Pennsylvania Governor to Set Election Date to Fill Rep. John Murtha's Seat

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has announced that he will decide in the coming days when to schedule a special election to replace Rep. John Murtha (D-Penn.), who passed away Monday.

Murtha passed away Monday at Virginia Hospital Center following complications from gallbladder surgery.

By law, Rendell has ten days to schedule an election to replace Murtha, who had held the House seat for 36-years. He must also pick a date that is at least 60 days later.

Rendall noted that it would save taxpayers money if the election would be scheduled on the state's May 18 primary date, but said that he could set it sooner if Congress plans to vote on extraordinary issues before then.

Whoever would win the seat in the special election would fill out the remainder of Murtha's term, which ends at the end of this year. That is, unless they would also win in the general election in November.