May 25, 2018 2 min read

Absent a candidate on the ballot, Beaver County attorney Terri Mitko won a write-in contest for the Democratic nomination in this month’s primary for the 15th Legislative District, which includes 15 municipalities in western Washington County.

Mitko, 59, of Brighton Township, launched a write-in campaign after Democrat Alexander Andres of Beaver Borough withdrew his candidacy on the last day to do so.

According to the Beaver County elections office, the certified vote total for Mitko was 1,538.

Washington County has not yet certified its elections results, but Larry Spahr, elections director, said Thursday that Mitko received 368 votes, giving her a total of 1,906.

Republican attorney Joshua Kail, who also practices in Beaver, ran unopposed on his party’s ballot. He also conducted a Democratic write-in campaign, but his vote total from both counties was 300.

To gain a nomination, write-in candidates must obtain at least the same number of votes as signatures required for a valid nominating petition. State representative hopefuls need 300.

In the case of two or more write-in candidates clearing this hurdle, the top vote-getter wins the nomination.

“It appears she’s got the Democratic nomination,” Spahr said Thursday. “She has more than enough votes.”

The seat is an open one because state Rep. Jim Christiana, who has represented the 15th District since redistricting caused it to dip into Washington County, chose not to make another run for the legislative seat he will hold through the end of the year.

Christiana, 34, of Beaver, a Washington & Jefferson College graduate, was unsuccessful in his attempt May 15 to win the Republican nomination as a candidate for U.S. Senate, losing to U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta of Hazleton, Luzerne County, who will face off against incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr.

Mitko said she told her team in early April that her goal was to receive 1,500 write-in votes, and she thanked those who volunteered on her behalf.

“It’s going to be a dogfight,” Mitko said. “There’s no question about it.”

Kail could not be immediately reached for comment.