State Rep. Matthew H. Smith (D-Mt. Lebanon) has announced that he will challenge Republican D. Raja for Pennsylvania's 37th Senatorial District seat in November's general election. 

Smith, who currently serves the state's 42nd House District, will run as a write-in candidate. The winner of the election will fill the seat vacated by former Sen. John Pippy, who resigned on July 1.

No Democrat officially sought Pippy's seat during a spring primary. Former Democratic candidate Greg Parks, who was also running as a write-in, dropped out of the race in June.

Raja won the district's Republican primary for the nomination earlier this year. The software company CEO lost his 2011 bid to become Allegheny County Executive to Democrat Rich Fitzgerald. 

Smith made his formal entrance into the race with a statement on Thursday night.

"Over the last several days, I have been approached by friends and supporters—Republicans, Democrats and Independents, and voters from across the 37th Senate District—to run for the state Senate," Smith said. "After discussing the opportunity with my family, I have decided to seek the ... 37th Senatorial District.

"I have been humbled and gratified by the outpouring of bipartisan encouragement I have received."

The 37th District includes all of Whitehall Borough.

This article originally appeared on the Robinson-Moon Patch.

 ---

Follow the Baldwin-Whitehall Patch on Facebook and Twitter.

Sign up for the daily Baldwin-Whitehall newsletter.