Mar 12, 2026 By Mike Jones 3 min read

Two Republican state senators from Southwestern Pennsylvania will likely be facing challengers in the upcoming primary election, according to filings on the state Department of State’s elections database.

Republican candidates filed their election paperwork with the state by Tuesday’s deadline with the hopes of unseating state Sen. Camera Bartolotta of Washington County and state Sen. Patrick Stefano of Fayette County in the May 19 primary.

Harry Young Cochran of Connellsville filed to run against Stefano, R-Bullskin, in the 32nd Senate District that includes all of Fayette, Somerset and Bedford counties. The winner of that Republican race will then likely face Democrat Jacob Cecil of Somerset County in the general election on Nov. 3.

Just to the west, Albert Buchtan of Canonsburg is expected to run against Bartolotta, R-Carroll, in the 46th Senate District that includes all of Washington and Greene counties, along with the southern sliver of Beaver County. The victor in the Republican primary is then expected to face Democrat Evan Snyder of Nottingham Township in the general election.

There are also a couple of competitive primaries for state House seats in the region.

State Rep. Donald “Bud” Cook of West Pike Run is being challenged in the Republican primary by Benjamin Humble of Waynesburg. The winner in that Republican race for the 50th House District, which includes all of Greene County and several Mon Valley communities in Washington, will then face Democrat Lois Bower-Bjornson of North Bethlehem Township in the general election.

Republican state Rep. Andrew Kuzma of Elizabeth Township has no challengers in his primary for his 39th House District seat that includes Mid-Mon Valley communities in Allegheny and Washington counties. But Kuzma will likely face a Democratic challenger in the general election as Elizabeth Township residents Kellianne Frketic and Dylan Altemara face off in that party’s primary.

The remaining state House seats in Washington County will have uncontested primaries, but will likely be competitive races in the general election.

Republican state Rep. Joshua Kail of Brighton Township is expected to face Democrat Sydney Speicher of Robinson Township in the 15th House District that includes the western communities of Beaver and Washington counties.

Republican state Rep. Natalie (Mihalek) Stuck of Peters Township will face Democrat Jonathan Lloyd of Bethel Park in the 40th House District that includes several South Hills communities in Allegheny and Washington counties.

Republican state Rep. Jason Ortitay of Cecil Township is slated to run against Democrat Michael Crossey of South Fayette in the 46th House District that straddles Washington and Allegheny counties.

Republican state Rep. Timothy O’Neal of South Strabane will face Democrat Rebecca MacTaggart of South Strabane in the 48th House District that bisects central Washington County from the West Virginia state line to the Mon Valley.

The deadline to challenge a candidate’s nominating petitions is Tuesday, and arguments will go before the state Commonwealth Court to decide whether a person’s name should remain on the ballot.

Meanwhile, no candidates filed to run against the two Republican incumbent state representatives in Fayette County. Republican state Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa of Springhill Township will run unopposed for her 51st House District seat that includes southern Fayette, while Republican state Rep. Ryan Warner of Perryopolis is running without a challenger for his 52nd House District position that includes the northern half of the county.

May 4 is the last day to register for the May 19 primary.