State Rep. Michael C. Gruitza appears to be poised for a 12th term in Harrisburg representing the Shenango Valley.

Gruitza defeated challenger Jim Lumpp by more than a 2-to-1 margin in the Democratic primary Tuesday and faces no formal opposition from Republicans in the fall.

Gruitza collected 4,348 votes or 71 percent of the votes cast in the race, compared to Lumpp's 1,746 votes and 29 percent, according to unofficial Mercer County results.

"I'm pleased," Gruitza said of his margin of victory over Lumpp, whom he also defeated four years ago. "I believe it's recognition of the job we've been doing in Harrisburg," added Gruitza, a 51-year-old Hermitage Democrat.

"I think people recognize the role of this office is important," Gruitza said.

"The district is reliant on the state, not on federal funding, to help make local projects work. I know how important the office is to people, and over the years I've helped get millions of dollars for community and economic development projects in the district."

Lumpp, a Hermitage school director, watched the numbers come in with his family at the Mercer County Courthouse. Before any results came in, Lumpp speculated that Tuesday's low turnout might be good news for is campaign -- if voters in Hermitage, which he described as "my home base," turned out in force.

They didn't, at least not for Lumpp. Hermitage voters favored Gruitza, 1,121 to 525 for Lumpp.

Lumpp, who was a Republican when he last faced Gruitza, said he changed parties for this campaign because the Shenango Valley's Democratic registration edge creates a "one-party system."

The 7th District was redrawn last year to reflect 2000 Census changes and now includes Delaware and Lackawannock townships in addition to the familiar core of Sharon, Hermitage, Farrell, Sharpsville, Wheatland, West Middlesex and Clark and Pymatuning, Shenango and South Pymatuning townships.

The district includes about 61,000 Mercer County constituents, the most among three House districts that include Mercer County and more than half of the county's population.