Newcomer Jordan Omlor took an early lead Tuesday night over Lisa Gephart in the Democratic primary for the 59th District state House seat.
The winner of the primary will face unopposed Republican incumbent Leslie Rossi in November.
With 19.67% of precincts reporting — representing 58 of Westmoreland County’s 306 precincts — Omlor held 1,607 votes (63.85%) to Gephart’s 910 votes (36.15%). All results are unofficial until certified by the county’s election board.
Omlor, 35, of Latrobe, a real estate developer and a U.S. Army veteran, had been registered as a Republican until last December. He has said Democratic priorities are more in line with his political views. He has backed universal healthcare for all state residents and wants state government to focus on creating pathways for more affordable housing.
Gephart, 59, of Mt. Pleasant Township, is a retired van driver and security guard in the Southmoreland School District.
She ran a brief but unsuccessful campaign for county commissioner in 2021 as a fill-in candidate chosen by Democratic Party officials after one of the candidates nominated by voters withdrew from the race following that year’s primary.
During the campaign, Gephart said she favors a plan to prioritize a cap on prices for medication such as insulin, negotiate Medicare drug costs and put an end to massive medical bills that can bankrupt a family.
The 59th District has long been a Republican stronghold in Westmoreland County. For decades, even when Democrats controlled the local political landscape, the seat had been solidly held by the GOP. The district makes up communities in the eastern section of Westmoreland County, including Latrobe, Ligonier, Derry, Mt. Pleasant and Unity.
It continues to tout the largest number of registered Republicans among the county’s state House districts.
Rossi, who was unopposed in this spring’s GOP primary, has been in office since winning a special election for the state House seat in 2021 following the death of state Rep. Mike Reese.