Erie Democrat King, a staff member for U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, enters state Senate race

Erie resident Selena King, a staff member for U.S. Sen. John Fetterman and the former chairwoman of the Erie County Democratic Party's Black Caucus, is running for Pennsylvania Senate and will challenge former party chairman Jim Wertz in the April 23 Democratic primary.

"It's really time for Erie to have a champion and advocate in Harrisburg," King, 43, told the Erie Times-News Wednesday, a day before her official campaign launch. "Someone who can advocate for our county and our city and bring them together as a unifier. Someone who has relationships on the local, state and federal levels and who can help Erie meet its untapped potential."

King's entry into the race gives Democrats two notable candidates to choose from in the 49th District contest. The seat is currently held by two-term Republican Sen. Dan Laughlin and is considered potentially up for grabs given its favorable demographics for Democrats.

King, 43, said she will bring resources to Erie County to help it meet its potential, sponsor a tax cut for working families, fight for fair funding for public education, and punish "price-gouging corporations" that have raised costs amid record profits.

She'll also protect reproductive rights, including access to abortion and birth control, and wants to address Black maternal health, noting that Black mothers are more likely to suffer from life-threatening conditions while pregnant.

More: Former Democratic Party chairman Wertz to run for PA Senate in hopes of unseating Laughlin

Working toward a state senate bid

King formerly worked in the Pennsylvania Auditor General's office from 2018 through the end of 2022. She has spent the last year as the northwest regional representative for Fetterman.

She's the secretary of the board of the nonpartisan Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, which is the fundraising arm of all state legislators of color in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

King formed a political action committee, Selena for PA, in December.

King, a Mercer County native, serves on multiple boards and authorities and previously worked in the administrative office of former Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper.

In a campaign video, King talks about growing up with a pastor for a mother and a steelworker as a father and how they instilled in her "the discipline of God and the bounty that comes with a good education."

"Our home was filled with six girls and lots of love," she says in the video about her five sisters. "My parents taught us to look out for those down on their luck, those who've needed a helping hand. So I've dedicated my life to improving the lives of others."

As an auditor for the state, King was tasked with auditing area fire departments. But her experience also includes stints in the non-profit sector. She worked with the faith-based agency L'Arche, which provides resources, including housing, for people with intellectual disabilities.

"I've been working in many different spaces, from the nonprofit sector to the government sector and other sectors in between," she said. "We really need someone (in the Pennsylvania Senate) who can advocate in those spaces to move us to where we need to be, to move that needle, so I decided now's the time to use those connections to move Erie forward."

The Wertz factor

Wertz has already raised more than $100,000 since launching his campaign in December. He's also lined up endorsements from the likes of former Erie Mayor Joyce Savocchio.

Having a contested primary in the Democratic race will give voters options when they go to the polls, but it could also pull campaign resources away from a general election campaign against Laughlin.

Asked about King's entry into the Democratic primary, Wertz said his campaign is focused on unseating Laughlin.

"I’ve spent my entire adult life advocating for women’s rights and standing with working men and women, for better workplaces and access to education for all," Wertz said. "We’ve built a movement because the people of Erie County know that I’ve done the work to protect their rights and freedoms in every corner of our community and I’ll stand up to the status-quo politicians who have left Erie behind."

King, who ran unsuccessfully for Erie City Council, said she's been eyeing another political run for awhile.

"Jim and I have done some great work across the region for Democrats," King said, "but at the end of the day it's about passion and experience for me and my work for this region for Democrats and for just any person."

She said her "unique blend" of experience at the local, state and federal levels equips her to deal with not only policy issues but building the relationships needed to be successful.

Her 2013 loss in the City Council race helped her prepare for the moment, King said.

"It really helped me to work in the spaces I have since then. I've just been waiting for the right moment to get back into the political field to run as a candidate again," she said. "I've been waiting for the right office and the right time. In politics, timing is everything."

Matthew Rink can be reached at mrink@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: 2nd Erie Democrat enters PA Senate race, hopes to unseat GOP's Laughlin