Republicans pick Lewisburg businessman to run for House seat formerly held by Rep. Fred Keller

Snyder County Republicans have tapped East Buffalo Township supervisor David Rowe to run in an August 20 special election to fill a state House seat vacated by now-U.S. Rep. Fred Keller.

According to the Daily Item, Rowe, a small business owner, won the party nod by a 9-8 vote over a former Keller aide, before the vote was retroactively made unanimous.

Rowe ran on a record of no tax hikes as a township official, and also touted pro-Second Amendment and anti-abortion-access stances.

“We must come together as a Republican party and keep the district in Republican hands, and we cannot take anything for granted,” Rowe said after winning the 85th District nomination, according to the Daily Item.

Democrats will name their candidate next Thursday, June 20, according to Pennsylvania Democratic Party spokesperson Brandon Cwalina.

The district last elected a Democratic representative in 1986 and has since been represented by Republicans. The area includes most of Union and Snyder counties, including Lewisburg, Mifflinburg, and Selinsgrove.