Congressman Mike Kelly talks with candidate for the 17th District Sean Parnell during a 2020 kick-off event co-organized by the Butler County Republican Committee and Butler County Republican Women on Saturday, January 18, 2020.

Butler County Republicans rallied Saturday to begin electoral races that look to pit their county's conservative strength against distant Democratic rivals.

In a joint event hosted by Republican Women of Butler County and the county's Republican committee, various Republican candidates pitched themselves to potential campaign volunteers and voters. Nearly 100 people gathered at Holly Pointe in downtown Butler for the event, which organizers called the 2020 Kickoff Party.

The races with candidates present ranged from local official jobs to the U.S. Congress.

U.S. House Representative Mike Kelly, R-16, served as the keynote speaker. Another candidate for the U.S. House, Sean Parnell, came to talk to Butler County residents about his campaign against Conor Lamb, the Democrat representing the 17th congressional district.

Al Lindsay, president of the county Republican organization, touched on both races in an interview at the event.

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