United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2010

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Elections in Pennsylvania
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The 2010 congressional elections in Pennsylvania was held on November 2, 2010. Pennsylvania has nineteen seats in the United States House of Representatives. The election was held on the same day as many other PA elections, and the same day as House of Representatives elections in other states. Party primary elections were held May 18, 2010.


Contents

Overview [edit]

United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2010[1]
Party Votes Percentage Seats Before Seats After +/–
Republican 2,034,145 51.4% 7 12 +5
Democratic 1,882,202 47.5% 12 7 -5
Independent 40,054 1.01% 0 0 0
Totals 3,956,401 100.00% 19 19 —


Congressional districts [edit]

2010 election results by district
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District 1 [edit]

Democratic incumbent Bob Brady was the only member of the Pennsylvania delegation who ran unopposed in 2010.

Brady, a long time central figure in the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, has never received less than 74% in a general election, and opponents have had difficult recruiting even moderately electable candidates in this majority-minority district that includes South Philadelphia and some working class suburbs in Delaware County. No Republican has represented this district since 1949. In 2008, he earned 91% of the vote against Mike Muhammad, a teacher who raised no outside funds. Respected for his ability to reach political deals behind the scenes, Brady has garnered an image as an effective politician, and thus has been rarely challenged by other Democrats. In 2010, Pia Varma, a young freelance writer for conservative publications attempted to gain the Republican nomination, but failed to produce enough signatures to appear on the ballot.

District 2 [edit]

Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes Percentage
Democratic Chaka Fattah 182,800 89.3%
Republican Rick Hellberg 21,907 10.7%
Totals 204,707 100%
Voter turnout  %

Democratic incumbent Chaka Fattah ran for re-election. He faced Republican Rick Hellberg (PVS), the CEO of a small financial firm. In 2008, Obama carried this district with 90% of the vote.

Fattah represents one of the top five most Democratic districts in the country, and has never received less than 79% of the vote in his over fifteen year House career. The district includes North Philadelphia and several traditionally liberal suburbs in Montgomery County. Fattah has had the consistent support of the African American community that is the base of a district that hasn't swung Republican since the 1946 elections. Despite this huge Democratic advantage, the district has small pockets of solid Republican territory, and thus Fattah has continuously received GOP opponents (although ones who were unable to raise all more than a few thousand dollars in fundraising), unlike his counterpart in the 1st District. In 2008, Fattah defeated engineer Adam Lang with 81% of the vote.

Fattah won the 2010 general election with 89.3% of the vote.[2]

District 3 [edit]

Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes Percentage
Republican Mike Kelly 111,909 55.7%
Democratic Kathy Dahlkemper 88,924 44.3%
Totals 200,833 100%
Voter turnout  %

Democratic incumbent Kathy Dahlkemper ran for re-election was defeated by Republican businessman Mike Kelly (campaign site, PVS, WhoRunsGov), who received 55.7% of the vote.[2] In 2008, McCain carried this district with 49% of the vote.

Dahlkemper faced a difficult reelection bid, in a race that considered a tossup by most political analysts. Dahlkemper became used to tight campaigns in her short political career. A political unknown prior to her 2008 campaign, Dahlkemper leveraged a moderate, blue collar image that enticed Democratic voters in a district this is generally pro-union, with a center-right tilt on social issues. Dahlkemper, the owner of a large landscaping business and manager of an Erie County arboretum, came from behind to defeat Erie County Concilman Kyle Foust, the endorsed Democratic candidate. She then went on to narrowly unseat (with 52% of the vote) Congressman Phil English, a moderate Republican who had maintained good relations with labor, by attacking his ties to the Bush administration and for failing to follow through on a promise to retire after six terms. During her first term, Dahlkemper has served as a member of the Blue Dog Coalition of conservative Democrats, which has allowed her to keep a middle ground image. However, her vote in favor of healthcare legislation and the lack of an entrenched image in certain corners of the district left her vulnerable.

In 2010, Dahlkemper faced a primary challenge from former foreign affairs official Mel Marin, winning with 73% of the vote. Republicans focused heavily on regaining the seat, and six GOP candidates earned spots on the ballot: automobile dealer Mike Kelly, manufacturing executive Paul Huber, phamacetical representative Clayton Grabb, physician Steve Fisher, factory foreman Ed Franz, and accountant Martha Moore. Kelly and Huber far outraised the remaining four challengers, and they became entangled in an expensive campaign. Kelly was eventually victorious, winning 28% of the vote to Huber's 27% in the factious affair.

Kelly, a former member of the Butler City Council, had a base of support in the heavily Republican Butler County, while Dahlkemper was well known in Erie, the center of population for the district. Other small cities in the district, such as Sharon and Meadville were swing regions, with a slightly conservative tilt that balanced out strongly Democratic Erie. John McCain carried the 3rd District by a 49%-48% margin, which reflects the political balance of the area.

