The Big List of Pittsburgh candidates in 2018
Keep track of Pittsburgh-area candidates here.

Updated, May 11
Mark your calendar for May 15 and Nov. 6.
Those are the dates of the 2018 primary and general elections, respectively. General election ballots will include members of the Allegheny County’s Harrisburg delegation, Pa. governor and lieutenant governor as well as the Pa. congressional delegation.
There are also three special elections this year, to replace former U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, former state Rep. Marc Gergely and former Pittsburgh City Council member Dan Gilman.
Here at The Incline, we’re tracking who’s running and will be regularly updating this list.
U.S. Senator
Sen. Bob Casey (D)
Casey is running for a third term. Republicans Paul Addis, Cynthia Ayers and Bobby Lawrence dropped out of the race. So did Republican Joe Vodvarka. Democrat Theresa Wright also dropped out.
Challengers
- Green Party candidate Neal Gale
- Libertarian Dale Kerns
- Republican U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta
- Republican State Rep. Jim Christiana (Beaver)
U.S. Representatives
Special election to replace Rep. Tim Murphy (R)
Pa. District 18; Map
With votes still being counted more than a week later, Democrat Conor Lamb leads Republican Rick Saccone by several hundred votes following the March 13 special election. The New York Times and NBC called the election for Lamb, while the Associated Press has yet to declare a winner. Murphy resigned Oct. 5, 2017, following claims he mistreated staff and urged the woman he was having an affair with to have an abortion, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
- Lamb and Saccone were selected by their respective parties. Libertarian Drew Miller also ran in the special election.
- Other candidates who sought the nomination were: Democrats Rueben Brock, Gina Cerilli, Mike Crossey, Pam Iovino, Keith Seewald and Bob Solomon and Republicans George Karpacs, state Rep. Jason Ortitay, state Sen. Guy Reschenthaler, state Sen. Kim Ward.
This section has been updated to reflect the new congressional districts in place for the May primary.
Pa. District 14
Candidates
- Democrat Bibiana Boerio
- Democrat Tom Prigg
- Democrat Adam Sedlock
- Democrat Bob Solomon
- Republican Guy Reschenthaler
- Republican Rick Saccone
Pa. District 17
Candidates
- Democrat Conor Lamb
- Democrats Aaron Anthony and Erin McClelland dropped out of the race to support Lamb on March 19 and March 20, respectively. On March 27, Democrat Beth Tarasi also dropped out of the race citing strong support for Lamb. Democrat Ray Linsenmayer dropped out and gave support to Lamb on April 15. Previously, Democrat John Stolz dropped out of the then-District 12 race on Dec. 5 and endorsed Linsenmayer.
- Republican U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus (incumbent)
Pa. District 18
Candidates
- Democrat Janis Brooks
- Democrat U.S. Rep Michael Doyle (incumbent)
- As of March 21, Republican Shannon Edwards was not listed in a state database of candidates who met the petitions deadline to run.
Pennsylvania governor and lieutenant governor
Gov. Tom Wolf (D)
Wolf confirmed he’s running for an second term.
Challengers
- Green Party candidate Paul Glover
- Republican Laura Ellsworth
- Republican Paul Mango
- Republican Scott Wagner
- The Pa. GOP endorsed Wagner for governor, and Mike Turzai dropped out of the race shortly before the official announcement.
Lt. Gov. Mike Stack (D)
Stack is seeking reelection. Democrat Madeleine Dean withdrew from the race to run for U.S. Congress. Republicans Gordon Denlinger and Otto Voit dropped out of the race. Democrat Aryanna Berringer also dropped out.
Challengers
- Democrat Nina Ahmad
- Democrat Kathi Cozzone
- Democrat John Fetterman
- Democrat Craig Lehman
- Democrat Ray Sosa
- Green Party candidate Jocolyn Bowser-Bostick
- Republican Jeff Bartos (on an unofficial ticket with Wagner)
- Republican Kathy Coder
- Republican Joe Gale
- Republican Peg Luksik
- Republican Diana Irey Vaughan (on an unofficial ticket with Mango)
State Senators
Sen. Randy Vulakovich (R)
District 38; Map
Vulakovich is seeking reelection.
Challengers
- Democrat Stephanie Walsh
- Democrat Lindsey Williams
- Democrat Michelle Boyle dropped out of the race on Feb. 27 and endorsed Williams, per a news release.
