State Rep. Russ Diamond (R-102) announced Jan. 2 that he will seek re-election to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, representing Lebanon County, in 2024.
The 102nd Legislative District includes Annville, Bethel, Cold Spring, East Hanover, Heidelberg, Jackson, Millcreek, North Annville, North Londonderry, Swatara, and Union townships and Cleona, Jonestown, Myerstown, Palmyra and Richland boroughs.
A lifelong county resident, Diamond said in a statement that he “believes his efforts have been successful in providing Lebanon County values a strong voice in Harrisburg.”
“Diamond’s early objections and legislative leadership in 2020 against former Governor Tom Wolf’s Covid-related business and school shutdowns eventually led to Pennsylvania becoming the only state in the nation to reduce its governor’s emergency powers through constitutional amendments approved by voters in 2021,” the release stated. “His outspoken advocacy for election integrity earned him a seat on the Joint State Government Commission’s Election Law Advisory Board, where he serves as the voice of the House Republican Caucus.”
The release also touted Diamond’s “solid legislative record on issues such as life, firearms rights, and fiscal responsibility.”
In 2017, the release noted, Diamond shepherded legislation into law providing Lebanon County’s municipalities, first responders, and nonprofits with a direct revenue stream from gaming revenue, “which has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding for local projects.” Diamond was named Republican chair of the House Gaming Oversight Committee in 2023.
“It’s been an honor to represent the people I grew up with in Harrisburg,” Diamond said in the statement. “They’ve placed their trust in me to serve them to the best of my abilities in the General Assembly, and I look forward to earning their vote for re-election so I can continue that work.”
Diamond sparked controversy in 2022 when he tweeted that “a masked child is an abused child” and compared mandatory COVID-19 vaccines to rape.
In December 2020, Diamond exchanged emails with John Eastman, a lawyer and Trump supporter, and later sought feedback from him on a draft resolution that would have thrown out Joe Biden’s 80,000-vote victory in Pennsylvania and sent a slate of unelected Trump electors to Congress on Jan. 6, 2021. Diamond was one of several Pennsylvania Republican legislators who falsely claimed that the election was stolen from Trump.
Also in 2022, while running for re-election in the 102nd district, Diamond also campaigned for the lieutenant governor’s seat. Although he easily outpaced other candidates in Lebanon County polls, Diamond was defeated decisively statewide, coming in seventh out of nine candidates with the support of only 6 percent of Republican voters. However, that fall he easily coasted to another state House win, beating Democratic challenger Laura Quick with more than 70 percent of the votes.
This election cycle, Diamond faces a primary challenge for the seat from ELCO school board member Rachel Moyer.
Read More: ELCO school board member challenges Russ Diamond in state house primary
The primary election will be held on Tuesday, April 23.
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