First-term state Rep. Jill Cooper cruised to a commanding victory Tuesday night over challenger Jamie Lingg in the Republican primary race for the 55th District in northern Westmoreland County.
Cooper, 62, garnered nearly 78% of 7,576 votes cast, according to the unofficial tally, with all 54 of the district’s precincts reporting.
Lingg received close to 22% of the votes, with write-in votes accounting for less than 1% of the total.
A Murrysville resident, Cooper was elected to the House in 2022. She previously worked as vice president of sales and marketing for Alcoa.
Lingg won a seat on Murrysville Council in 2021. She is the owner of graphic design business Three Little Fishies.
With no Democrat candidates having filed in the race, Cooper is likely assured of another term in the House.
Cooper said she sees the primary balloting as a vote of confidence from constituents who appreciate the service she and her staff have provided them.
“I’m extremely humbled,” Cooper said. “It’s very rewarding to have people at the polls recognize our hard work.
”I look forward to giving them an even better return on investment going forward, making sure that their tax dollars come back here and not just to Pittsburgh or Philadelphia.”
Cooper said she believes voters in the district welcomed her approach in Harrisburg of reaching across the aisle to work with Democrats on common issues while continuing to adhere to other conservative positions. To that end, she and fellow Republican Jamie Flick (83rd District, Lycoming/Union) serve as co-chairs with two Democratic colleagues of a bipartisan caucus.
“People want their government to work,” Cooper said. “That was the whole motivation for starting the bipartisan caucus.
“I’m uncompromising on my conservative values, but there are a lot of things we can agree on.”
Cooper also serves on House committees for aging and older adult services, education, housing and community development, and labor and industry.
In her campaign, Lingg said she feels conservative values aren’t being represented well in Harrisburg. She said Republicans need to take action on items related to the economy, ethics, education and election integrity.
Lingg said she believes many parents want schools to focus more on traditional educational approaches rather than “social-emotional learning.”
Cooper earned a bachelor’s degree in management engineering at Grove City College.
Lingg holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Purdue University with a specialization in genetics.
The 55th District includes Arnold, Avonmore, Bell Township, Delmont, Export, Loyalhanna, Murrysville, New Alexandria, New Kensington, Oklahoma, Salem, Upper Burrell, Washington and portions of Derry Township and Lower Burrell.
