Western Pa. progressive Democrat announces primary challenge to U.S. Sen. Bob Casey

A Pittsburgh-area Democrat has announced that he will challenge Sen. Bob Casey in the party’s U.S. Senate primary next year.

Blaine Forkner, a 43-year-old Scott Township, Allegheny County, resident described in a campaign announcement as an engineer and “two-time cancer survivor,” is running on a fairly progressive platform of universal healthcare, gun ownership reform and free tuition for college students.

“I’m running for U.S. Senate to give a voice to the teacher, the student, the nurse, the doctor, the electrician, the engineer, and everyday Americans everywhere,” Forkner said in a statement.

“I’ll fight against the Washington bureaucrats and plutocrats to make healthcare universal for everyone, lower the cost of a college degree and ensure an economic future that works for workers,” he said.

Forkner told PennLive that he has not previously run for public office. His campaign website is blaineforkner.com.

Casey is seeking his fourth six-year term in the Senate. Republican David McCormick announced his entry into the race last week in Pittsburgh.

• READ MORE: Republican David McCormick ends speculation, enters 2024 race for Pa. U.S. Senate seat

The campaign statement said Forkner “embodies resilience and determination” from a childhood spent living in hotels and trailer parks across several states. He now owns an electrical engineering consulting firm that has, the campaign statement said, given him “firsthand insights” into affordable healthcare.

Forkner supports Medicare for All to provide universal healthcare to Americans, with the campaign saying he “understands the challenges of facing illness and the financial burdens that come with it.”

On guns, the campaign said Forkner has “experienced the devastating impact of gun violence” in his own life. Forkner supports “comprehensive gun safety measures, including stricter background checks, closing loopholes and responsible gun ownership education.”

Forkner, a Virginia Tech graduate, considers affordable higher education a right and “envisions a future where aspiring students, regardless of their financial background, can attend state universities for free.”