Bucks County resident Ted Christian is running for state Republican Party chairman, a post now held by Philadelphia lawyer Lawrence Tabas.
Tabas, elected by the state party committee, did not reply when asked to comment. It was unclear if he plans to run for the post again in 2025.
But by all accounts, 2024 was a good year for Pennsylvania Republicans.
A majority of Pennsylvania voters voted for Donald Trump for president and Republican Dave McCormick for U.S. senator, ousting longtime Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Jr., whose father was a popular governor. Two congressional districts also flipped from Democrat to Republican, and the Republican nominees for state row offices were all reelected or– in the case of Dave Sunday, who ran for attorney general–elected.
Christian has the backing of Bucks County venture capitalist Paul Martino, who gave $100,000 to the effort.
Martino founded Back to School PA PAC, which successfully flipped school boards and elected conservative school board directors around the state.
“We need a leader who understands the importance of executing a clear vision and empowering local organizations to succeed. Ted Christian is that leader,” said Martino. “His proven ability to unite the party, modernize its approach, and deliver results makes him uniquely qualified to lead us to victory.”
Christian was “a key architect of Donald Trump’s 2016 and 2024 Pennsylvania wins,” according to a press release.
Christian has been a strategic advisor to numerous campaigns. Known for his coalition-building expertise, he has consistently demonstrated the ability to navigate complex challenges and drive results at every level, the release said.
Christian is a director in the Government Strategies division of the law firm Duane Morris.
“I’m honored to have the support of Paul Martino, a true visionary whose unwavering focus is winning Republican races across the state,” said Christian. “Paul has built his career on bold investments and choosing winners, and his support here speaks volumes.”
Charlie Gerow, a Republican consultant, said if Tabas “decides he doesn’t want to run, there will be several quality candidates who will come forward, and I may be one of them.”
Some other party insiders contacted by DVJournal did not want to comment on the record.
However, one said on background that they were unhappy that Christian would attack Tabas, calling it premature and disrespectful to mount a campaign when it’s unclear whether Tabas wants to run again.
However, Martino said his $100,000 investment in Christian’s campaign reflects his confidence in Christian’s ability to unify the party and revitalize its infrastructure. They envision a Pennsylvania GOP driven by teamwork, modern strategies, and consistent execution.
“Ted represents the kind of leadership we desperately need,” Martino said. “His vision and strategy will unite the party and put Pennsylvania Republicans on a consistent winning trajectory.”
