PA-HD79: Interest grows in 79th District's unexpired term

Last weekend, a local official declared his interest in running for the 79th District State House seat held by Lou Schmitt, who will be giving up that seat at the end of this year, having secured one of two open spots on the Blair County bench by winning the Republican primary and finishing second in the Democratic primary this month.

The local official was told that because of those two open judges’ spots in Blair County, it’s likely the governor would appoint Schmitt and fellow shoo-in Paula Aigner — who won the Democratic primary and finished second in the Republican contest — to those judgeships this summer, which could mean a special election this year for Schmitt’s seat.

Such judicial appointments by the governor this summer are possible — but unlikely, according to Schmitt.

There are many factors that could help determine whether it happens, but the main one that makes it unlikely is that the governor, along with the General Assembly, will be focused for perhaps months on the budget, according to Schmitt.




https://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2025/05/interest-grows-in-79th-districts-unexpired-term/