Former state treasurer and auditor general Barbara Hafer this morning announced she is dropping out of the race for the Democratic nomination to succeed the late U.S. Rep. John Murtha.

Ms. Hafer made the announcement hours after she had filed petitions Tuesday for the May 18 primary. She has pulled her petitions so her name will not appear on the ballot.

Ms. Hafer expressed interest in the seat after Mr. Murtha died Feb. 8. Instead, the party chose former Murtha aide Mark Critz as its candidate in the special election to fill the seat through the end of the year, which will be held the same day as the primary. The party also has endorsed him in the primary for the nomination for the two-year term that begins in January.

Initially Ms. Hafer was going to continue pursuing the nomination for the full term in the 12th District, but she changed her mind.

"After last night, we realized Mr. Critz has won the nomination for the special election and the party's endorsement so we decided to just not continue," she said.

Ms. Hafer had criticized Mr. Critz for a lack of experience and criticized the process the party used to make its nomination. She said she hasn't decided whether she will campaign for his election.

"I'm probably not going to make that decision right now and wait a few days and see what happens," she said.

In a statement, Mr. Critz praised Ms. Hafer for her service to Pennsylvania.

"She would have been a formidable challenger and I respect her decision," he said. "Now is the time for us to come together and do what's best for our district -- working hard to bring jobs and economic recovery to Western Pennsylvania."

Ms. Hafer's decision leaves four Democrats in the primary race: Mr. Critz of Johnstown; Ryan Bucchianeri, a Washington County businessman; Ronald "Ron" Mackell Jr., a lawyer and Johnstown native; and Ed Cernic, the Cambria County controller.

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