State Representative Rick Saccone (R-Allegheny) was nominated on the second ballot of conferees to be the Republican candidate in the special election to replace resigned Congressman Tim Murphy. The special election will be held March 13th.

Saccone was the most conservative candidate in the race for the nomination. Saccone introduced a bill in the state House to post “in God we trust” at all schools in the state. Saccone is an Air Force veteran, and is an expert on North Korea, spending a year as the only American living in the country.

Saccone was running for U.S. Senate until Murphy was forced to resign amid a scandal involving an extra-marital affair, allegations he asked her to get an abortion, and allegations of mistreatment of staff.

The conferee process started with State Senators Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny) on the ballot. State Representative Jason Ortitay dropped out before voting.

The first ballot saw Reschenthaler finish first, followed by Saccone then Ward, but no one won a majority of voters meaning Ward would not go through to the second ballot. On the second ballot, Saccone finished won with 123 votes, and Reschenthaler with 91.