Nominees picked for open Pennsylvania state Senate seat

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A Navy veteran and former Veterans Affairs official will compete with an information technology consulting firm owner for an open state Senate seat in suburban Pittsburgh.

Republican delegates chose D. Raja and Democrats chose Pam Iovino in Sunday's votes.

April 2's special election will fill the remaining two years in Republican Guy Reschenthaler's Senate term in the politically divided district.

Raja is CEO of Computer Enterprises Inc. He ran unsuccessfully for state Senate in 2012 before becoming Allegheny County's Republican Party chairman.

Iovino retired as a captain after serving 23 years in the Navy and became an assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under then-President George W. Bush, a Republican.

Reschenthaler resigned earlier this month to serve in Congress. Republicans control Pennsylvania's Senate, 28-21.