A petition filed in Commonwealth Court says a Republican state House candidate in the North Hills is not eligible to run because he doesn’t meet the state’s residency requirement.
The candidate, Ehab Akkary of McCandless, called the challenge “antidemocratic” and said it was a “frivolous and politically motivated attempt to deny voters a real choice in this election.”
Akkary, a cosmetic surgeon with a practice in Morgantown, W.Va., was the lone Republican to file paperwork to run for the 30th District seat. State Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-McCandless, is unopposed for the Democratic nomination. He is seeking a third term representing Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights, Emsworth, Franklin Park, Kilbuck, McCandless, Ohio Township and part of Hampton.
The petition, filed Monday by a registered Republican who lives in the district, argues that the state Constitution requires a state House candidate to have lived in Pennsylvania for at least four years prior to an election — in this case, by Nov. 3, 2022.
The petition claims that Akkary didn’t establish residency in Pennsylvania until September 2024. He registered to vote in the state the same month, according to the petition.
Allegheny County real estate records show Akkary bought a McCandless home for $1.75 million in May 2023.
A statement issued by Akkary’s campaign does not explicitly contest claims made in the petition.
“Dr. Akkary began working in Pennsylvania in 2021 and started the process of relocating here at that time,” the campaign said.
The campaign did not immediately respond to an email from TribLive asking if Akkary established residency in Pennsylvania on or before Nov. 3, 2022.
“This will not distract us,” Akkary said in a statement. “The people of District 30 deserve a real election – not political games. I’m running to represent this community, and I’m going to continue earning that support the right way: by showing up, listening and delivering real solutions.”
While Venkat did not file the petition challenging Akkary’s candidacy, he said his campaign initiated the process after finding no public information indicating that Akkary lived in Pennsylvania since at least Nov. 3, 2024.
“I have a responsibility as an elected official, and as a citizen, to make sure that we meet the constitutional requirements for any candidate who is trying to represent the community where I live and the communities that I currently represent,” Venkat said.
“The danger with having an ineligible candidate on the ballot is that (in the event of that candidate winning the election) my community will not have representation in the state House because the state House will not swear in someone who does not meet the constitutional requirements for serving in office,” Venkat added.
Tuesday was the last day for people to file legal challenges to remove would-be candidates from the May 19 primary ballot. A hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday at the City-County Building in Downtown Pittsburgh.