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

And on the deadline for nominating petitions for the May 18 primary, the Democratic U.S. Senate race drew another southwestern Pennsylvania hopeful. Joseph Vod Varka, a Robinson machinist mounting an everyman campaign, will join Sen. Arlen Specter and Rep. Joe Sestak on the Democratic Senate ballot.

Mr. Vod Varka said he hopes to appeal to blue-collar Pennsylvanians with a manufacturing-first pitch that includes a call for a tariff on imported goods to make them equivalent in price to the same product made in America using minimum-wage labor.

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

They include first-time candidate Billy McCue; Jim Cawley, a Bucks County commissioner who is the GOP's endorsed candidate for the post; Steve Johnson, a York County businessman with roots in the tea party movement; Stephen A. Urban, a Luzerne County commissioner who is also running for the state Senate; John Kennedy, a former legislator from Cumberland County; Chet Beiler, who was the GOP's unsuccessful 2008 candidate for auditor general; Jean Craige Pepper, of Erie County, a candidate for state treasurer in 2004; Russ Diamond, a Lebanon County businessman who was one of the organizers of the Clean Sweep campaign that targeted state legislative incumbents in 2006; and Mr. Metcalfe.

The Democratic field for lieutenant governor includes Jonathan Saidel, a former Philadelphia controller who has the endorsement of the Democratic Party; Scott Conklin, a legislator from Centre County; and former Commonwealth Court Judge Doris Smith-Ribner of Philadelphia.

Rep. Pat Toomey and Peg Luksik, a conservative activist form Johnstown, filed for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination. For governor, the Republican candidates are Attorney General Tom Corbett and Rep. Sam Rohrer. The Democrats are Auditor General Jack Wagner, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel and state Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams of Philadelphia.

In the 3rd Congressional District, a half-dozen previously announced Republicans are vying for the chance to take on Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, D-Erie. She has opposition within her own party as well, as Sharon native Mel Marin filed for the Democratic nomination against the freshman.

In the adjacent 4th District, Edgeworth lawyer Keith Rothfus and former U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan are competing for the GOP nomination against Rep. Jason Altmire.

The race for a full term in the seat held by the late Rep. John P. Murtha drew competitive races on both sides. The Democrats are Ryan Bucchianeri, a Washington County businessman; former Murtha aide Mark Critz; Ronald "Ron" Mackell Jr., a lawyer and Johnstown native; Ed Cernic, the Cambria County controller; and Barbara Hafer, the former auditor general and state treasurer.

Democratic Party officials chose Mr. Critz as their candidate for the concurrent special election to fill the unexpired balance of Mr. Murtha's term.

On the Republican side, Tim Burns and William Russell are vying for both the special election nomination and the nomination for the ensuing full term.

Several Republicans had considered a challenge to the veteran Democrat, Rep. Mike Doyle, in the 14th District, but it appeared that Melissa Haluszcak, of Coraopolis, was the only GOP candidate who submitted petitions for the contest.

In the other southwestern Pennsylvania seat, the 18th District, Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, is unopposed in the GOP primary and his challenger, Dan Connolly, a Castle Shannon native, has no opposition for the Democratic nomination.

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