A special election will be held on the same day as the May 18 primary to fill the 60th District seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives that is vacant because of the retirement of Rep. Jeff Pyle.

Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler, R-100th, ordered the special election Wednesday. The district includes Winfield and Buffalo townships in Butler County and parts of Armstrong and Indiana counties.“In the interest of saving costs and ensuring the voices of the district are consistently represented in Harrisburg, the special election will coincide with Pennsylvania's primary date,” Cutler said.Candidates for the office will be selected by a process designated by their respective political parties, and the winner of the special election will take office after the results are confirmed.Three months into his eighth term, on Tuesday, Pyle, 56, of Armstrong County, announced his retirement because of health issues.He was diagnosed with kidney cancer in February 2005. Cancer returned in his chest in October 2017. He suffered a stroke in 2020, and he continues his rehabilitation and cancer treatment, he said.The district offices will remain open under supervision of the House to assist residents with issues or problems and to continue constituent inquiries already in progress.The office at 312 Ford St. in Ford City can be reached by phone at 724-763-3222, and the district office at 612 South Pike Road in Sarver can be reached at 724-295-2200.