Mihalek, Guidi win nominations in 40th state House race
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Natalie Mihalek was victorious in the 40th state House District race.
Sharon Guidi
Natalie Mihalek said she’s “the new face” of the Republican Party after winning the GOP nomination for the 40th state House seat being vacated by John Maher. Mihalek easily beat James Roman and Paul Dixon. She received 2,724 votes compared to Roman’s 1,623 tallies and the 1,480 votes for Dixon.
Celebrating following the May 15 primary with fellow victorious Republican Guy Reschenthaler at the McMurray VFW Post 764, Mihalek referenced Maher, who is retiring from the seat after serving 11 terms in the district that includes Peters Township, Upper St. Clair and parts of Bethel Park.
“Our feet are tired, but they’re going to march right into November, because we’re going to hold onto this seat. I don’t know that I’ll be here for 22 years, like our last representative was, but I’m going to be here for as long as I can,” she said.
“This is the face of the Republican party right now,” the 38-year-old Upper St. Clair resident said, alluding to her and Reschenthaler. “This is the new face.”
Mihalek will now face Democrat Sharon Guidi in the 40th state House race.
The race for the Democratic nomination in the 40th State House District went down to the wire, but Guidi of Peters Township prevailed with a decisive victory when her home community was tallied shortly before midnight May 15.
Guidi beat her only challenger, Ed Eichenlaub of Bethel Park, with 2,199 votes to his 1,774. The margin was much closer earlier in election night when less than 50 votes separated the two. However, a wave of precincts from Peters Township were one of the last to report in Washington County, giving Guidi her commanding lead.
Staff writer Harry Funk contributed to this story.