Polling [edit]

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Kathy Dahlkemper (D) Mike Kelly (R) Undecided
The Hill/ANG Alliance September 25–27, 2010 401 ± 4.9% 36% 49% 15%
Franklin-Marshall September 14–19, 2010 482 ± 4.5% 38% 44% 18%
The Polling Company July 29-August 1, 2010 314 ± 5.5% 46% 42% 11%

District 4 [edit]

Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes Percentage
Democratic Jason Altmire 120,827 50.8%
Republican Keith Rothfus 116,958 49.2%
Totals 237,785 100%
Voter turnout  %

Democratic incumbent Jason Altmire ran for re-election and faced Republican attorney Keith Rothfus (campaign website, PVS). In 2008, McCain carried this district with 55% of the vote.

Altmire narrowly won re-elected with 50.8% of the vote.[2]

District 5 [edit]

Republican incumbent Glenn "G.T." Thompson is running for re-election. He will face Democrat Michael Pipe (campaign website, PVS) and Libertarian Vernon Etzel (PVS). In 2008, McCain carried this district with 55% of the vote.

District 6 [edit]

Republican incumbent Jim Gerlach is running for re-election. He will face Democrat Iraq war veteran Manan Trivedi (campaign website, PVS). In 2008, Obama carried this district with 58% of the vote.

District 7 [edit]

Main article: Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district election, 2010
Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes Percentage
Republican Pat Meehan 134,751 54.9%
Democratic Bryan Lentz 108,197 44.1%
Independent Jim Schneller 2,670 1.1%
Totals 245,618 100%
Voter turnout  %

Democratic incumbent Joe Sestak retired to run for the U.S. Senate. Democratic nominee State Representative Bryan Lentz faced Republican nominee U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan and American Constitution Party (independent) nominee Jim Schneller (campaign site, PVS).

District 8 [edit]

Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes Percentage
Republican Mike Fitzpatrick 130,759 53.5%
Democratic Patrick Murphy 113,547 46.5%
Totals 244,306 100%
Voter turnout  %

Democratic incumbent Patrick Murphy ran for re-election. He was defeated by Republican former U.S. Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick. In 2008, Obama carried this district with 54% of the vote.

Polling [edit]

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Patrick Murphy (D) Mike Fitzpatrick (R) Undecided
Franklin-Marshall September 14–19, 2010 464 ± 4.6% 35% 49% 15%
Franklin-Marshall October 14–19, 2010 464 ± 4.6% 40% 47% 5%
Franklin-Marshall October 24–29, 2010 464 ± 4.6% 35% 55% 5%

District 9 [edit]

Republican incumbent Bill Shuster ran for re-election. He faced Democrat Tom Conners (campaign website, PVS) and Independent Chad Clopper (campaign website).

District 10 [edit]

Democratic incumbent Chris Carney ran for re-election, losing to Republican nominee U.S. Attorney Tom Marino. In 2008, McCain carried this district with 54% of the vote.

District 11 [edit]

Democratic incumbent Paul E. Kanjorski ran for re-election and lost to Republican Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta.[3] In 2008, Obama carried this district with 57% of the vote.

Kanjorski faced Corey O'Brien and Brian Kelly in the May 2010 Democratic primary, and won with 49.3% of the primary vote.

District 12 [edit]

Democrat Mark Critz won a May 2010 special election to replace John Murtha, who served the district for 36 years. He faced Republican businessman Tim Burns. In 2008, McCain carried this district with 49% of the vote.

District 13 [edit]

District 14 [edit]

District 15 [edit]

Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes Percentage
Republican Charlie Dent 109,534 53.6%
Democratic John B. Callahan 79,766 39.0%
Independent Jake Towne 15,248 7.5%
Totals 204,548 100%
Voter turnout  %

Polling [edit]

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 John Callahan (D) Charlie Dent (R) Jake Towne (I) Undecided
Morning Call/Muhlenberg September 11–15, 2010 496 ± 5.0% 38% 49% 3% 10%

District 16 [edit]

District 17 [edit]

District 18 [edit]

District 19 [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.aspx
  2. ^ a b c "2010 General Election - Representative in Congress". Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. 2010. Retrieved 2013-05-18. 
  3. ^ Kanjorski wins easily; eyes Barletta rematch, The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Timesleader.com. Retrieved on 2010-07-12.
  4. ^ "Pennsylvania Primary Results". Fox News. [dead link]
  5. ^ "Congressional, Presidential and Political News, Blogs, Member Profiles". CQ Politics. Retrieved 2010-08-21. 

External links [edit]
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