Aument wins Lancaster County GOP state senate primary

(Lititz) — Lancaster County Republican voters handed a decisive victory to state Rep. Ryan Aument. He defeated his primary opponent, and fellow state representative,Gordon Denlinger by more than 3,700 votes.

The two men were vying for a soon-to-be vacant state senate seat held by Sen. Mike Brubaker. Last year, he announced would retire from the 36th district, which covers most of northern Lancaster County.

Aument says he was able to present a positive vision to voters. In the senate, he says he hopes to be able to reform Harrisburg by cutting back on government waste and reforming the culture of Harrisburg.

“I think we still have much work to do in terms of reigning in the per diem system, reducing the size of the legislature, and ensuring the government functions,” he says.

Denlinger spent over a decade representing Lancaster’s 99th district. He says he and Aument have very different styles of governing.

“As a CPA, I’m a little more reserved and try to build consensus. He’s much more the grenade-throwing guy.”

Denlinger plans to return to work in the private sector.

In November’s general election, Aument will go up against Democratic opponent Gary Schreckengost who faces an uphill battle in the heavily Republican district.