Stephenie Scialabba

Stephenie Scialabba finished in the lead in the Republican primary race for state House in the newly redistricted 12th District.

In unofficial results, Scialabba received 4,792 votes in total out of 10,095. She was in competition against candidates Scott Timko of Cranberry Township and Gregg Semel of Zelienople for the seat previously held by Republican state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, who announced his retirement earlier this year.

In the fall, Scialabba will face Democrat Robert Vigue of Valencia, who ran unopposed in the primary.

Timko received 1,851 votes, while Semel received 3,431.

After the 2022 redistricting of state legislative boundaries, the 12th District consists of Adams, Cranberry and Jackson townships; and Callery, Evans City, Harmony, Mars, Seven Fields, Valencia and Zelienople boroughs.

Jackson Township is new to the district, along with Evans City, Harmony and Zelienople boroughs.

The newer municipalities to the district largely voted for Semel. In Harmony, Semel came out in front, receiving 151 votes while Scialabba received 28 and Timko received 13. In Evans City, Semel received 137 votes, Timko received 56 and Scialabba received 77. In Jackson Township, Semel received 502, Scialabba received 321, and Timko received 59. Zelienople voted for Semel with 490 votes, with 153 for Scialabba and 32 for Timko.

Scialabba is a cybersecurity and data privacy lawyer who practices law at Eckert Seamans. She moved to Cranberry in 2018 with her husband, and describes herself as a fourth-generation Butler County resident. She previously said that two recent events in her life — the birth of her first child and the death of her mother — inspired her to run for office.

“I think that the first word that comes to mind is grateful, and the second one that comes is excited,” Scialabba said. “We’re happy, we’re eager. It was truly a grassroots campaign.”

She thanked everyone for the support they gave in the primary.

“I’m a nominee, so we're going to have to come together for a victory in November,” she said. “We are looking forward to the general.”

Scialabba cited election integrity, boosting the economy, developing natural resources, freedom of speech and retaining businesses as some of her priorities.

“Constituent services is something big to me,” she said. “I want to be able to be a helping hand to everyone who needs it in this district.”

Timko said that he was proud of the turnout the region had for an off-year primary.

“I think I ran a very nice race. I‘m proud of the work I did, and the effort that we put out,” he said. “I’m excited about the future for the Republican Party. We’re going to work hard to win this seat in November, and work hard for the Republican Party.”

Semel said he was happy for Scialabba on her victory, and said she would make a great delegate.

“Through the process, I got to know her very well,” he said. “It was a great race, and a clean race. I think I made a good friend through the process. She will represent our district extraordinarily well.”