In the nominations for the only two contested state Senate seats in the area, a Westmoreland County chiropractor will challenge embattled Republican Sen. Bob Regola and a current state representative will be the Democratic nominee to replace retiring Sen. Gary LaValle of Beaver County.

Chiropractor Tony Bompiani defeated attorney Chris Huffman to win the right to battle Mr. Regola in November.

"We need to meet with the other side of the Democratic Party and draw them together," Mr. Bompiani said. He said the party would have trouble winning in November without unity, and he was encouraged by a concession call he received from Mr. Huffman in which he said he would work with the nominee to defeat Mr. Regola.

Mr. Bompiani, 54, spent 12 years on the Hempfield Area school board, including five years as president.

Mr. Huffman, 40, of Rostraver, was making his first bid for public office. He had the endorsement of the Westmoreland County Democratic Party.

Mr. Regola, 46, of Hempfield, was running unopposed. He is currently awaiting trial on perjury and gun charges for a 2006 incident in which authorities say his neighbor, Louis Farrell, 14, shot himself with Mr. Regola's gun.

Mr. Regola is accused of lying during the coroner's inquest into the shooting and of giving his teenage son, Bobby, access to the gun.

State Rep. Sean Ramaley, looking to move to the Senate, appeared to win a close victory over Jason Petrella.

Mr. Ramaley, 32, is a two-term state representative seeking to move into the Senate seat that covers parts of Beaver, Lawrence and Allegheny counties.

He will likely face Elder Vogel Jr. in the general election. Mr. Vogel had a relatively comfortable lead over Jeff Harris.

Mr. Vogel, 51, is a lifelong farmer, tilling soil that has been in his family for 150 years. He is also president of the Beaver-Lawrence Farm Bureau, chairman of the Pennsylvania Beef Council and a New Sewickley supervisor.

Mr. Petrella, 32, of Monaca, attacked Mr. Ramaley as a product of the old-time Beaver County Democratic machine, saying the area needs people with fresh ideas.

In Harrisburg, Mr. Ramaley said he was involved behind the scenes in efforts to raise the minimum wage, expand property tax rebate programs and expand health care efforts for the elderly and for children.

In his district, he mentioned helping the Northern Ambridge Redevelopment Project bring $4.5 million in state funding for a mixed commercial/residential project on reclaimed industrial sites. He is also working on a prospective deal to bring an ethanol plant to Aliquippa.

Mr. Ramaley's campaign took a late blow when the New Castle News, a Lawrence County newspaper, withdrew its endorsement.

The News said it was not satisfied with Mr. Ramaley's answers to questions about his relationship with a Poconos-area casino entrepreneur, who was allegedly using Mr. Ramaley and other lawmakers to funnel money to former state House Democratic Whip Mike Veon of Beaver Falls.

Mr. Petrella, who formerly worked in financial services and is finishing a master's degree in public policy, thinks Pennsylvania should step up and provide universal health care to its residents.