State Senate challenger Clovis Crane holds campaign launch, asks for support

Dozens of voters filled Lebanon’s Lincoln Republican Club on Friday for Clovis Crane’s campaign launch party.

Crane, also the founder, owner, and operator of Crane Thoroughbreds, is challenging incumbent Republican Chris Gebhard for his seat in the state Senate representing the 48th District. The district covers all of Lebanon County and parts of Berks and Lancaster counties.

Gebhard was initially elected in a May 2021 special election to replace the late state Senator David Arnold. He was elected to his first full four-year term in November 2022.

While speaking to the crowd, Crane said he doesn’t plan to be a career politician, and he isn’t looking to be reelected.

“I’m running specifically to be a change agent, be someone that affects change,” he said. “I’m really sick of politicians that are going along to get along, and the do-nothings — those that are there just to do enough to get elected.”

The policy positions Crane mentioned included limiting government overreach, stopping liberal indoctrination and woke politics, cutting taxes, fighting corruption, supporting pro-life policies, and loosening restrictions related to buying and owning firearms.

“I’m going to take a lot of daggers here in the next 58 days, but I’m willing to take the scrutiny and the criticism and all the daggers that they throw at me because I know that we need change,” he said.

Crane, along with the other people who spoke at the event, mentioned Gebhard’s record in the state Senate as the main topic they’re going to campaign on.

They also asked for volunteers and monetary support, and there were yard signs available for people to take. Crane said everyone who attended the launch party offered to help in some way — whether that’s talking to neighbors, putting up a sign, or handing out flyers at their business.

“We’ve hit thousands of doors so far,” he said via email after the meeting. “It’s a lofty goal, but we’re determined to visit every likely primary voter in the district at least once.”

Attendees said they were there to either support Crane or hear what he had to say. They expressed their disagreement with Gebhard’s support for Gov. Josh Shapiro’s state budgets and his support for Kooth, an online mental health platform for students that opponents say pushes LGBTQ+ ideology onto children without parental involvement. In February, Gebhard told LebTown he’s never supported the Kooth app and was asked to speak at a conference in Arizona that was about mental health and young people.

Gebhard, in his announcement for reelection in December, said he remains committed to “protecting our constitutional liberties, putting Pennsylvania and America first, supporting small businesses, strengthening our economy, and crafting fiscally responsible budgets that prioritize families and taxpayers.”

According to the state Senate website, Gebhard chairs the Banking & Insurance Committee and serves as vice chair for the Community, Economic, & Recreational Development Committee. In the 2025-26 session, Gebhard was the prime sponsor of 11 bills and three resolutions and co-sponsored 46 bills and 10 resolutions.

Republican voters will choose a candidate at the May 19 primary election, and the general election is on Nov. 3.