Tony Dastra Campaign for
Governor of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 8, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT 

Chris Robinson, 267-977-0570 and
[email protected] 

Green Party Candidates will Clean Up Pennsylvania

Faced with long-term corruption in Pennsylvania, Green Party candidate for Governor Tony Dastra said, “I hope that Voters who are fed up with corruption in Harrisburg will turn to the Green Party this year for two candidates who want to ban bribery. Voters already know the problem – Pennsylvania is open for business, and big business has costs to pass off onto taxpayers.

“The fossil fuel industry is polluting our air, soil and water because politicians from the two corporate parties easily bend over,” said Dastra. “Our governor promised the people of Dimock, that they would get a fresh water line to replace the well water polluted by the fracking companies. They are still waiting for that fresh water line.

“Now we have a new cash grab called artificial intelligence, which is offering donations in return for the right to pollute our land and drinking water while devouring energy, Dastra continued. "Just look at our Governor, who is running for re-election. I read in the Philadelphia Inquirer that his campaign has already raised almost $17 million. Half of that was donated by '240 CEOs, founders, business owners, and other top executives.' Many of them do not live in our Commonwealth. So, they vote with their wallets.”

Chair Craig Bolton of the Green Party of Philadelphia agrees with Dastra. Bolton, who is running to be Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor, joined in, “My general thoughts on corruption in Harrisburg are that it ultimately stems from the two-party system. I believe there are organized efforts by Republicans to intentionally and vindictively withhold state resources from Philadelphia -- particularly crucial education and transit system funds. As usual, Democrats in both Harrisburg and Philadelphia make no true efforts to fix this. Instead, they present strategic half-measures which allow them to play off of the Republicans electorally, while they avoid addressing the root causes of corrupt cronyism in our Commonwealth’s partisan politics.” 

Dastra has solutions: “It doesn’t have to be this way. Right now, 14 states have public campaign financing of elections. The impact of public campaign financing can have two results. The first is to amplify the voices of small donors, working people – those that can’t write big checks. The second is to ensure that we will have more candidates running for office who may not have felt like they had a shot to do so without selling their soul.

“Another reform, which I like, is Democracy Dollars,” continued Dastra, “sometimes called Democracy Vouchers -- under which each voter receives four $25 vouchers to donate to candidates of their choice. When this program was introduced in Seattle in 2017, it increased the amount of small donations from 25 percent of contributions to 66 percent. After Democracy Vouchers were introduced, campaign donors have become closer to the city’s population in age, race, gender and income."

Bolton also believes that a new administration led by a Green Party executive could bring change to Harrisburg. He said, “Other reforms which would take the corruption out of Pennsylvania politics are:

Establish a Gift Ban,

Prohibit Personal Use of Campaign Funds,

Prohibit PA Corporations from Donating to Campaigns, and 

Prohibit Foreign Spending on Our Elections.” 

Tony Dastra and Craig Bolton are currently gathering voters' signatures on their nomination papers. Please contact the Dastra-Bolton Campaign to help clean up Pennsylvania politics.

Dastra-Bolton Campaign Contact Information

Website, https://www.dastraforpa.org/         
Email,  [email protected]
Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/dastraforpa/
Facebook, www.facebook.com/DastraforPA 

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Are you tired of corporate interests and special interest groups compromising candidates?

Are you tired of the same lies, over and over again, in order to scheme your vote?

Are you tired of major parties and their privileged loyalists keeping other parties off the ballot at election time?

Are you tired, yet?

Be seen being Green. Escape the two party trap.

The Montgomery County, PA Green Party Supports the EQAT-led Actions Urging Vanguard to Divest from Fossil Fuels

The Montgomery County Green Party, is a local branch of the Green Party of Pennsylvania

Authored by Tristan H. Edited by Alexander N.

Authorized 02/16/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The Montgomery County Green Party formally expressed its solidarity and support for the Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) in their prolonged struggle to bring pressure to bear against the investment firm, Vanguard, one of the largest investors in the world in the fossil fuel industry.

Founded in 2009, the Earth Quaker Action Team has engaged in, and organized various grassroots campaigns, such as Bank Like Appalachia Matters, the fight against the Keystone XL Pipeline, and Power Local Green Jobs. These campaigns, all fighting in the interest of social and climate justice, and grassroots organizing, have had success in creating change of policy, boosting sustainable and equitable development, and raising consciousness about the most critical issues of our time.

This constant advocacy for community-based organizing, social justice, and climate justice coalesced into their ongoing partnership in the international Vanguard S.O.S. movement, starting in 2021. Today they still hold consistent and frequent meetings, trainings, and events in a continuous effort to fight against Vanguard’s destructive lust for profit. We also praise the other elements of the Vanguard S.O.S. movement for their efforts and cooperation towards that end.

As our world continues to be threatened by the ever-growing problem of climate change, its catastrophic effects, and our contrarily ineffectual governance across the world, the duty of combatting climate change has fallen onto the general populace. The question is not just what kind of future we are going to have, but whether we are going to have a future at all. That is why grassroots movements and organization are so extremely important, for only we, the working class, can apply the pressure necessary to make the changes needed for the preservation, and improvement, of our world.

Facebook: /montcogreens | Twitter: @MontcoPAGreens | Website: https://montcopagreens.com/ 

Green Party of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 6, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT 

Chris Robinson, Communication Team Co-Leader

267-977-0570 and [email protected] 

Green Party Women are Ready to Run

By GPPA Co-chair Colleen Schmotzer

The Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics offers a course with the trademark name “Ready to Run,” for women who are considering a campaign for public office. The day-long program at Chatham University provides training and mentoring by campaign professionals and office holders.

