derek Walker pour money into attack advertisements aimed at each other, fellow Republican candidate Keith Richardson is trying to use the fight to gain some attention for himself.

In a statement blasted out to reporters covering the race, Richardson today called on Walker and Shaner to pull down their advertisements. In doing so, Richardson seemed to subtly suggest that he is the candidate of sufficient stature for the seat.

PA’s 5^th CD Republican primary is turning ugly. Both Matt Shaner and Derek Walker are dumping their vast personal funds into the race, and its turning ugly. Here are the two latest attack ads on both fronts. Inside Edge has also been told it could turn even nastier in the coming weeks

Highlighting his pledge to reform the earmarking process, The Club for Growth has endorsed businessman Matt Shaner in the 5th Congressional District race.