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Reschenthaler for GOP, Boerio for Democrats in 14th Congressional

By Barbara S. Miller staff Writer bmiller@observer-Reporter.Com 4 min read
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State Sen. Guy Reschenthaler declared victory May 15 in his quest to upset the better-known Rick Saccone and win the Republican nomination for the newly drawn 14th Congressional District.

A veteran of the Iraq war, Reschenthaler strode to the podium of Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Post No. 764 in McMurray.

Calling himself a “longshot” in the primary, Reschenthaler braced himself for the Nov. 6 contest.

“We’re far from winning this Congressional seat,” he said. “If we learned one thing on March 13, it’s that there’s no such thing as a safe Republican seat any more. … We cannot take any vote for granted. Every single victory has to be won and hard-fought.”

Among those he thanked were U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey and Tim Murphy, whom he called “Congressman Murphy” even though Murphy’s resignation from the House of Representatives in an adultery scandal led to his resignation from the seat. Murphy was present; Toomey was not.

Reschenthaler held 19,255 votes to Rick Saccone’s 15,302, with most precincts reporting.

In his concession speech, Saccone addressed a group of about 50 at the Jacktown Ride and Gun Club in Irwin.

Just after the polls closed, Saccone arrived at his campaign gathering in good spirits as he greeted the throng. He retreated, however, when his early lead dissipated.

When he reappeared, he echoed Reschenthaler in saying, “It was a hard-fought campaign. We didn’t get the outcome we wanted.”

Saccone said he had “called Guy and wished him well.”

Reschenthaler and Saccone were in a head-to-head contest at a Republican mini-convention last Nov. 11 at Southpointe Golf Club to run in the 18th Congressional District special election to replace Murphy. The contest was watched nationally as an indicator of midterm elections and the popularity of President Donald Trump.

Saccone won that contest but lost the seat to Democrat Conor Lamb on March 13. The state representative from the 39th Legislative District had declined to run for the seat he had held since 2011.

Former congressman Murphy had committed a large chunk of change, in the neighborhood of six figures, to Reschenthaler’s campaign.

“Guy brings to the table a lot of experience as a state senator,” said David Ball, a Peters Township council member and vice chairman of the Washington County Republican Party, who was among those gathered at the VFW post.

“He brings a very conservative perspective to the table. But most importantly, he’s very electable. He can raise money. He can campaign. I think he’s showing that. The numbers so far look very good. He gets out, he really does a great job.”

Both men live in Allegheny County, which is outside the newly-configured district that includes Washington, Greene, Fayette and western Westmoreland counties. It meant neither could vote for themselves in 14th district balloting.

Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter

Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter

Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter

Bibiana Boerio

Reschenthaler’s opponent will be Democrat Bibiana Boerio of Unity Township, Westmoreland County.

She pulled ahead with 16,229 votes to Dr. Robert Solomon’s 6,551. Tom Prigg had 4,992 votes while Adam Sedlock trailed with 4,792.

Women have run in this area before as candidates for Congress, but only men have been elected to the seat. The race see-sawed back and forth, with Sedlock and Solomon trading early leads.

“We knew those early totals had Greene and parts of Washington,” Boerio said.

“I am thrilled,” she continued, saying she was waiting to see totals from 100 percent of the precincts in the 14th District.

“I’m still kind of pinching myself,” she said in a phone interview.

Boerio worked for former U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, who narrowly lost a bid for U.S. Senate to Toomey in 2010. She is a retired automobile company executive.

Staff writers Scott Beveridge and Harry Funk contributed to this story.

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