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One In, One Out Of GOP Field For Pennsylvania's Senate Seat

Keith Srakocic
/
AP
In this file Feb. 25, 2016, file photo, semi-retired spring manufacturing shop owner Joseph Vodvarka talks about his campaign at his shop in the Pittsburgh suburb of Clinton, Pa.

One candidate is leaving the Republican field seeking the nomination to challenge Pennsylvania's two-term Democrat Sen. Bob Casey, and one candidate is getting in.

Fourth-time candidate Joe Vodvarka said Thursday that he's running as a Republican, after losing three straight primaries as a Democrat.

Vodvarka is a semiretired owner of a Pittsburgh-area spring manufacturing shop. Also running are Republican U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, state Rep. Jim Christiana and Libertarian Dale Kerns.

Dropping out is real estate investor Jeff Bartos of Montgomery County. He says he'll run instead for lieutenant governor on a ticket with state Sen. Scott Wagner, R-York, who is running to challenge Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf's re-election bid.

Casey is seeking a third six-year term in next year's election. The Scranton native is the son of the former state governor.

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