The Democratic nominee in the special election for the 12th will be former John Murtha district director Mark Critz:
The state Democratic Party's Executive Committee on Monday selected Mark Critz to be the party's nominee in the race to replace John Murtha, choosing the congressman's district director over former state Treasurer Barbara Hafer, a Democratic official has told PoliticsPA....
Critz will now be placed on the May 18 special election ballot to determine who will serve out the remainder of the late congressman's term in office. He will face Republican Tim Burns or Bill Russell, depending on whom Republican conferees select during their meeting Thursday.
This was looking pretty well sewn-up over the weekend, when delegates from around the 12th picked Critz. The state executive committee had the final say, though, and there were whispers over the weekend that they might look elsewhere than Critz, who opponents say shares some of his former boss's ethical baggage.
Rivals Barbara Hafer and Ryan Bucchanieri still plan to contest the Democratic primary for the regular November election, meaning that Critz could still be in the Neil Abercrombie-esque position of winning a special election and losing the primary on the same day. UPDATE: The vote count's out: it was Critz 30, Hafer 18, Bucchanieri 1.
