Feb 15, 2024 By Mike Jones 3 min read

There will likely be a slew of competitive congressional and state House races in the region for this year’s general election, although there is only a sprinkling of contested races for the upcoming April 23 primary.

Tuesday was the last day to circulate and file nomination petitions with the state Department of State for Democrats and Republicans to get on the ballot for their party’s respective primaries.

The final day to challenge a candidate’s nominating petition is this coming Tuesday, meaning the races could change if someone did not gather enough valid signatures from registered voters in their district and is eventually booted from the ballot.

But as things stand now, there are plenty of races that will offer voters a choice in the Nov. 5 general election.

The biggest race in this region will be for the 14th Congressional District, and U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler of Peters Township will almost certainly have a Democratic opponent in the fall.

Democratic candidates Christopher Dziados of South Strabane and Kenneth Bach of South Huntington filed paperwork this week to run for their party’s nomination, with the winner facing Reschenthaler, a three-term Republican incumbent, in the general election. The reliably Republican district includes all of Washington, Fayette and Greene counties, along with a portion of Westmoreland County.

No state Senate seats are on the ballots this year in Washington, Fayette or Greene counties, but there are a number of competitive races for state House.

The only primary challenge in the three-county region is for the 50th District that includes all of Greene County and portions of Washington County. State Rep. Bud Cook of West Pike Run will face-off against Stephanie Waggett of Cumberland Township in the Republican primary. The winner will then likely face Democrat Randy Barli of Coal Center in the general election.

Other potential general election matchups include:

* Democrat Ashley Caul of Independence Township in Beaver County is challenging Republican state Rep. Josh Kail of Brighton in the 15th state House District that includes the western portions of Washington and Beaver counties.

* Democrat Angela Girol of South Park is challenging Republican state Rep. Andrew Kuzma of Elizabeth Township in the 39th state House District that includes portions of Washington and Allegheny counties in the Mon Valley.

* Democrat Alexander Taylor of Canonsburg is challenging Republican state Rep. Jason Ortitay of Cecil Township in the 46th state House District that includes portions of Washington and Allegheny counties.

* Democrat George Rattay of South Union Township is challenging state Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa of Springhill Township in the 51st state House District that is based in southern Fayette County.

Several other local state representatives will not have challenges in either the primary or general election unless a write-in or independent candidate is involved.

* Republican state Rep. Natalie Stuck of Peters Township, who recently changed her last name on the ballot from Mihalek to her married name, will run unopposed in the 40th state House District that includes portions of Washington and Allegheny counties in the South Hills.

* Republican state Rep. Tim O’Neal is running unopposed in the 48th state House District that bisects Washington County.

* Republican state Rep. Ryan Werner of Perryopolis is running unopposed in the 52nd state House District in northern Fayette County.

The last day for voters to register for the primary or change their party affiliation is April 8.