One of the top contenders for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate has suspended his campaign after a court ruling yesterday denied him primary custody of his three children.
Sean Parnell is expected to pull out of the race. His campaign released a statement that he plans to ask the court to reconsider, but that he can’t continue to run for the Senate because he is focused “100%” on his children.
Butler County Senior Judge James Arner ruled that Parnell’s testimony was “less credible” than that of his ex-wife, Laurie Snell, who had accused Parnell of abusing her. He gave Snell both primary physical custody and sole legal custody of the three children, who are ages 12, 11, and 8. The couple separated in 2018.
Parnell’s exit from the race opens the door for other Republican Senate hopefuls, including Dr. Mehmet Oz, the television star who is considering a run. There are at least 11 others who have declared or are considering running.
On the Democratic side, the two front-runner appear to be Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman and Congressman Conor Lamb. There are 12 others also campaigning.
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