I recently attended a Ready to Run campaign training designed for women. The day was quite informative, and I was pleased to see approximately ten women I knew from the Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA). We heard from various guest speakers who detailed the different teams essential for running a successful campaign. It was interesting to learn that the size of the campaign team can vary significantly depending on the specific office being sought, and that sometimes, a modest donation of $50.00 can be enough to win a seat. The organizers provided breakfast, lunch, and a snack, which was greatly appreciated. 

The event concluded with a panel of four accomplished women. Among them was the Chair of the Allegheny County Democratic Party, who emphasized the critical importance of women participating in politics. She shared an anecdote about a friend who successfully won a seat by running as an independent, highlighting that breaking traditional party lines can be a viable strategy.

One of the Green Party members who accompanied me to Ready to Run was Kat Marquez. Here’s what she thought of the training. "As a queer, non-binary person of color, the Democrats and Republicans have never had my interest in mind, and thus I can align with the beliefs of our local Green Party. It is frustrating that; 1. there was no one on the Ready to Run panel who wasn't from the two major parties, and 2. the two major parties aren't telling the full story. The Green Party of Allegheny County (GPOAC) did have a local candidate run for County Council At-Large during 2025, and one of the major parties challenged our signatures and took us off the ballot. This is exactly what is happening statewide -- this perpetuation of the duopoly that continuously shuts down true democracy of the people." 

When the floor opened for questions, I took the opportunity to ask, "What strategies can third parties, such as the Green Party, employ to effectively challenge the two-party duopoly?"  The Chair's response was direct: "Nothing. It's either you're a Democrat or Republican. That's it. You will never win being a third-party person." I chose to respond by stating assertively, "Watch! I will do it, you will see me there." This declaration was met with applause from the room, after which the question-and-answer session resumed.

Pam Bruno, another one of my Green Party sisters, told me, “After attending the learning seminar hosted by Chatham University, I feel I came out with a useful amount of newfound knowledge. For me, the most important information that could be used to promote the Green Party are the number of elected seats which remain uncontested, along with the small amount of funding it would take to win them. I'm not interested in running for an office, but with what I learned, I am now sure that I could aid in supporting a candidate's campaign.”

The Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA), https://www.gpofpa.org, is an independent political party which stands in opposition to the two corporate parties. GPPA candidates promote public policy based on the Green Party’s Four Pillars: grassroots democracy, nonviolence, ecological wisdom, and social justice/equal opportunity. For further information about GPPA, please email [email protected]. Please follow GPPA on social media: Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/gpofpa/; Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/pagreenparty/; and X, https://x.com/GreenPartyofPA 

GPPA Co-chair Colleen Schmotzer (she/her) has been working group coordinator on the Green Party of Allegheny Steering Committee. During 2025, she was a GPPA Steering Committee member at large.

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Green Party of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 3, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT 

Chris Robinson, Communication Team Co-Leader

267-977-0570 and [email protected] 

Temperature of PA Green Party Returns to Normal 

By GPPA Secretary Bryarr Misner

Since the Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA) State Committee Meeting on January 11, I have had some time to step back and reflect on where we are as a party and the direction in which we are heading together. What stood out to me most is how quickly the overall tone and energy across the Green Party has shifted in a positive way.

We are now seeing that change show up in real ways -- more people coming to state meetings, stronger turnout and participation at the county level, and renewed engagement in places like Allegheny County's committee and assembly meetings. That does not happen overnight or by accident. It is the result of people intentionally reaching out, showing up, and doing the work to make our spaces feel welcoming again.

Since I took office as Secretary in November 2025, I have heard from many members who shared that the temperature of the Green Party feels better -- more open, more collaborative, and less intimidating. I appreciate hearing that, but I want to be clear: that shift is not about me alone. It is about a lot of people choosing to engage differently, listen more closely, and create space for others to participate. 

I want to recognize everyone -- at both the state and county level -- who have helped make that possible. Whether you're organizing meetings, onboarding new members, answering questions, or just being willing to help, it all adds up. People notice, and it matters.

It has been really enjoyable for me to work with our newly elected GPPA Steering Committee members. Tony Dastra, Elizabeth Schongar, and Wendy Keslick have each brought fresh energy, thoughtful questions, and a genuine willingness to collaborate. I am grateful to be working alongside them.

I also want to give a big thank-you to GPPA Co-chair Tim Runkle, who has put a lot of time into helping onboard both me and our newly-elected Co-chair Colleen Schmotzer. I have worked closely with Colleen through the 2024 Abandon Harris campaign, and she is also the person who first invited me into the Green Party. I know firsthand how much care and effort she brings to this work, and I am glad to be serving alongside her.

This is a moment, I believe, for new voices and new faces to learn how the Green Party works at both the statewide and county level. My goal as Secretary is to make that process less confusing and more transparent -- clearer rules, easier-to-find proposal submissions, and a better sense of how members can plug in and help.

I am proud to be part of a team which is focused on supporting issues that matter broadly to our membership, not just a select few. I am looking forward to continuing this work together and to building a Green Party that feels welcoming, accountable, and grounded in shared values.

The Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA), https://www.gpofpa.org, is an independent political party which stands in opposition to the two corporate parties. GPPA candidates promote public policy based on the Green Party’s Four Pillars: grassroots democracy, nonviolence, ecological wisdom, and social justice/equal opportunity. For further information about GPPA, please email [email protected]. Please follow GPPA on social media: Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/gpofpa/; Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/pagreenparty/; and X, https://x.com/GreenPartyofPA 

Bryarr Misner (he/him) is a community organizer from Beaver Falls in Allegheny County. Bryarr's email address is [email protected] 

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