These are the candidates who Centre County voters will see on their 2022 primary ballots

Centre County voters will have a chance to choose their representatives in the state House and Congress this year. With primary election day a little more than six weeks away, here’s a look at the candidates who have filed to run, according to the state’s online candidate database.

77th District

Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Rush Township, is running for reelection to the 77th District in the state House. The former Centre County commissioner was first elected in 2006 and is the Democratic chair of the State Government Committee.

Steve Yetsko, of Huston Township, is running on the Republican ballot. He challenged Conklin for the seat in 2020. Yetsko is a Penn State alumnus who has lived in the county for more than 20 years.

The reapportioned 77th District covers Ferguson, Halfmoon, Huston, Patton, Rush, Taylor and Worth townships, and Philipsburg, Port Matilda and part of State College.

82nd District

Two candidates are running in the new 82nd House District. The district covers Benner, Boggs, Burnside, College, Curtin, Harris, Howard, Liberty, Marion, Snow Shoe and Union townships, and Howard, Milesburg, Snow Shoe, Unionville boroughs and part of State College.

Paul Takac, a College Township Council member, filed to run as a Democrat. He has served as vice chair of the Spring Creek Watershed Commission and Centre Region Council of Governments Public Safety Committee.

Justin Behrens is running on the Republican side. Behrens resigned as Luzerne County Republican Party chair in December to move to State College after his wife took a teaching job at Penn State, the Hazleton Standard-Speaker reported. He served in the Army and is a social worker, according to his campaign website.

171st District

House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, is seeking another term representing the 171st District. He was first elected in 1996 and has served as majority leader since 2020.

Robert Zeigler, a Millheim Borough Council member, is running on the Democratic ballot. Zeigler was appointed to council in 2018, elected in 2019 and served as president, according to his campaign website.

The 171st District covers Gregg, Haines, Miles, Penn, Potter, Spring and Walker townships and Bellefonte, Centre Hall and Millheim in Centre County as well as part of Mifflin County.

Congress

Centre County Republican Rep. Glenn Thompson faces a primary challenge as he seeks another term in Congress.

Thompson, of Howard Township, was first elected to Congress in 2008. He is the top Republican on the Agriculture Committee.

George Rathmell, a Republican from Punxsutawney, is running against Thompson to represent the 15th Congressional District. Rathmell graduated from Penn State in 1965, was an Army chaplain for 20 years and most recently was a volunteer prayer coordinator with Family Research Council, according to his campaign website.

No Democrats have filed to run for the seat.

Important dates

• May 2: Last day to register before the primary
• May 10: Last day to apply for mail-in or civilian absentee ballot
• May 17: Primary election; mail-in and civilian absentee ballots must be received by county board of elections no later than 8 p.m.