Democrat Jack Hanna and Republican Diana Irey, both of whom had been floated as possible candidates to succeed the late Congressman John Murtha, told pa2010.com on Monday that they won’t be running.

Hanna, who chairs the state Democratic Party’s southwest caucus, said in an e-mail that “I’m not a candidate, but will be helping coordinate the State Committee’s selection process.”

Irey, a Washington County Commissioner, said she’ll be backing Republican Tim Burns, who was already in the race before Murtha’s death and has the ability to significantly fund his own campaign.

“He would do a great job for us in D.C.,” Irey wrote in an e-mail.

On Monday, pa2010.com reported that former state auditor general and treasurer Barbara Hafer had become the first Democrat to declare he candidacy for the soon-to-be-scheduled special election after Murtha’s death last week.

Barely a week after the passing of longtime Congressman John Murtha, there are so many names for potential replacements swirling in the political ether that  keeping track of them all is dizzying. Our friends at CQ Politics have rated the race a tossup.

Here’s the latest on what we’re hearing, both about candidates already in the race and about those who may or may not run. Log-on to pa2010.com all week for to track who’s in, who’s out and who’s still on the fence.

Joyce Murtha (D): The Inquirer reports that there’s a growing sentiment for Murtha’s widow to campaign for the seat her husband held for decades. There’s no indication yet if she harbors any interest at all in this.

Tim Burns (R): Burns was already in the race before Murtha died, and while he hadn’t raised much money, he’s personally wealthy from selling his pharmacy technology company in 2003. We’re hearing that the prospect of a self-funder for the race has some Republicans drooling.

Barbara Hafer (D): Along with former Lieutenant Governor Mark Singel and state Senator John Wozniak, both of whom we wrote about earlier, we’re told that the former state treasurer is one of the candidates being courted by Democratic leaders.

Bill Russell (R): After running against Murtha in 2008, the former Army Lieutenant Colonel sports important name recognition. It looks like he’s staying in the race, with or without party support.

Tom Ceraso (D): The Tribute-Review reports that the commissioner from Westmoreland County is considering a run. “I would hope I am as viable a candidate as anyone else,” he said. Fellow Democrat and county commissioner Tom Balya’s name has also been tossed around.

Kim Ward (R): The state Senator and former Westmoreland County Commissioner is said to have significant sway over the GOP establishment there. Whether she chooses to  leverage it into a congressional candidacy remains to be seen.

Mark Pasquerilla (R): The head of the Johnstown-based real estate firm Crown American, Pasquerilla would have considerable resources to draw upon. He’s been been talking up Joyce Murtha as a candidate, but may find that bank account of his makes him more viable. Though he’s a Republican, he wrote an op-ed in support of Murtha in 2008.

Diana Irey (R): The Washington County Commissioner would bring the experience of having run in the district before, after losing to Murtha in 2006.

Jack Hanna (D): As chairman of the Democratic Party’s southwest caucus, the Indiana attorney would have the levers of power at his hands.

Ryan Bucchianeri (D): The former Navy officer was already running and has signaled he’s staying in the race. But some think this isn’t the best year or the best district in which to run as unabashedly liberal.

Correction: This article originally misstated the party affiliation of Mark Pasquerilla. Though he was a supporter of John Murtha, he is a Republican, not a Democrat.