Mark Critz, a top aide to the late Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), announced this week that he has raised more than $100,000 in his special election bid to succeed his boss.

Critz faces former state Treasurer Barbara Hafer in his bid to secure the Democratic nomination to run in the May 18 special election. Local party leaders will meet Saturday to pick the nominee, but both Critz and Hafer are simultaneously seeking their party’s nod to run for a full term in November in the regularly scheduled primary on the same day.

Republicans will pick their nominee, either 2008 GOP nominee Bill Russell or businessman Tim Burns, on March 11.