John Ventre, 69, of Hempfield, is one of two Republicans seeking the nomination to run alongside Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity in the November general election.
In Pennsylvania, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run separately in the primary before forming a joint ticket for the general election.
Ventre is facing Allegheny County Republican Committee Chairman Jason Richey, a 54-year-old attorney from Sewickley who was endorsed by Garrity earlier this year.
“Not only is Jason Richey an accomplished attorney, but he is also a committed civic leader in the Greater Pittsburgh area,” Garrity said in a statement. “Jason understands the potential Pennsylvania has, but only if our commonwealth has the right leadership. Jason shares my serious concerns about Josh Shapiro’s failed tenure as governor.”
Both Ventre and Richey previously launched campaigns for governor in 2022 before dropping out ahead of the Republican primary.
Ventre, who unsuccessfully ran twice for Westmoreland County commissioner, is campaigning as an “America First” conservative focused on eliminating Pennsylvania’s fuel tax, expanding school choice programs, and creating a cabinet-level office to audit state spending.
Campaign finance reports filed in Harrisburg showed Ventre’s campaign raised no money and spent just over $4,400 through the end of March. Richey’s campaign raised more than $60,000 and spent nearly $7,700 during the same period.
Beyond politics, Ventre is known for his involvement in UFO research and the paranormal community. He previously served as Pennsylvania state director for the Mutual UFO Network, better known as MUFON, a volunteer organization focused on investigating UFO sightings.
He later became the center of controversy after comments tied to race and diversity surfaced online, prompting backlash and resignations within the organization.
According to a 2018 Newsweek report, Ventre wrote in a Facebook post: “Everything this world is was created by Europeans and Americans,” before making additional comments about Black people and interracial relationships. The article said the backlash triggered internal turmoil inside MUFON, with multiple members resigning over the organization’s response.
Ventre later apologized and told Newsweek he made the comments “in a fit of anger,” denying he was racist.
The controversy followed Ventre into local politics during his 2019 Westmoreland County commissioner campaign, where he also faced scrutiny over comments opposing diversity initiatives in the county, according to prior reporting.
Ventre later left MUFON following the controversy.
He has also authored several books on UFO research and hosts a series titled “Make Ufology Great Again.”
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