Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, is joining the already crowded field of candidates for the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor.

Mr. Metcalfe, a conservative who has represented a Butler County district since 1998, is a surprise entrant in the Republican competition. By late afternoon Tuesday, nine candidates had filed nominating petitions seeking the GOP nomination.

They include Billy McCue, Jim Cawley, Steve Johnson, Stephen A. Urban, John Kennedy, Chet Beiler, Jean Craige Pepper, Russ Diamond, and Mr. Metcalfe.

With an hour to go before the 5 p.m. deadline, the bureau of elections listed two candidates for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor: Jonathan Saidel and Scott Conklin. Former Commonwealth Court Judge Doris Smith-Ribner has been campaigning for the Democratic nomination as well but her petition was still missing as the deadline approached.

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