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A rematch of the Republican primary for the 50th state House District is now set for the fall.

Stephanie Waggett, who lost to state Rep. Bud Cook in the Republican primary last week, secured enough Democratic write-in votes to run against him again in November.

According to unofficial results from the April 23 primary, Waggett received 413 write-in votes from Democrats 338 of which came from Greene County voters giving her more than the 300 needed to get on the ballot in the general election. Cook received 228 write-ins, while registered Democrat Drew Ross Manko of North Bethlehem Township, who made the effort to run a write-in campaign, received 133 votes.

Cook, a four-term Republican incumbent from West Pike Run Township, easily defeated Waggett in the GOP primary, receiving 3,920 votes compared to her share of 2,367, according to unofficial results. Most surprising is that Cook had a sizable vote advantage in Greene County, despite Waggett living in Cumberland Township.

The district includes all of Greene County and parts of Washington County. While the district offers a voter registration advantage for Republicans, the general election will allow Democrats and independents to also have a say in who they want to represent them in the state legislature.

Meanwhile, in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, state Rep. Natalie Mihalek will have a Democratic challenger in the November election.

Peter Kohnke of Bethel Park easily surpassed the 300 write-in votes he needed from Democrats during the April 23 primary to get on the ballot to run for the 40th state House District seat.

The district, which Mihalek has represented since winning her first election in 2018, includes Peters Township in Washington County and Bethel Park and the southern area of Upper St. Clair in Allegheny County.

Democrats urged their voters to write-in Kohnkes name since the party did not have anyone receive enough nominating signatures to get on the primary ballot. According to unofficial vote totals, Kohnke received 534 votes in Allegheny County and 326 write-ins from Washington County voters, giving him nearly three times the number needed to qualify for the Nov. 5 general election.

Mihalek, R-Peters, received 5,757 votes from Republicans 3,755 in Allegheny County and 2,002 in Washington County in the uncontested primary.

The results must be certified by the county elections boards no later than May 13 and sent to the state Department of State.

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Waggett wins Democratic nomination in 50th, setting up rematch with Rep. Cook - Observer-Reporter

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