5 Republicans seek party nod for special election in 59th state House district

Five Republicans — four from Westmoreland County and one from Somerset County — are seeking the party’s nod to run in the May 18 special election to fill the vacancy in the 59th District State House seat created by the death of Mike Reese.

The 42-year-old Republican from Mt. Pleasant Township ran unopposed in November for a seventh term in office. A rising star in the GOP-controlled House, he died unexpectedly Jan. 2 of an apparent brain aneurysm.

Members of the Westmoreland County Republican Committee from the district that includes 42 precincts in eastern Westmoreland County as well as 10 in western Somerset County will gather Saturday in Ligonier to select a candidate to field in the special election, Chair Bill Bretz said.

Bretz said those seeking the party’s nod include Reese’s widow, Angela Reese, 44, of Mt. Pleasant Township; Trump House creator Leslie Baum Rossi, 50, of Unity; Ligonier Township police officer Shawn Knepper, 31; Latrobe attorney John Hauser, 42; and Dustin D. DeLuca, 35, of Jennerstown in Somerset County.

Republicans, with 55% of the district’s registered voters, hold a substantial edge over Democrats, who make up 34% of registered voters in the district.

“All five are uniquely qualified and very capable of representing the constituents of the 59th district going forward,” Bretz said.

The Republican candidate will face off against Democrat Mariah Fisher, 39, who was elected to Ligonier Borough council in 2017. The Westmoreland County Democratic Party this month nominated her to run in the special election.