Wolf announces special election date
Gov. Tom Wolf has scheduled a special election to be held Tuesday, March 13, to fill the remainder of U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy’s term, Wolf’s office announced Monday.
Murphy, a Republican, announced earlier this month he would resign from office effective Oct. 21 amid personal and professional scandal.
It was revealed that the anti-abortion lawmaker had an affair with a married woman and urged her to get an abortion after they believed she might be pregnant. He also was accused of mistreating professional staff.
At least nine would-be Democratic and Republican candidates have launched campaigns to become their party’s nominee.
Each party will select a candidate to run in the special election.
Linda Andrews, who chairs the Washington County Democratic Committee, said Democratic leaders will meet Sunday, Nov. 19 at Washington High School to select their nominee.
Andrews said she expects between 500 to 1,000 committee members to attend to cast their votes.
“I think the process will be just fine. It’s interesting, it’s exciting. I hope it will invigorate people and get them excited.”
Among the Republican candidates seeking the office are state Rep. Jason Ortitay of Bridgeville and state Senators Guy Reschenthaler of Allegheny County and Kim Ward of Westmorland County. On the Democratic side, candidates include Dr. Rueben Brock of Washington County, assistant professor of psychology at California University of Pennsylvania; Westmoreland County Commissioner Gina Cerilli; former Allegheny County councilman and teachers’ union official Mike Crossey; and former Department of Veterans Affairs official Pam Iovino.
The 18th district, which is comprised of portions of Allegheny, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties, has a majority of registered Democrats in it, but it is considered Republican-friendly. Republican Donald Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton there by a 3-2 ratio in last year’s presidential election.
Next year’s primary and general elections will determine who holds the seat in the 2019-20 term.