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Luzerne County Councilman Harry Haas plans to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright for the 8th District seat in 2020.
Haas, 44, is a registered Republican who has served on council since the county’s customized home rule government structure took effect in January 2012.
According to a campaign announcement released Tuesday night, Haas will host a kick-off party Thursday at Leggio’s Italian Restaurant in Dallas.
A history teacher at Dallas Middle School, Haas holds a bachelor’s degree in history and master’s degree in education from The George Washington University. He lives in Kingston.
Doors will open at 5 p.m. Thursday at Leggio’s, with the program kicking off at 5:30 p.m.
Haas’ announcement will come less than a week after Republican Teddy Daniels, 44, of Wyoming, announced his candidacy for the seat. Daniels is a wounded combat veteran, a retired police officer and an entrepreneur.
The 8th Congressional District includes Lackawanna, Wayne, and Pike counties and portions of Luzerne and Monroe counties.
Cartwright, 58, of Moosic, is serving his fourth term in Congress. In 2018, he defeated Republican businessman John Chrin by 9 points in the newly drawn 8th District