The Republican Party of Pennsylvania has nominated a former judge and military prosecutor to run in this fall’s special election to fill the seat left vacant by former state Sen. Matt Smith (D-Mt. Lebanon).
Guy Reschenthaler will run against a still unnamed Democratic opponent on Nov. 3rd.
Reschenthaler, who tendered his resignation as a District Judge upon receiving the nomination, beat out five other opponents in five rounds of voting.
Megan Sweeney, communications director for the party, said 81 conferees met Sunday morning in Pittsburgh to cast their votes.
“The conferees met, the candidates gave short speeches, and then the round of voting took place,” Sweeney said. “The threshold for earning the nomination was a majority, which … was 41 (votes).”
Sweeney said Reschenthaler’s military background seemed to resonate with the conferees.
“He had served in the U.S. Navy JAG Corps prosecuting terrorists in Iraq, then came back to the Pittsburgh area to practice law privately, and then ran for a judge position,” Sweeney said.
Because the district includes both Allegheny and Washington Counties, Sweeney said overseeing the nomination was the responsibility of the state GOP, rather than the county committee.
Democrats have not yet chosen their nominee for the special election.
Smith resigned his seat last month to become president of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce.
