Special election candidates selected for 3 state House races in Allegheny County

The fields have been set in three pivotal special elections in Allegheny County, with the local branches of the Democratic and Republican parties selecting their candidates in the races.

The Allegheny County GOP on Saturday selected its three candidates for the upcoming special elections in the 32nd, 34th, and 35th state House districts. The Allegheny County Democratic Committee also met Saturday to pick its candidates in the 34th and 35th districts, after having selected a candidate in the 32nd District on Dec. 11.

The races will determine which party controls the state House for the upcoming session.

Republicans now hold 101 seats to the Democrats’ 99. Democrats hold a voter registration edge in all three districts with special elections — if they sweep the races, Democrats would hold a majority in the state House for the first time in over a decade.

The 32nd District will see Republican Clayton Walker take on Democrat Joe McAndrew. Walker, of Verona, is an Army veteran and pastor at the Mustard Seed Church. McAndrew, of Penn Hills, is a former staffer for Democratic state lawmakers and former executive director of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee. The district, which had been represented by longtime state Rep. Tony DeLuca until his death in October, includes Oakmont, Penn Hills, Verona and a section of Plum.

In the 34th District, Republican Robert Pagane will face off against Democrat Abigail Salisbury. Pagane, of Wilkins, is a former police officer. Salisbury is a Swissvale borough councilwoman and runs a law firm in Downtown Pittsburgh. The district’s vacancy was created when Summer Lee resigned to take a seat in U.S. Congress. The district includes the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Homewood, Point Breeze and Regent Square, as well as Braddock, Churchill, Edgewood, East Pittsburgh, Forest Hills, Rankin, Swissvale, Wilkinsburg and Wilkins.

The 35th District will see Republican Don Nevills take on Democrat Matthew Gergely. Nevills, of Clairton, is a Navy veteran and small-business owner. Gergely, of McKeesport, works as chief revenue officer for the Mon Valley city. The district’s vacancy was created when Austin Davis resigned to become lieutenant governor. The district includes McKeesport, Homestead, Duquesne, Clairton and other Mon Valley communities.

With Democrats winning more seats on Election Day, and then losing some of those seats due to the vacancies, there has been contention and confusion over which party can set the special election dates.

The special election dates were initially set for Feb. 7, 2023, by Democratic leader Joanna McClinton, but Republican leader Bryan Cutler filed a lawsuit to delay the special elections, arguing that the Democrats don’t have the authority to set the election dates because they don’t currently hold enough seats for a majority.

Cutler has said he wants the special elections to take place on the same day as the May primary, which would be the last day they could be held. Republicans have indicated a desire to pass constitutional amendments before the special elections.

With the confusion, Allegheny County officials said they will move ahead with preparations for a Feb. 7, 2023, election and await court action to determine if the special elections will be delayed.