Frequent GOP candidate Shaffer launches bid for North Hills House seat
A frequent Republican political candidate in Pittsburgh’s North Hills is taking another shot at elected office, this time for a state House seat being vacated.
Jeremy Shaffer, a former Ross commissioner, announced his candidacy Tuesday for Pennsylvania’s 28th state House District, which includes Bradford Woods, Marshall, Pine, Richland, West Deer and parts of Hampton.
Incumbent state Rep. Rob Mercuri, R-Pine, is vacating his seat to run for Congress in a bid to oust U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall.
Shaffer, a software engineer, earned a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and started InspectTech, a company focusing on infrastructure and bridge inspections. A commissioner in Ross from 2014 to 2021, Shaffer moved to Pine during the pandemic, said campaign spokesman Dennis Roddy.
He said his platform will focus on education, the economy and public safety.
“Harrisburg is broken. For far too long politicians have put their personal interests and agendas ahead of the people they serve,” Shaffer said in a statement. “Together, we will move our community forward and secure a more prosperous future for us all.”
Shaffer, 46, has run for higher office before. In 2018, he squared off against now-state Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-West View, in a tightly contested race that saw Williams flip the seat into Democratic hands. In 2022, Shaffer was defeated by Deluzio.
Shaffer said his experience as a local commissioner shows he can deliver for the district, with a focus on improving infrastructure and fiscal responsibility.
Pat Avolio, a Republican supervisor in Pine, endorsed Shaffer, citing his experience and focus on problem-solving.
“Jeremy has the right experience and vision to navigate our community toward an even brighter future,” Avolio said.
District 28 is considered a relatively safe seat for Republicans, who outnumber Democrats in the district by about 4,500 voters.
Democrat William Petulla, a deputy trial lawyer in the Allegheny County District Attorney office, announced his campaign for the open District 28 seat in December.
The primary election is on April 23.
Ryan Deto is a TribLive reporter covering politics, Pittsburgh and Allegheny County news. A native of California’s Bay Area, he joined the Trib in 2022 after spending more than six years covering Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh City Paper, including serving as managing editor. He can be reached at rdeto@triblive.com.
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