CRANBERRY TWP —Eight Republican candidates are vying for Jane Orie’s vacant state Senate 40th District seat.

They talked Wednesday night to GOP party representatives at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center.

The candidates are:

Attorney Chris Abernathy of Allison Park, Allegheny County

Valencia businessman Doug Austin

Melissa Hart, a former state Senator in the 40th District and a former congresswoman

Allegheny County Councilman Matt Drozd

North Allegheny School Board member Jeff Meyer, who is an investment consultant with BNY Mellon in Pittsburgh

Karen Shaheen, treasurer of the Allegheny County Republican Committee,

State Rep. Randy Vulakovich, R-30th

Kim Nagle of Zelienople

Party conferees from Butler and Allegheny counties will meet Saturday in Cranberry to pick the party’s nominee.

That person will face Democrat Sharon Brown in a special election on Aug. 7 to determine who will finish Orie’s term, which expires in 2014.