Members of the Butler County Republican Committee of Pennsylvania nominated Scott Timko on May 27 to be the Republican nominee in the August special election for Pennsylvania's 12th House District. Timko previously won the primary for the November general election. Submitted photo.

Scott Timko, left, welcomes Zach Palmer as candidates wait for results from a primary election on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Scott Timko, the Republican candidate who won the May 19 primary for the 12th District House race in Pennsylvania, was nominated by the Butler County Republican Committee of Pennsylvania for the upcoming special election in the same district.

Timko, who was nominated Wednesday, May 27, will go up against Democratic nominee Brandon Dukes in the special election scheduled for Aug. 18, before facing him again in the November general election.

The 12th District seat became open after former state Rep. Stephenie Scialabba resigned March 31. The special election will fill the seat for the remaining four months of the term.

Currently, the Pennsylvania General Assembly is split with the Senate controlled, by the Republicans, and the House of Representatives under Democratic control. The House margin is thin. With two current vacancies, the Democrats hold a 102-99 advantage.

Aaron Rose, a Mars school board member and vice chair of the Republican Committee, gave the nominating speech for Timko, describing him as a conservative and a lifelong community member who understands the challenges the district faces.

“Scott Timko is a lifelong resident of this district who understands the community, its values and its challenges from firsthand experience,” Rose said Wednesday evening. “He is not a political insider, but someone grounded in the priorities of the people who live and work here and focused on responsible leadership.”

Timko is a Knoch School District alumnus, Cranberry Township resident and retired Air Force captain. He had previously run for the state House twice, losing in both primaries. He ran this time as a “constitutional conservative,” supporting fiscally conservative policies and against “Allegheny County and Harrisburg special interests,” according to his website.

The third time was the charm for Timko, who defeated his opponent, Republican Ethan Nicholas, by less than 300 votes.

Timko’s wife, Donna, and their daughter, Hunter, were present to accept the nomination on Timko’s behalf, according to a news release from county GOP chair Stacey Palmer.