PITTSBURGH—Republicans have chosen a state House member to run as the GOP candidate in a special election for the Pittsburgh-area seat vacated by state Sen. Jane Orie.

Rep. Randy Vulakovich on Saturday beat seven other candidates, including former U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart, for the nomination. Representatives from Allegheny and Butler counties cast four ballots at a Republican meeting in Cranberry before choosing the 62-year-old from Shaler.

Democrats earlier picked 59-year-old health care consultant Sharon Brown to run in the Aug. 7 election for the 40th District seat.

Orie resigned last month and has since been sentenced to 2 1/2 to 10 years in state prison on campaign corruption charges.

Hart formerly held the seat but resigned when she was elected to Congress in 2000. She lost the congressional seat in 2006.