- Republican Jeremy Shaffer
Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D)
District 42; Map
State Representatives
Rep. Robert F. Matzie (D)
District 16; Map
Rep. Jake Wheatley Jr. (D)
District 19; Map
Challenger
- Democrat Aerion Abney
- Democrat Ebony Taylor
Rep. Adam Ravenstahl (D)
District 20; Map
Challenger
- Democrat Michael Devine
Rep. Dom Costa (D)
District 21; Map
Challenger
- Democrat Sara Innamorato
Rep. Dan Frankel (D)
District 23; Map
Challenger
- Green Party candidate Jay Ting Walker
Rep. Ed Gainey (D)
District 24; Map
Challengers
- Democrat William Anderson
- Democrat Todd Elliott Koger
Rep. Joseph F. Markosek (D)
District 25; Map
Markosek isn’t running for reelection.
Candidates
- Democrat Brandon J. Markosek
- Republican Stephen David Schlauch
Rep. Daniel J. Deasy (D)
District 27: Map
Rep. Mike Turzai (R)
District 28; Map
Turzai was running for governor, but later dropped out of the race. He’s running for reelection for his current seat.
Candidate
- Democrat Emily Skopov
Rep. Hal English (R)
District 30; Map
Challengers
- Democrat Kareem Kandil
- Democrat Betsy Monroe
- Democrat Jacob Pavlecic
Rep. Anthony M. DeLuca (D)
District 32; Map
Challenger
- Democrat Erin Vecchio
Rep. Frank Dermody (D)
District 33; Map
Challenger
- Republican Joshua Nulph
Rep. Paul Costa (D)
District 34; Map
Challenger
- Democrat Summer Lee
Rep Austin Davis (D.)
District 35; Map
Democrat Austin Davis defeated Republican Fawn Walker-Montgomery in a Jan. 23 special election with nearly 74 percent of the vote. Mark Gergely (D) resigned Nov. 6 ahead of sentencing for connections to an illegal gambling ring. A special election to replace him was Jan 23, TribLive reported. Davis is running for reelection.
Rep. Harry Readshaw (D)
District 36; Map
Rep. Bill Kortz (D)
District 38; Map
Rep. Rick Saccone (R)
District 39; Map
Saccone is running for U.S. Congress in the 14th District.
Candidates
- Democrat Rob Rhoderick
- Democrat Barbara J Shah withdrew from the race.
- Republican Michael J Puskaric
- Republican Tom Kirsch withdrew from the race.
Rep. John Maher (R)
District 40; Map
Maher is not running for reelection.
Candidates
- Democrat Edward Eichenlaub
- Democrat Sharon Guidi
- Republican Paul Dixon
- Republican James Roman
- Republican Natalie Nicole Mihalek Stuck
Rep. Daniel Miller (D)
District 42; Map
Rep. Mark Mustio (R)
District 44; Map
Mustio is not running again.
Candidate
- Democrat Michele Knoll
- Republican David Bachman
- Republican Bob Doddato
- Republican Valerie Gaydos
- Republican Scott Larue
Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik (D)
District 45; Map
Challenger
- Green Party candidate Garret Wassermann
- Republican Malek Francis withdrew from the race.
Rep. Jason Ortitay (R)
District 46; Map
Ortitay sought the congressional seat vacated by Murphy, but is now running for reelection to his current seat.
Challenger:
- Democrat Reuben Brock
- Democrat Byron Timmins
Rep. Eli Evankovich (R)
District 54; Map
Evankovich isn’t running again. Democrat Rich Callender dropped out of the race.
Candidates
- Democrat Robert Bertha
- Democrat Jonathan McCabe
- Republican Bob Brooks
- Republican Bryan Kline
- Republican Michael Korns
- Republican Maryalice Newborn
Pittsburgh City Council
Special election winner: Erika Strassburger
District 8; Map
Former Council Member Dan Gilman resigned to become chief of staff for Mayor Bill Peduto after Kevin Acklin resigned to take a job with Peoples Gas. Gilman’s former Chief of Staff Erika Strassburger, who sought the Democratic nod, ran as an Independent and won the special election on March 6 with nearly 64 percent of the vote. She faced Democrat Sonja Finn, Republican Rennick Remley, and Marty Healey, formerly a Democratic candidate, who as a member of the Inclusion Party, created by his supporters.