https://triblive.com/local/democrats-gop-to-nominate-candidates-for-3-special-election-races-for-state-house/
Democrats, GOP to nominate candidates for 3 special election races for state House
Democratic and Republican committees in Allegheny County will pick their nominees to run in three pivotal special election races for state House within the next week and a half.
The three races will determine which party holds power in the state House.
Allegheny County Democrats said Thursday they will hold nominating sessions for candidates in the 34th and 35th districts on Dec. 17. Only members of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee who live within those districts can vote in the nominating sessions.
The Allegheny County Democratic Committee has set dates for candidates seeking the Democratic nomination who are running in the special election to fill the seat of Rep. Summer Lee (HD34) and Rep. Austin Davis (HD35) due to their resignations to accept higher elected positions.— Allegheny County Democratic Committee (@AlleghenyDems) December 8, 2022
The 34th District includes Pittsburgh’s Homewood and Wilkinsburg, Swissvale, Forest Hills, Braddock and other eastern suburbs. Swissvale Democrat Summer Lee was reelected in the district but resigned Wednesday because she also won her race to represent the 12th Congressional District in Washington. The nominating session will be held in Forest Hills from 1 to 3 p.m.
The 35th District includes McKeesport, Homestead, Duquesne, Clairton and other Mon Valley communities. McKeesport Democrat Austin Davis was reelected but also resigned Wednesday because he will be sworn in next month as lieutenant governor. The nominating session will be held in McKeesport from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Candidates who wish to seek the Democratic nomination in those districts have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to submit a letter of intent, headshot, biography and $500 filing fee to the Allegheny County Democratic Committee.
Democrats also will hold a nominating session in the 32nd District on Sunday afternoon. The seat was posthumously won by former State Rep. Tony DeLuca, who passed away in October. The district includes Oakmont, Penn Hills, Verona and a section of Plum. Candidates for this nominating session have already been selected.
Allegheny County Republican Chairman Sam DeMarco said the GOP committee will choose nominees in the 32nd, 34th and 35th districts on Dec. 17.
The Green Party may be able to qualify to place a nominee in the 32nd District, as a result of the performance of Green Party candidate Queonia “Zarah” Livingston in the Nov. 8 election, when she collected 13.5% of the votes cast in her race against DeLuca. However, it’s unclear if the party will place a nominee on the ballot. It did not respond to a request for comment.
The special elections for the three Allegheny County districts are scheduled for Feb. 17, giving the nominees about two months to campaign. The special elections are open to all registered voters in the respective districts.
The special elections are likely to receive substantial attention, as their outcome will determine which party controls the state House.
With DeLuca, Davis and Lee not occupying the seats in the three districts, Republicans hold a 101-99 edge over Democrats in the state House. However, registered Democrats hold a significant voter registration advantage in the three districts.
If Democrats prevail in the three special elections, they will hold a one-seat majority and control the state House for the first time in more than a decade. If Republicans win just one of the special elections, they will maintain control of the chamber.
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