We could have a “leader in the clubhouse” for the 36th Senatorial District seat by the end of the day Tuesday.

More than 200 Republican committee members throughout northwest Lancaster County will meet to gauge support for the four candidates seeking the GOP nomination to replace outgoing state Sen. Ryan Aument – Lancaster County commissioner Josh Parsons, 41st legislative district state Rep. Brett Miller, high school teacher Steven Heffner, and retired truck driver Brad Witmer.

Due to weather conditions in the area, meetings for the Hempfield and Manheim Township area committees were postponed for Monday and rescheduled to Wednesday, while meetings for Columbia, Donegal, Elizabethtown, Manheim Central and Warwick area groups are set for Tuesday.

The committee members will be asked to participate in non-binding and unofficial straw polls, which are designed to show how candidates may fare at the official selection meeting on Saturday, January 25. Those who fare poorly in straw polls often withdraw prior to the formal meeting of the committee.

With Aument’s departure to become state director for U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, the vacancy will be filled by a special election that would be likely be held in early March. Both the Republican and Democratic parties will directly appoint candidates for the ballot.

“Throughout my service in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, I have been a leader in stopping tax increases and fighting to eliminate burdensome regulations that stifle economic growth,” Miller said. “In these inflationary times, electing a leader who focuses on invigorating our economy and cutting costs is a high priority to families who struggle simply to make ends meet. As Senator, I believe that I can do even more to help spur economic growth, as well as support our schools, increase safety in our communities and be a strong voice for our conservative values in the legislature.”

“I look forward to sharing my vision for Pennsylvania with voters in the 36th District,” Parsons said in a prepared statement. “Over the past eight years we have created real, conservative results for the people of Lancaster County. We defended freedom, helped secure our elections, defended our values, kept taxes low, and kept citizens safe. We made Lancaster County an even more amazing place to live, work and raise a family. Together we can deliver those same results in Harrisburg.”

Matthew Good, an Ephrata native and an instructional technology librarian at Ursinus College, is the lone Democrat to announce he is a candidate for the opening.

“As a resident of Lancaster County for most of my life, I believe the denizens of Pennsylvania District 36 are not a homogenous community, they come from all walks of life. We need to celebrate the diversity of people who call this state home and ensure that they are treated equitably and with respect,” said Good in a statement.

The 36th state senatorial district comprises the townships of Conoy, Earl, East Donegal, East Hempfield, Elizabeth, Ephrata, Manheim, Mount Joy, Penn, Rapho, Warwick, West Donegal, West Earl and West Hempfield and the boroughs of Akron, Columbia, East Petersburg, Elizabethtown, Ephrata, Lititz, Manheim, Marietta, Mount Joy, Mountville and New Holland in Lancaster County.

updated to reflect Wednesday meeting date for Hempfield and Manheim Township