District 18 election generating a lot of interest

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Former Congressman Tim Murphy stepped down from his 18th District seat amid allegations of an extramarital affair and the mistreatment of staff. Now the real drama begins. A special election will be held to name a replacement for Mr. Murphy on March 13. But the race to replace him will be shaped over the next three weeks, as candidates range across four southwestern Pennsylvania counties, appealing to the Democratic and Republican leaders who will pick each party’snominees.

“There’s a lot of interest” in helping to make that choice, said Michael Korns, who chairs the Republican Party’s apparatus in Westmoreland County. “There are a lot more people asking than there is room for them.”

Members of the Democratic Committee, who make up the party’s foot soldiers, will gather Nov. 19 at Washington High School in Washington, Pa., to recommend a candidate.

Democrats haven’t finalized the roster of committee members who live within the district, but party officials say Allegheny should have roughly 425 committeepeople eligible. Party officials say Westmoreland County should have around 285, with 230 hailing from Washington and some 40 from Greene.

Technically, the state party’s executive committee must ratify the local caucus’ pick. But barring extraordinary circumstances, party leaders almost