Special election for Neuman’s seat set for May 15, primary day
A special election to determine Brandon Neuman’s successor in the Pennsylvania House will be May 15 – two months after the new Washington County judge judged it would happen.
“Most likely it will be on March 13,” he told the Observer-Reporter last Tuesday, when he was sworn in at the county courthouse. Neuman, D-North Strabane Township, had to resign as a state representative in the 48th District, effective Dec. 31, before assuming his judicial position.
He thought the contest for his House seat would be settled the same March day as the special election to fill the void in Congressional District 18, created when Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, resigned from the House in October amid scandal. Neuman said last week, “I assume for purposes of saving the county money, and because the 48th District is fully within the PA 18th, those elections would be on the same day.”
Instead, the Republican and Democratic candidates to fill the remainder of Neuman’s term in the 48th District – to be chosen by officials in the two parties – will face off May 15, primary election day. There are no announced candidates for the seat. All voters, regardless of party affiliation, are eligible to vote in the special election.
That same day, Democrats and Republicans also will vote in a primary to choose candidates from their parties for a full term representing the 48th District.
Larry Spahr, director of elections in Washington County, is quite fine with the May timetable for the 48th.
“We were hoping this election was going to coincide with the primary,” Spahr said. “This makes it much easier. It reduces expenses greatly.”
The office of House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, announced that date Monday morning. He had 10 days from Neuman’s resignation to do so.
The March 13 election to determine who will serve the remainder of Murphy’s current term, through the end of this year, pits Rick Saccone, a Republican state lawmaker from Elizabeth Township, against Democrat Conor Lamb of Mt. Lebanon, a former assistant U.S. attorney. Candidates for a full term in the 18th District will run in the May primary.
Neuman’s seat isn’t the only one available in the Pennsylvania House, or the only one that will be settled in a special election May 15. Turzai’s office also announced Monday a successor to Scott Petri, R-Bucks, will be elected that day. Petri resigned Jan. 1.