Two Democrats looking to win nod in 14th, face GOP's Reschenthaler; Joyce, Farnham running in 13th

Apr. 22—SOMERSET, Pa. — Two military veterans are seeking to win the Democratic nomination in Tuesday's primary and challenge Chief Deputy Whip U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Washington, in the commonwealth's 14th Congressional District general election.

Chris Dziados, a United High School graduate, spent two decades in the Army, including combat deployments in Iraq.

Ken Bach, from Westmoreland County, spent four years in the Navy.

"I was around the world (in the Navy)," Bach said, "and I saw what happens when there's ultra-rich and ultra-poor. It's not a safe country. It's not a country that we want to become, and that's the direction we're going. That's why we have to stop this direction."

Bach spoke about the needs of people in the 14th District, which consists of all or part of six counties, including most of Somerset County.

"Overall, what I believe is happening right now and why Congress isn't working is because Congress doesn't represent the people of their district; the members of Congress don't," Bach said. "And ... I will represent the people of the 14th District in D.C. and fight for issues that matter to us."

Bach, the owner of an auto mechanic shop, spent 14 years on the Yough School District board in southeastern Westmoreland County.

"I know how to work together (from being on the school board), work across the aisle to accomplish things for the good of everybody," Bach said. "That's what we're lacking. We're lacking an ability to work together and find common ground."

Dziados said he was motivated to run for Congress after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, when supporters of Republican former President Donald Trump attempted to prevent the transfer of power to the winner of the 2020 presidential election, Democrat Joe Biden.

He criticized Reschenthaler for not voting to certify the election, accusing him of the attempted "undermining of American democracy" and having "perpetuated the big lie" that Trump won the election.

Dziados said one of his first priorities if elected would be to support women's health care rights.

"The fact that it's the year 2024 and I have to stand up here and say, 'Let's give women's rights,' is quite frankly ridiculous," he said.

He also emphasized the importance of providing quality education opportunities.

"We need to focus on training and education, whatever it might look like, whether it be trade training or community college or a certification type of a thing or four years," said Dziados, a current Washington County resident. "We're going to have to fundamentally change the way we educate. Also, we can't saddle the students with a lifetime of debt."

Reschenthaler is in his third term. His office did not respond to a request for an interview.

He joined the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps and served in Iraq, where he prosecuted nearly 100 terrorists.

"Guy's priorities include limiting government and lowering taxes, reforming our criminal justice system, supporting our nation's veterans, combatting Communist China, and helping senior citizens," according to a bio at reschenthaler.house.gov. "He is fighting for his constituents in southwestern Pennsylvania every day to create jobs and preserve every person's freedom and opportunity to achieve the American Dream."

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Dr. John Joyce, R-Blair, is running unopposed for the Republican nomination in the 13th Congressional District, which includes all of Cambria County and a sliver of Somerset County. Adams County resident Beth Farnham is the lone Democrat in the race.

Joyce is seeking a fourth term. He is a House Committee on Energy and Commerce member and vice chair of the House GOP Doctors Caucus.

Earlier this year, one of Joyce's first actions of his campaign was to announce he received endorsements from every Republican member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly from the 13th District.

"It's an honor to have the support of these strong conservative leaders from across our district," Joyce said in a written press release statement at the time. "It's critical that we continue to work together at the state and federal levels to advance the issues that matter most to our communities. In Washington, I'll continue our fight to lower energy prices, protect our Second Amendment rights, and stop (President) Joe Biden's far-left agenda."

Farnham's background includes stints on the Adams County Democratic Committee and the Conewago Valley School District board. She was formerly a Republican before the political emergence of Donald Trump, who served one term as president and is running for the office again this year.

"The first (issue) is protecting our democracy," Farnham said when announcing her candidacy earlier this year. "We already had clues that Trump was an authoritarian, but now he's just starting to talk about it. Our own representative, John Joyce, isn't condemning Trump's words, his misdeeds."