PHILADELPHIA -- Two wealthy businessmen were locked in a tight race Tuesday for the Republican congressional nomination in a northeastern Pennsylvania district the GOP lost to the Democrats two years ago because of a sex scandal.

Dan Meuser and Chris Hackett each were seeking a shot at running against freshman Rep. Chris Carney in the fall. With 54 percent of precincts reporting, Hackett had 14,660 votes, or 50 percent, and Meuser had 14,692 votes, or 50 percent.

They spent lavishly on television ads touting their conservative credentials.

Meuser, 44, is president of a company that sells equipment for the disabled. Hackett, 45, owns several companies, including a staffing agency and insurance brokerage.

Together they spent about $2.6 million of their own money. Meuser himself ponied up $1.8 million, including $295,000 one day before the election.

Until Carney's election, the district had not sent a Democrat to Washington in more than four decades.

But Don Sherwood's four-term House career was ruined after a woman 35 years his junior sued him in 2005, alleging the married father of three choked her at his Capitol Hill apartment. Sherwood admitted having an affair with the woman but denied hurting her; he settled the case for about $500,000.

Of the state's 19 congressional districts, primaries in four, including northeastern Pennsylvania seat, were competitive -- with no incumbents facing a challenge.

In central Pennsylvania, nine Republicans and three Democrats were looking to succeed Republican Rep. John Peterson, who is retiring at the end of his term. It was the state's only open House seat. Peterson's endorsement went to Glenn Thompson, the Centre County GOP chairman.

With 64 percent of precincts reporting, real estate developer Matt Shaner was slightly ahead of financial planner Derek Walker in the GOP primary.

Shaner, another top-spending Republican candidate, had legal issues to deal with; he was fined more than $500 last year for failing to report an accident and other charges stemming from a single-vehicle crash. He acknowledged in an interview with The Associated Press that he had been drinking and was in no condition to drive.

Walker, one of the highest-spending GOP candidates in the race, also had legal issues. He was charged days before the vote with burglary and other counts stemming from a dispute with his girlfriend last year. He denied the charges, saying they were politically motivated.

Among the Democratic candidates, Clearfield County Commissioner Mark McCracken was leading with 65 percent of precincts reporting.

The other Republican candidates were real estate developer Matt Shaner; Elk County Coroner Lou Radkowski; business owner Jeffrey J. Stroehmann; Chris Exarchos, a former Centre County commissioner; former Centre County commissioner Keith Richardson; Clarion Mayor John Rea Stroup; and insurance agent John Krupa.

The Democratic candidates were Bill Cahir, a journalist and Iraq war veteran, and Lock Haven Mayor Richard Vilello.

Outside Pittsburgh, three Democrats competed to challenge Republican Rep. Tim Murphy in November. They were businessman Steve O'Donnell; Beth Hafer, the daughter of former state treasurer Barbara Hafer and an executive in her mother's consulting firm; and Brien Wall, who works for a life insurance company.

With 73 percent of precincts reporting, O'Donnell was ahead of Hafer, with Wall far behind.

In northwest Pennsylvania, Kathy Dahlkemper, the director of the Lake Erie Arboretum, beat three other Democratic candidates to challenge Republican Rep. Phil English in November.