Republican at-large Allegheny County Councilman Mike Embrescia will have to run for election this fall, a judge ruled Thursday, resolving a months-long legal dispute over the language in the county charter.

Mr. Embrescia, was appointed to one of the at-large seats on council earlier this year, after former councilman Sam DeMarco resigned from his position to work for U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick.

He sued the county board of elections in April, claiming that he did not need to run for election again until 2027 when Mr. DeMarco’s term was set to end. Republicans were taken aback when Alex Rose, a first-time candidate, announced plans to run for council as an independent.

Mr. Embrescia and the Allegheny County Republican Committee cited the county charter in their argument, which outlines the

See Full Page