What happens if former state Rep. Tony DeLuca wins his election race posthumously?

State Rep. Tony DeLuca’s name will remain on the Nov. 8 ballot despite his death Sunday after a brief battle with lymphoma.

The late DeLuca, a Democrat from Penn Hills who was the longest-­serving member of the state House, is matched up against Queonia “Zarah” Livingston of the Green Party. No Republicans are on the ballot.

It’s unlikely that the state Legislature will start a special election process during the remainder of DeLuca’s term, since there are only a handful of session days left before it ends Nov. 16, said Alle­gheny County Democratic Committee Chair Sam Hens-Greco.

If Livingston wins in the Nov. 8 election, she would start representing the 32nd Legislative District next year. The district includes Oakmont, Verona, Plum and most of Penn Hills.

Livingston, who is listed on the ballot as Queonia Livingston, gave her condolences to the DeLuca family after his passing. She reminded voters that they can vote for any candidate, regardless of their party, in the general election.

If DeLuca wins, no one would be seated as the 32nd District’s representative when it begins its next term. The Department of State would set a special election date sometime after state legislators are sworn in in January.

The 32nd District seat would remain vacant until a candidate wins the special election and that candidate is seated by the Legislature.

About 60% of the district’s registered voters are Democrats.

In the event a special election is held, qualified political parties have the opportunity to hold nominating conventions to select nominees.

If Livingston were to lose to DeLuca in this year’s general election, she said she would likely attempt to run in a special election in 2023, presumably under the Green Party.

“I would probably still run as a Green,” Livingston said. “There are more things on that platform that align with my views.”

Hens-Greco said the nominating process for the Democrats would be similar to the process that occurred earlier this year when Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey vacated his state House seat to become mayor.

He said the Allegheny County Democratic Committee would hold a nominating convention if a special election is called next year.

Hens-Greco said the potential of a special election for the 32nd District could coincide with two other potential special elections: one for the 34th District if state Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, wins her congressional race and for the 35th District if state Rep. Austin Davis, D-McKeesport, is elected lieutenant governor as part of gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro’s ticket.

The Republicans also could provide a special election candidate. When contacted, the Republican Committee of Allegheny County said it would look for a candidate to run in a special election if DeLuca were to win posthumously.