Mike Puskaric
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Mike Puskaric
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| state_house = Pennsylvania
| district = 39th
| term_end = November 30, 2022
| predecessor = Rick Saccone
| successor = Andrew Kuzma
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|5|8}}
| birth_place = Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| party = Republican
| children =
| residence = Union Township
| education = Seton Hill University (BA)
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Michael J. Puskaric (born May 8, 1989) is an American politician who represented the 39th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2019 to 2022.
Early life
Puskaric was born on May 8, 1989, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.{{cite web |title=Michael J. Puskaric |url=https://archives.house.state.pa.us/people/member-biography?ID=8158 |website=Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives |access-date=December 23, 2022}} He was a 2007 graduate of Serra Catholic High School in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, where he was also a football fullback and linesman.{{cite news |last=Assad |first=David |date=August 24, 2006 |title=Dukes, Clairton to rise in Eastern |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/96570213/ |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |volume=80 |number=24 |page=133 |location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |access-date=January 16, 2021 |agency=Tri-State Sports & News Service |via=newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}} He graduated from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, in 2012, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications.{{cite web |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/179242/michael-puskaric |title=Michael Puskaric's Biography |date= |website=Vote Smart |access-date=January 15, 2021}}
Political career
In 2018, Puskaric ran for election to represent District 39 in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.{{cite web |url=https://observer-reporter.com/news/localnews/second-gop-hopeful-declares-run-for-39th-seat/article_56f02d08-1192-11e8-876f-cb71dd0780ff.html |title=Second GOP hopeful declares run for 39th seat |last=Bradshaw |first=Gideon |date=February 15, 2018 |website=observer-reporter.com |publisher=Observer-Reporter |location=Washington, PA |access-date=March 21, 2021 |archive-url= |archive-date= |url-status=}} He defeated Robert Rhoderick Jr. in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 39 on November 6, 2018, with 55.8% of the vote. He sought re-election in 2020,{{cite news |last=Hundt |first=Brad |date=January 25, 2020 |url=https://observer-reporter.com/news/localnews/state-rep-puskaric-running-for-second-term/article_b676673a-3eca-11ea-8920-13658ae4a0f1.html |title=State Rep. Puskaric running for second term |newspaper=Observer-Reporter |location=Washington, PA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121231012/https://observer-reporter.com/news/localnews/state-rep-puskaric-running-for-second-term/article_b676673a-3eca-11ea-8920-13658ae4a0f1.html |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=October 15, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://monvalleyindependent.com/2020/11/incumbent-puskaric-holds-lead/ |title=Incumbent Puskaric holds lead |last=Haines |first=Christine |date=November 4, 2020 |work=The Mon Valley Independent |location=Monessen, PA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121230830/https://monvalleyindependent.com/2020/11/incumbent-puskaric-holds-lead/ |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=January 21, 2021}} defeating Sara-Summer Oliphant on November 3, 2020, with 62.8% of the vote.{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Michael_Puskaric|title=Michael Puskaric|publisher=Ballotpedia|access-date=November 5, 2023}} In the 2022 Republican primary election, Puskaric lost re-nomination to Andrew Kuzma.{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Peter |title=A lone Republican voted against impeaching Philly DA Larry Krasner |url=https://www.penncapital-star.com/civil-rights-social-justice/a-lone-republican-voted-against-impeaching-philly-da-larry-krasner/ |access-date=26 December 2022 |work=Pennsylvania Capital-Star |date=November 19, 2022}}
In 2020, Puskaric was among 26 Pennsylvania House Republicans who called for the reversal of Joe Biden's certification as the winner of Pennsylvania's electoral votes in the 2020 United States presidential election, citing false claims of election irregularities.{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Jan |author1-link=Jan Murphy |title=26 Pa. House Republicans call for withdrawing certification of presidential electors |url=https://www.pennlive.com/elections/2020/11/26-pa-house-republicans-call-for-withdrawing-certification-of-presidential-electors.html |work=PennLIVE Patriot-News |date=November 27, 2020 |language=en}}
Personal
Puskaric was employed by Matrix Property Settlements in White Oak, Pennsylvania as a director of settlement operations.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=1829 Michael J. Puskaric] official PA House website
{{Pennsylvania House of Representatives}}
{{Authority control}}
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Category:Republican Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly