Bill Bachenberg launches an “exploratory committee” to run for PA GOP Chair

Allentown, Pennsylvania — William “Bill” Bachenberg has launched an “exploratory committee” in running for the Republican Party of Pennsylvania chairmanship, according to a press release he issued to Harrisburg100 Friday afternoon.

At this time, the lone candidate for that imminent vacancy is state Senator Greg Rothman, who entered the race upon current PAGOP Chairman Lawrence Tabas’ decision to not seek re-election, Friday, Dec. 13^th.  There was a second candidate – longtime Trump advisor Ted Christian, who also entered the race with a formal announcement on ‘X’, only to withdraw about a week later, after party elites piled on endorsements for Rothman.

“Since the announcement of PAGOP Chairman candidate Ted Christian dropping out of the race, many Republican leaders, voters, grassroots supporters and donors are looking for a chairman who supports their values and beliefs,” said Bachenberg, in his release, issued to Harrisburg100 via email Friday (Dec. 27^th) afternoon.  “They are looking for a chairman who believes in Integrity, Trust and Transparency and who has a strategic vision for the future with proven leadership that can unite all PA citizens together for a great Commonwealth.”

“Not being a (state) committee man, it was felt best to explore the grassroots support for new Republican Party leadership,” said Bachenberg.  But within hours after he issued the release, his support flourished.  “Initial support has been extremely overwhelming from across the state, telling us the Party is seeking real change,” said Bachenberg shortly after 6 p.m. Friday.

Bachenberg said the private / strategy meetings organized around his tentative candidacy are set to begin this weekend.  

Bachenberg is a serial businessman who resides in the Lehigh Valley.  Bachenberg has become active in state and national politics and brings a business and grassroots perspective to politics.  Bachenberg was the Master of Ceremony for then-candidate Donald Trump’s rally in Scranton the night before the election in 2016.  He was President Trump’s PA Finance Co-Chairman for the 2020 election, raising over $5M and launched “Sportsman for Trump” at his shooting range, Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays, the site of many political events during 2024.  

Bachenberg was an alternate elector in 2020 and an elector in 2024.  He and his wife founded Camp Freedom, a year-round outdoor adventure camp for disabled veterans and first responders, their families and Gold Star Families using nature to heal our American heroes.  Bachenberg was elected in May as the 1st Vice President of the National Rifle Association of America.