Three political newcomers hold GOP seats in state House
Three first-time Republican candidates held onto state House seats that had been vacated this year by GOP incumbents, but all of them struck a bipartisan tone, saying they are looking forward to working across the aisle with Democrats to move Western Pennsylvania forward.
Natalie Mihalek was victorious in the South Hills-based 40th state House District, Joshua Kail won the 15th state House race and Mike Puskaric took the seat most recently held by Rick Saccone, who decided against running for re-election after two failed Congressional runs.
Mihalek, 39, of Upper St. Clair, is the first woman to represent the district since Alice Langtry did so from 1985 to 1992. Mihalek said she is looking forward to maintaining the “great schools and thriving economy” in the district, which includes Upper St. Clair, Peters Township and six wards of Bethel Park.
“I’m very excited that the residents of the 40th district put their trust in me to maintain what we have going on right now,” she said.
She beat Sharon Guidi of Peters Township by a total of 18,236 votes to 12,233. While Republicans kept a majority in state House, Mihalek said she was eager to work with the other party and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.
“This is community over party and that’s the message I’ll take to Harrisburg,” she said. This is not about party politics, it’s about what’s best for the people of Pennsylvania.”
Puskaric, 29, of Elizabeth, said he was prepared to work on finishing projects, such as completing the Mon-Fayette Expressway to Pittsburgh. He beat Democrat Rob Rhoderick of Elizabeth by a total of 14,390 votes to 11,358 in the 39th state House District.
“I’m looking forward to making things a priority that have been neglected over a number of years,” Puskaric said. “The reality of it is you have to find common ground. Infrastructure shouldn’t be partisan. Taxes shouldn’t be partisan. I hope we can find common ground and improve the 39th district.”
Kail, a 32-year-old lawyer from Beaver, said he was “taking it all in” with the victory, but that he was prepared to work to attract jobs to Western Pennsylvania. He said he has received support from labor groups and wants to work with Democrats to improve the local job climate.
“That’s what my time as a legislator will be about, brining family-sustaining jobs,” Kail said. “I view issues as district issues and I’ll continue to do that when I’m in Harrisburg.”
He easily defeated Democrat Terri Mitko, winning 10,879 votes to her 6,798. While their votes were nearly evenly split in Beaver County, where they both reside, Kail bested Mitko by more than a 2-to-1 margin in the part of the district that extends into western and southern Washington County.
“I enjoyed learning Washington County and got to meet a lot of good people,” Kail said.
“A lot of energy and to serve their interests.”