For four months, residents of the 12th State House District have not had representation in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

An Aug. 18 special election will fill that seat with either a Republican “constitutional conservative” or a Democrat running heavily on “change.”

Republican Scott Timko and Democrat Brandon Dukes will face each other in the special election before a rematch in the November general election. With the House of Representatives sitting at a 102-100 margin favoring the Democrats, the seat has potential ramifications for statewide legislation.

The district — made up of Adams, Cranberry and Jackson townships; and Callery, Evans City, Harmony, Mars, Seven Fields, Valencia and Zelienople boroughs — have elected Republicans since the ‘90s. But the district’s demographics and population are changing.

While both parties actively work to engage voters and increase turnout in an unusually-scheduled special election, the candidates have emphasized a focus on issues such as affordability, infrastructure and education, though their stances differ greatly.

Timko, who refers to himself as a conservative Republican, is a Knoch High School alumnus, Cranberry Township resident and retired Air Force captain. He has spent much of his life in Butler County, where he and his wife raised three children.

According to his website, he is also a commercial pilot and former small business owner.

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.”

In his third go for the Republican nomination, Timko defeated his opponent, Ethan Nicholas, by less than 300 votes in the May primary (for the November general election).

With the nomination locked up, he was chosen by the Butler County Republican Committee of Pennsylvania for the upcoming special election in the same district.

“The critical issue for this district, it’s affordability. It’s cheaper groceries, it’s cheaper gas. And it’s security, tough on crime,” Timko said.

He said he was proud of having Sheriff Mike Slupe’s endorsement

“I think it demonstrates my commitment to back the blue,” he said, “but ultimately we need to make things more affordable, and we need to lower taxes.”

Timko highlights the fact he is a fiscal conservative, against illegal immigration, tough on crime and a “pro-Second Amendment champion.”

In an election mailer from the May primary, political agenda items highlighted by the Timko campaign include shrinking the size of government in Harrisburg, cutting “wasteful spending by Shapiro and Democrats in the Capitol,” producing more energy in Pennsylvania to try to lower energy costs and fighting to end the “broke property tax system for schools.”

It also said he supports deporting undocumented criminals in our prisons to save taxpayer dollars and making “Big Tech corporations pay” for AI data center electricity to keep rates from rising on consumers.

“Issues need to be addressed. People need to step up to solve problems, and I’ve always been willing to lead from the front and offer my services, if people choose to have me,” Timko told the Eagle.

In an interview with the Eagle, Timko reinforced his belief in limited government, pointing to his desire to lower high turnpike tolls and cutting red tape for small businesses.

“You can poll as many small business owners as you want. I think the vast majority of the time, when you ask: if you need help, are you excited to call Harrisburg? The answer is going to overwhelmingly be no,” Timko said. “To the extent we can help small business owners, reducing red tape, we should be an ally to small business as opposed to a barrier.”

Patriotism, Timko said, reinforces his beliefs and stances, while his background as a retired Air Force captain and small business owner reinforces his wish to find a way to connect and work together with others.

“I do have a lifetime of experiences, being all around the world surrounded by different cultures,” Timko said. “I think a lot of people, particularly on the left, take the United States for granted, and don’t realize that this is the greatest country in human civilization.

“And what we have, despite whatever fights we have currently, there’s nothing better.”

Dukes, a native of Pittsburgh, lives in Cranberry Township with his wife, where they are raising a daughter and expecting a second child.

He works for TD Bank as a commercial loan administrator, making sure developers are compliant and meeting requirements while ensuring loan processes go smoothly. With a “deep understanding of how and why places grow quickly,” Dukes feels he provides a good perspective as a potential representative.

“I do think it’s beneficial for this area specifically, understanding development and what all goes into it. I get to see the inside of it all,” Dukes said.

Having once lost a Cranberry Township supervisor election by a slim margin, Dukes is running it back, this time operating a campaign with themes similar to other Democrats across the country. Affordability is a big focus, as Dukes continues “pounding the pavement, making calls and knocking on doors.”

He said he’s hopeful about his chances amid changing demographics in the region.

“My last election, I was just shy of winning. I feel there’s some excitement out there,” he said.

Dukes told the Eagle he strives to keep a focus on localized issues. He would put a large focus on working to complete PennDOT projects in the district, as well as working with local municipalities to accomplish these.

“Infrastructure definitely needs to be updated. Especially with the rapid growth we’re seeing in the area,” Dukes said. “I would like to see efforts continue to get the roadways widened, especially on 228.”

Affordability and cost of living are a big concern for the Dukes campaign. He wants to address things like gas prices and child care.

“People give Cranberry kind of a negative wrap. They say that it’s mainly affluent. Which it is affluent, but there’s still middle class people here,” Dukes said. “I think cost of living going up affects everybody. You see high gas prices affecting everybody.”

While Dukes said he is focused on “fighting for the little ones who don’t have a voice,” he also worries about the treatment of older adults and the communities where they live in the district.

“A lot of these seniors are on fixed incomes. It’s a big senior population in this district. When cost of living goes up, it hurts them,” Dukes said. “We need to look out for them, and I would fight for them in Harrisburg.”

Dukes said he is opposed to funding for school vouchers and wants to focus on supporting public schools.

“I believe in school choice, in that you should go where you want,” he said, “but I don’t think public tax dollars for public schools should follow your kid toward the private school.”

While Dukes said he believes some charter schools do good job, others don’t have good oversight, something that influences his stance. He also wants to promote trade schools.

Other issues Dukes cares about are election reform — moving Pennsylvania from closed to open primaries and allowing same day voter registration — the “fight for fair wages” by supporting a minimum-wage increase, supporting unions, going after price gouging and supporting renewable energy to reduce dependency on oil.

Dukes said his experiences have shaped many of his beliefs and stances on the economy, education and affordability.

“I’m a millennial. I had been told to go to college, and I graduated right into the Great Recession,” Dukes said. “We recently payed off our student debt, although there are people who graduated with higher debt than me.

“You’re told to ‘do the right thing,’ go to college and get a job, and then 2008 came around. People spoke up about it, and I think that helped change our world view.”

Could a Democrat win the 12th District? Will it remain in Republican hands?