Stephanie Waggett, the Republican candidate from Greene County who unexpectedly won the Democratic nomination for the state’s 50th House of Representatives through a write-in campaign during the primary, has withdrawn her candidacy from the general election ballot.
Her departure from the race on Monday will now allow Democratic Party committees in Washington and Greene counties to choose a replacement candidate to run against Republican Rep. Bud Cook in the Nov. 5 election.
Waggett ran against Cook in the April 23 Republican primary but lost to the four-term incumbent. However, she received 413 votes from Democrats – who did not have a candidate of their own in the primary – giving her well over the 300 votes she needed to get on the ballot, which would have led to a rematch against Cook in the general election.
But just before Monday’s withdrawal deadline, she notified the Secretary of State that she would not accept the nomination, meaning she will not appear on the ballot. Waggett, of Cumberland Township, did not respond to a phone message seeking comment on her reasons for withdrawing from the race.
With the election now open, Democrats have until Aug. 22 to nominate their own candidate to challenge Cook, according to State Department press secretary Matt Heckel. Objections can be filed up to three days after the nomination, and the new candidate must promptly submit all required financial documents and certifications, Heckel said.
The state House of Representatives’ 50th district includes all of Greene County and the southeastern part of Washington County, so Democratic committee members in those areas must now meet to select a new nominee. Washington County Democratic Committee Chair Christina Proctor expects the two committees will hold a virtual meeting in the coming days to select a nominee, given the tight time frame for filing paperwork.
“We’re glad she’s dropping out,” Proctor said Tuesday when informed of Waggett’s decision by a reporter. “It will be great to have a true Democrat as our candidate that people can rally behind and get excited about. Having someone on the ballot in the 50th District helps the outcome of the election.”
She said they would open the nomination process to any Democrat in the 50th District who wants to run, and anyone interested should contact their district party committee.
“We usually try to make the process as open as possible,” she said. “If anyone wants to join, let us know.”
However, she also suggested that Drew Ross Manko of North Bethlehem Township, who attempted a write-in campaign during the primary, could be the favorite for the nomination.
“At this point, Drew Ross Manko was the only person who had stepped forward in the past, so of course he comes to mind,” Proctor said.
Ross Manko was unable to collect enough signatures from Democrats for his nomination petition before the primary, so he ran a write-in campaign instead. However, he finished third in the Democratic primary, receiving 133 votes compared to Waggett’s 413 and Cook’s 218.
Ross Manko, a sixth-generation farmer from Washington County, declined to comment directly on the nomination process, saying he wanted to leave candidate selection to committees. But he said he is still interested in running for the state’s 50th House seat and believes his background as a “rural Democrat” could be a selling point for the party.
“I’m still very much ready. My commitment to democracy has not wavered in the last few months,” said Ross Manko. “If it is the will of the parties in the districts that I am the right man for the job, I would fully accept this nomination and do my best to represent the people of Washington and Greene County to the best of my ability.”
Cook could not be reached for comment Tuesday on his reaction to Waggett’s decision to withdraw or on the possibility of running against a Democratic candidate in the general election.
