Republicans got most of the attention in Tuesday’s primary in the 14th Congressional District, where state Senator Guy Reschenthaler scored an 11-point victory over state Representative Rick Saccone. But Democrat Bibiana Boerio of Unity Township won by an even larger margin – 19 points – in a primary that featured a total of four candidates.
Boerio won 43 percent of the Democratic vote, compared to 24 percent for psychologist Adam Sedlock, 19 percent for emergency doctor Bob Solomon, and 14 percent for brain researcher Tom Prigg.
The 14th covers Greene, Fayette and Washington counties as well as the western portion of Westmoreland County. It’s one of the reddest districts in the state, but Boerio said her experience as an automotive executive will help her compete with Reschenthaler.
“I’ve worked in the hard physical reality where you have to get things done,” she said. “It’s not just simply a matter of talking on the floor and getting your soundbites on YouTube and taking votes.”
Boerio, who formerly worked for Ford Motor Credit Company and then its British affiliate, Jaguar, is one of at least eight Pennsylvania women running for Congress. Currently, there are no women in the state’s congressional delegation, but Boerio isn’t focusing on gender.
“All my career I’ve been the only woman in the room,” she said. “So, for me this isn’t about being a woman – it’s about finding ways to represent all of the people in our district.”
Boerio served as chief of staff to former Congressman Joe Sestak after leaving the auto industry. More recently, she was interim president of Seton Hill University in Greensburg.
