Pennsylvania State Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-33, has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to the Slovak Republic, a move that could eventually lead to a special election in Adams and Franklin counties.
The nomination, announced by the White House in May, must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate before Mastriano can assume the diplomatic post. Until then, he will continue serving in the Pennsylvania Senate.
Mastriano said he was “honored and humbled” by the nomination and said he looks forward to strengthening the relationship between the United States and Slovakia.
Slovakia is a NATO ally and a member of the European Union. Located in Central Europe, it shares borders with the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Poland and Ukraine, placing it on NATO’s eastern flank during a period of heightened security concerns stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The United States and Slovakia cooperate on defense, security, trade and energy policy. U.S. ambassadors to Slovakia work to strengthen military cooperation, support democratic institutions, promote American business interests and coordinate with Slovak leaders on regional security issues.
Mastriano has represented the 33rd District since 2019. Before entering elected office, he served more than 30 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a colonel. His military career included assignments in Europe, including Germany, and he has written extensively on military history. He holds advanced academic degrees in history and military strategy, including a doctorate in history.
He was the Republican nominee for governor of Pennsylvania in 2022, losing to Democrat Josh Shapiro.
While the White House did not provide a detailed explanation for the nomination, ambassadors are often selected from a variety of backgrounds, including diplomacy, military service, business, academia and politics. Mastriano’s military experience in Europe, leadership experience, and academic background in military history are among the qualifications cited by supporters.
Although ambassadors are career diplomats in some cases, many U.S. ambassadors are political appointees confirmed by the Senate. Previous ambassadors to Slovakia have included career members of the Foreign Service as well as individuals whose primary experience was in business, law, public service or politics.
If confirmed, Mastriano would be expected to resign his seat representing Pennsylvania’s 33rd Senatorial District, which includes all of Adams County and all of Franklin County. Under Pennsylvania law, the governor would then issue a writ of election calling a special election to fill the remainder of the term.
Mastriano’s current four-year Senate term ends in January 2029. The special election winner would serve only the remainder of Mastriano’s term.
Unlike regularly scheduled elections, candidates for legislative special elections are not nominated through primary elections. Instead, each political party selects its nominee through its own internal procedures.
Individuals interested in seeking a party’s nomination should contact their respective county party organization for information about that party’s selection process.
Qualifications for the Senate seat
Article II, Section 5 of the Pennsylvania Constitution establishes the qualifications for serving as a state senator. Candidates must:
- Be at least 25 years old.
- Have been citizens and inhabitants of Pennsylvania for at least four years.
- Have resided in the 33rd Senatorial District for at least one year before the election, except when absent on public business of the United States or Pennsylvania.
- Continue to reside in the district while serving in office.