State, federal races dominate Washington, Westmoreland primary ballots
Democrats and Republicans will battle for their respective party nominations in several state and federal races making it important that registered voters show up at the polls.
More than 131,000 people in Washington County and 243,800 in Westmoreland County are registered, and with the interest in the presidential race, and the number of contested races, turnout is likely to be high, according to the election bureaus.
In Westmoreland County, voters will cast ballots in several contested races, including the 9th and 12th congressional districts and the 52nd and 58th legislative districts, while in Washington County, poll-goers will make choices in the 9th District race and the 49th Legislative District contest.
Voters also will be selecting their delegates to both the GOP and Democratic conventions.
In the 9th District race, incumbent U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Everett, will face businessman Art Halvorson for the GOP nomination. There are no Democratic candidates on the ballot.
Shuster is seeking his ninth term iwhile Halvorson is making his second bid to unseat Shuster.
The 9th District includes Bedford, Blair, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton and Indiana counties; and portions of Cambria, Greene, Huntingdon, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
In the 12th District, U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus, R-Sewickly, is running unopposed.
However, Allegheny County businessman and attorney Steven B. Larchuk, and health care professional Erin R. McClelland, will square-off for the Democratic bid, with the winner to face Rothfus in the general election.
The 12th District includes a portion of Westmoreland County.
Westmoreland Democrats will choose between North Union Township tax collector James Mari and former Uniontown Area School District board member Lloyd A. Williams in the 52nd Legislative District race. The nominee will go on to face Republican incumbent state Rep. Ryan Warner, R-Perryopolis, in the fall.
The district includes parts of the county.
In the 58th District, two Democrats are seeking the position held by retiring state Rep. Ted Harhai, D-Monessen.
West Newton Mayor Mary Popovich and self-employed businessman Charles Mrlack Jr. are seeking the Democratic nod. Attorney Justin Walsh is the lone GOP candidate on the ballot.
The district includes all of Monessen, Rostraver Township, Mount Pleasant, North Belle Vernon, West Newton and a portion of East Huntingdon Township.
With the announced retirement of longtime 49th District legislator, state Rep. Pete Daley, D-California, two Republicans and six Democrats opted to seek the open position.
The bulk of the district lies within Washington County.
Those vying for the Dem nod are attorney Alan Benyak, California University of Pennsylvania student Brendan Garay, Monongahela Mayor Bob Kepics, Charleroi businessman Mark Alterici, Fallowfield Township businessman Donn Henderson and Coal Center businessman Randy Barli.
Promotions consultant Bud Cook and Belle Vernon businesswoman Melanie Stringhill Patterson will be on the GOP ticket.
Several uncontested races are on the ballot in both Washington and Westmoreland counties.
In Washington County, Republican U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy is running unopposed to retain his position in the 18th Congressional District. There are no Democrats on the ballot.
In the 39th Legislative District state Rep. Rick Saccone, R-Elizabeth Township, has not challengers in the primary. No Democrats are listed on the ballot.
The district includes parts of Allegheny and Washington counties.
State Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Jefferson, will run unopposed in the 50th Legislative District race, but will face Republican candidate, certified registered nurse Betsy Rohanna McClure of Greene County, in the general election.
The district includes part of Washington County.
In Westmoreland County, incumbent state Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield, will not face competition in her bid for the party nomination in the primary. There are no Democrats on the ballot.
The district includes parts of Westmoreland County.
Incumbent state Rep. Michael Reese, R-Mount Pleasant, also faces no competition in his party nomination bid in the primary.
That district includes part of Westmoreland County.
At the national level, three Democrats are seeking the nomination in the presidential race including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and California businessman Rocky De La Fuente.
Six Republicans will be listed on the ballot, although three have suspended their respective campaigns since submitting petitions to be on the Pennsylvania ballot.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and New York businessman Donald Trump remain in the race with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush opting to retain the delegates they have acquired and continue to raise funds.
In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey has no opposition and will await the outcome of the primary to learn which of the four Democratic candidates on the ticket he will face in the fall.
John Fetterman of Allegheny County, Joe Sestak of Delaware County and Katie McGinty of Chester County will appear on the ballot. Joe Vodvarka, also of Allegheny County, was returned to the ballot last week after a judge ruled he had a sufficient number of signatures to be listed as a candidate.