Republican Doug Mastriano—a state Senator who was the GOP's candidate in Pennsylvania's gubernatorial election—was dragged after he boasted on air about his "big victory" just as his defeat was announced.
Mastriano lost the race to Democrat Josh Shapiro in one of of the country's most closely-watched election contests. In the end Mastriano failed to perform, receiving just over 42 percent of the total vote.
But before he lost, he spoke about his victory as if it was a foregone conclusion, telling the right-wing news network One America News (OAN) he would have a "big, big win in a couple of hours" just as NBC News and Fox News called the election for Shapiro.
You can watch what happened in the video below.
\u201chere's Mastriano on OAN talking about the "big victory" he'd be celebrating in "a couple hours" right as his race was called\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1667964282
Asked how he was feeling about his chances, Mastriano said:
"Now the rural counties are coming in and we got reports in the field here of unprecedented, record numbers, even beating the presidential election in 2020."
"If that trend continues here we're going to have a big, big win in a couple of hours."
But of course, that did not come to pass, and many have mocked Mastriano since his remarks went viral.
\u201cWhat\u2019s the funniest thing I witnessed at Doug Mastriano\u2019s \u201cVictory\u201d party?\n\nFOX NEWS had been playing on huge screens for hours.\n\nThen as FOX NEWS called the election for Shapiro they immediately switched every screen to NEWSMAX.\u201d— Walter Masterson (@Walter Masterson) 1668098789
\u201cWe went to Doug Mastriano\u2019s \u201cVictory\u201d Party to let him know he lost.\u201d— Walter Masterson (@Walter Masterson) 1668091321
\u201cchilling outside, sipping on some coffee, waiting for my Ultra-MAGA neighbor who stalks my social media to take down his MULTIPLE Oz and Mastriano signs.\u201d— jordy (@jordy) 1667999134
@Philip_Germain/Twitter
\u201cDoug Mastriano has refused to concede. So, we'll do it for him: "I'd like to congratulate Josh Shapiro for soundly beating me in the race for Governor of PA. I have no doubt you will do a great job for Pennsylvanians. You're a real mensch."\u201d— Duty To Warn \ud83d\udd09 (@Duty To Warn \ud83d\udd09) 1668009747
\u201cBrace for the GOP election night script. You'll see Kari Lake, Matt DePerno, Tudor Dixon, Doug Mastriano and more declare victory before the 11pm news and demand the counting of votes stop. It's the plan. Expect it tomorrow. Call it out now. Fight it on Wednesday and beyond.\u201d— Jeff Timmer (@Jeff Timmer) 1667849594
\u201c@VaughnHillyard @TimAlberta\u201d— Vaughn Hillyard (@Vaughn Hillyard) 1667975799
\u201cThe only thing that gives me more joy than watching neo-nazi bigot Doug Mastriano get slaughtered in the PA governor\u2019s race is that the guy who crushed him is Jewish.\n\nCongratulations, Josh Shapiro. Proud to have you as my governor.\u201d— Steve Hofstetter (@Steve Hofstetter) 1667967934
\u201c@dougmastriano Congrats on your big victory\u201d— Doug Mastriano (@Doug Mastriano) 1667930004
\u201cThe Mastriano victory* party was performance art\u2026 {sound on}\n\nhttps://t.co/VmQRepXA2s\u201d— Justin Karr Conley (@Justin Karr Conley) 1668052046
\u201cDoug Mastriano (seen here praying for victory on election night) was rejected by God and Pennsylvania. Ben Shapiro was chosen by both.\u201d— Rabbi Rami (@Rabbi Rami) 1668000211
\u201cBOOM!!\n\nMastriano will not be Governor. \n\nAnd that means there will not be an election denier as Pennsylvania\u2019s Secretary of State. \n\nThat is a HUGE victory for democracy.\u201d— David Pepper (@David Pepper) 1667964719
Mastriano proved to be one of the more contentious candidates during the midterm election cycle, making headlines for being a prominent figure in fundamentalist Christian nationalism, stating that the separation of church of state is a myth, embracing QAnon conspiracy theories, and furthering former Republican President Donald Trump's lie that the 2020 general was stolen.
Mastriano gained nationwide notoriety for participating in the January 6 insurrection, the day a mob of Trump's supporters attacked the nation's seat of government on the false premise that the election had been stolen. Mastriano was seen on video passing through Capitol Police barriers after they had been breached by others in the crowd.
Though Mastriano was subpoenaed by the House Select Committee tasked with investigating the insurrection, he stopped cooperating with investigators over the summer.