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As votes were tabulated Tuesday to determine the two Republican candidates for Westmoreland County commissioner in November, Democrats sat quietly on the sidelines, setting their sights on trying to regain majority control of county government this year.

The Democrats, Ted Kopas, who served more than a decade as a commissioner before he was ousted in 2019, and political newcomer Sydney Hovis were unopposed for Democratic nominations.

They will face incumbent Republicans Sean Kertes and Doug Chew in the fall.

The top three vote-getters will serve as county commissioners in 2024.

Im very pleased with the results last night. It sent a clear message from 24,000 Republicans who (did not vote for Kertes or Chew) think that county government can be better and can expect their leaders to be more accessible and honest, Kopas said.

Kopas received more than 24,600 votes, a number that exceeded every commissioner candidate on Tuesday ballots. Fellow Democrat Hovis, 28, of Scottdale, who is making her first bid for a county office, received just more than 14,200 votes.

Kertes and Chew, both first-term incumbents, finished as the top two vote-getters in the Republican primary that featured five candidates seeking two party nominations. Kertes led the GOP ticket with more than 17,900 votes. Chew garnered more than 11,400 votes, about 1,500 more than retired United Parcel Service security division manager John Ventre, who finished third behind the incumbents.

Retired Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County computer systems manager Paul Kosko finished fourth with about 7,800 votes, and former county Chief Deputy Sheriff Patricia Fritz finished last with fewer than 6,000 votes.

Kertes and Chew were endorsed by the county Republican committee. Meanwhile, GOP Chairman Bill Bretz filed unsuccessful lawsuits seeking to have Ventre and Kosko removed from the ballot.

The results reflect Republican vulnerability this fall, Kopas said.

I think voters from both parties think that Westmoreland County can be and should be better, Kopas said. Certainly the numbers speak for themselves.

Kopas comes into the fall race with a campaign war chest of more than $70,000 raised throughout the spring election season. Hovis raised just $1,500 and as of early May had just $500 in the bank, according to finance reports.

Hovis did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

Democratic Committee Chairwoman Michelle McFall predicted Hovis story will resonate with votersl.

Sydney is coming in as a political outsider. Shes got an amazing story, shes a young mother of three children with a working background and a great message thats going to elevate her, McFall said. She is a unique candidate and she has a real shot.

Kertes and Chew ran separate but compatible campaigns this spring. At this point, Kopas said he does not envision running a joint campaign with Hovis.

Meanwhile, Bretz said he is not overly concerned that Ventres strong showing in the primary reflected a political weakness for the incumbents. He suggested ballot position and media attention on the legal challenges elevated (Ventres and Koskos) candidacies.

Its curious to me to see what will be revealed on the Democratic side. To me we have to go out and get folks engaged in the fall. We have to make sure we circle the wagon going into the fall because the stakes are too high, Bretz said.

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich by email at rcholodofsky@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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Democrats set sights on Westmoreland commissioner race - TribLIVE