Former state treasurer and auditor general Barbara Hafer will run to replace the late John Murtha in Pennsylvania's 12th District. Hafer gives Democrats a legitimate contender for the seat, which Republicans will target in the forthcoming special election and for the full term in November.

The news was first reported bypa2010.com, to whom Hafer said: "I will never be able to fill Murtha's shoes, but I would be honored to follow him. ... Of course everyone is shocked and saddened about John Murtha passing away...but we always have to look forward and try to continue the work he has done for our state."

Hafer is a former Republican who switched parties after endorsing Democrat Ed Rendell in the 2002 gubernatorial election. As the GOP nominee, Hafer lost the 1990 governor's race to Democrat Bob Casey, the father of current Sen. Robert Casey (D-Pa.).

John McCain won the southwestern Pennsylvania district in 2008 by less than 1,000 votes; Murtha won re-election with 59 percent.