Government affairs consultant Beth Hafer (D) has her sights set on 18th district Rep. Tim Murphy (R), announcing Tuesday that she will officially kick off her campaign this fall.

“While the people and the families in our community have not changed, our Congressman no longer represents our values,” Hafer said in a statement.

Despite a blue wave that engulfed some of his fellow Pennsylvania Republicans in November, Murphy handily won re-election in his suburban Pittsburgh district, beating his Democratic opponent by nearly 16 points while garnering 58 percent of the vote.

Still, Democrats believe the right challenger will make him vulnerable. Hafer is the daughter of former state Treasurer Barbara Hafer, a moderate Republican-turned-Democrat.
— David M. Drucker