Pennsylvania Democrats have selected their candidate in the special election for the House seat formerly held by the late Rep. John Murtha (D), the state party announced in a press release, choosing former Murtha chief of staff Mark Critz.
The Republican candidate will be selected Thursday night. The district was carried in 2008 by John McCain — the only district in the country to switch from the Democratic column in 2004 to the Republicans in 2008 for the presidential vote, after having been carried 51%-48% by John Kerry.
The special election will be held on May 18, the same date as the statewide primary elections — a factor that could potentially boost the Dems to hold the seat, as there are more contested primary races on the Democratic side than for the Republicans.
