Critz wins Dem nomination for Murtha seat

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: Politico

Mark Critz, the district director for the late Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), won the Democratic nomination in the special election to fill his former boss’ vacant seat through the end of this year.

He defeated former state Treasurer Barbara Hafer, in a vote held by the Pennsylvania Democratic Executive Committee Monday afternoon. Critz had already been the favored candidate of district-wide Democrats, handily winning a weekend tally of party activists within Pennsylvania’s 12th District.

Critz weathered a late flurry of attacks from Hafer over his ethical track record Over the last week, Hafer attacked Critz over his ties to controversial earmarks that Murtha secured for military contractors. Before Murtha’s death, the House Ethics Committee had been investigating those connections and interviewed Critz as part of its probe.

Hafer is still planning to run in the regularly-scheduled primaries, which occur on May 18, the same day as the special election. It’s conceivable that Hafer could win the Democratic nomination for the full term, while Critz could serve out the remainder of Murtha’s term, if he wins the special election.



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