Raja considers running for Pippy's Senate seat
Share with others:
D. Raja, the Republican candidate for Allegheny County executive last year, is poised to join the run for state Sen. John Pippy's seat south of Pittsburgh.
Mr. Pippy announced last month he would not seek re-election to the 37th Senate District. Mr. Raja's home in Mt. Lebanon was due to be cut from the district under reapportionment, but when the state Supreme Court rejected the proposed lines it gave the technology company president an opening to join the race.
Mr. Raja is circulating petitions and may issue a statement in coming days, according to supporters. The filing deadline for state House and Senate seats has been pushed back to Thursday (with petitions for every other race on the April 24 ballot due Wednesday).
State Rep. Mark Mustio, R-North Fayette, has announced he is running for the GOP nomination for the seat too, as has gun rights activist Kim Stolfer of South Fayette.
Mr. Raja should be well known to Republican voters, spending $1.4 million of his own money on the executive race last year. In November, he lost to Democrat Rich Fitzgerald, 62 to 38 percent.
Pleasant Hills councilman Greg Parks may run on the Democratic side.
First Published February 14, 2012 12:00 am
