Pennsylvania governor sets special election date for GOP Marino’s seat

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) on Thursday set May 21 as the day for the special election to replace former Rep. Tom Marino (R), who resigned last week.

“Having heard the concerns of county officials, I am scheduling the special election to fill the remainder of Congressman Marino’s term on May 21, 2019 to coincide with the primary election,” Wolf said.

Having heard the concerns of county officials, I am scheduling the special election to fill the remainder of Congressman Marino’s term on May 21, 2019 to coincide with the primary election.

— Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) January 24, 2019

{mosads}Marino, whose last day was Wednesday, easily won the election in November to serve his 5th term in the heavily Republican district.

Marino is leaving Congress to take a job in the private sector.

“Having spent over two decades serving the public, I have chosen to take a position in the private sector where I can use both my legal and business experience to create jobs around the nation,” Marino, 66, said in a statement on Jan. 17.

“I want to thank the people of the 12th Congressional District of Pennsylvania for the faith they have placed in me to represent them in Congress. It truly has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” he added.

Democrat Marc Friedenberg, who challenged Marino last year, already announced his candidacy for the special election.