The owner of a Pittsburgh seafood market has joined the Democratic race to take on Rep. Tim Murphy (R).

Dan Wholey (D) told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last week that he is running “because the people of southwest Pennsylvania deserve better representation.”

Wholey, who opposes abortion rights, will compete with Brien Wall, who works in the insurance industry, and Beth Hafer, daughter of former State Auditor Barbara Hafer (D), in the race for the Democratic nomination.

In an interview with the newspaper, Wholey railed against “big oil” and large pharmaceutical companies, called for a large withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, and said he opposes abortion rights.

Democrats believe they can run a competitive race against Murphy in a suburban Pittsburgh district that leans Republican in presidential years, but it isn’t clear whether any of their three candidates have what it takes to oust the three-term Congressman.

— Josh Kurtz