Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District elections, 2012

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Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District
General Election Date
November 6, 2012
Primary Date
April 24, 2012
November 6 Election Winner:
Tim Murphy Republican Party
Incumbent prior to election:
Tim Murphy Republican Party
Tim Murphy.JPG
Pennsylvania U.S. House Elections
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2012 U.S. Senate Elections
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The 18th Congressional District of Pennsylvania held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Tim Murphy won the election.[1]

Candidate Filing Deadline Primary Election General Election
February 14, 2012
April 24, 2012
November 6, 2012

Primary: Pennsylvania has a closed primary system, meaning only registered members of a particular party may vote in that party's primary.

Voter registration: Voters had to register to vote in the primary by March 25. For the general election, the voter registration deadline was October 7.[2]

See also: Pennsylvania elections, 2012

Incumbent: Heading into the election the incumbent was Tim Murphy, (R), who assumed office in 2003.

This was the first election using district maps based on data from the 2010 Census. Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District is located along the western Pennsylvania and borders the state of West Virginia. It includes Greene, Washington, Allegheny, and Westmoreland counties.[3]

This is the 18th Congressional District prior to the 2010 redistricting.

Candidates

General election candidates

Democratic Party Larry Maggi
Republican Party Tim Murphy Green check mark transparent.png


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic Primary

Republican Party Republican Primary

Election results

U.S. House, Pennsylvania District 18 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Larry Maggi 36% 122,146
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngTim Murphy Incumbent 64% 216,727
Total Votes 338,873
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"
U.S. House, Pennsylvania District 18 Republican Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngTim Murphy Incumbent 63.4% 32,854
Evan Feinberg 36.6% 18,937
Total Votes 51,791

Race background

Pennsylvania's 18th was changed from Likely Republican to Solid Republican according to The Cook Political Report most recent race ratings.[6]

The Washington Post listed the House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania in 2012 as one of the 10 states that could determine whether Democrats would retake the House or Republicans would hold their majority in 2013.[7] Ohio tied with Pennsylvania for 9th on the list.[7]

Impact of Redistricting

See also Redistricting in Pennsylvania

The 18th District was re-drawn after the 2010 Census. The new district is composed of the following percentages of voters of the old congressional districts.[8][9]

District partisanship

FairVote's Monopoly Politics 2012 study

See also: FairVote's Monopoly Politics 2012

In 2012, FairVote did a study on partisanship in the congressional districts, giving each a percentage ranking (D/R) based on the new 2012 maps and comparing that to the old 2010 maps. Pennsylvania's 18th District's partisan advantage did not change because of redistricting.[10]

  • 2012: 41D / 59R
  • 2010: 41D / 59R

Cook Political Report's PVI

See also: Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

In 2012, Cook Political Report released its updated figures on the Partisan Voter Index, which measures each congressional district's partisanship relative to the rest of the country. Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District has a PVI of R+6, which is the 160th most Republican district in the country. In 2008, this district was won by John McCain (R), 56-44 percent over Barack Obama (D). In 2004, George W. Bush (R) won the district 54-46 percent over John Kerry (D).[11]

Targeting

The Super PAC Campaign for Primary Accountability targeted incumbent Tim Murphy in the primary. While the PAC initially intended to spend $200,000 in the race,[12] however, they pulled back when challenger Evan Feinberg's own fundraising was deemed inadequate to make him a feasible challenger to Murphy.[13] According to expenditure reports, the Campaign for Primary Accountability spent a little over $100,000 in the race.[14]

Media

The following is a selection of audio and video for some of the District 18 candidates. Some were released by candidates, others by local media.

Larry Maggi

Maggi discusses the downsides of his opponent's budget and tax plan in "Bank"[15]
Maggi talks his past in law enforcement, calls out both parties in "Best Decision"[16]
"Larry Maggi"[17]

Tim Murphy

Murphy's record on healthcare legislation, keeping jobs out of China, and veteran advocacy is the focus of ad titled "Real Life"
"Why is Larry Maggi Attacking Tim Murphy's Record?"[18]
"Rep. Tim Murphy Questions HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius"[19]
"Every Time" highlighted Murphy's record on health reform (March 26, 2012).
The American Chemistry Council spent more than $500,000 for a TV and radio ad supporting Murphy in December, 2011

Negative Ads

  • The conservative Club for Growth is targeting Murphy with two 15-second negative ads. The campaign consists of a $38,000 media buy in the Pittsburgh market.[20]
  • On April 2, 2012, CPA released its anti-Murphy ad, titled "Rock the Boat."[21]
"Card Check" (March 26, 2012)
"Earmarks" (March 26, 2012)
"Rock the Boat" (April 2, 2012).

Evan Feinberg

"Evan Feinberg U S Congressional 18th District"[22]

Campaign contributions

Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2012 elections season. Below are candidate reports.

Tim Murphy

Tim Murphy (2012) Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period		ExpendituresCash on Hand
July Quarterly[23]July 15, 2012$1,388,549.80$311,476.46$(675,439.50)$1,024,586.76
Running totals
$311,476.46$(675,439.5)

Larry Maggi

Larry Maggi (2012) Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period		ExpendituresCash on Hand
July Quarterly[24]July 15, 2012$266,742.96$203,903.74$(62,875.41)$407,771.29
Running totals
$203,903.74$(62,875.41)

Money in the Race

According to opensecrets.org, Murphy raised $1,601,371. Of that, Murphy spent $602,470, leaving him with $1,382,990 cash on hand as of April 4, 2012. Feinberg reported raising $121,967 up to that point. He spent $40,971 and was left with $80,995 cash on hand. Maggi raised $295,309 this cycle and spent $28,566. As of April 4, 2012, Maggi had $266,743 cash on hand.[25]

Top Contributors

Murphy's top campaign contributors include Alpha Natural Resources, which donated $11,500; Bayer AG, which gave $10,000; and EQT Corp, which donated $10,000. Feinberg's top contributors include Skyline Displays of Pittsburgh, which gave $5,000; Howard Concrete Pumping, which donated $3,000; and Absolute Security, which donated $2,500.[26]

District history

2010

On November 2, 2010, Murphy won re-election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Dan Connolly in the general election.[27]

U.S. House, Pennsylvania District 18 General Election, 2010
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Dan Connolly 32.7% 78,558
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngTim Murphy Incumbent 67.3% 161,888
Total Votes 240,446

2008

On November 4, 2008, Murphy won re-election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Steve O’Donnell in the general election.[28]

U.S. House, Pennsylvania District 18 General Election, 2008
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Steve O’Donnell 35.9% 119,661
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngTim Murphy Incumbent 64.1% 213,349
Total Votes 333,010

2006

On November 7, 2006 Murphy won re-election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Chad Kluko in the general election.[29]

U.S. House, Pennsylvania District 18 General Election, 2006
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Chad Kluko 42.2% 105,419
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngTim Murphy Incumbent 57.8% 144,632
Total Votes 250,051

2004

On November 2, 2004 Murphy won re-election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Mark G. Boles in the general election.[30]

2002

On November 5, 2002, Murphy won election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Jack Machek in the general election.[31]

2000

On November 7, 2000, Michael F. Doyle won election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Craig C. Stephens in the general election.[32]

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Politico, "2012 House Race Results," accessed November 6, 2012
  2. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Registration Deadlines," accessed June 28, 2012
  3. ↑ Pennsylvania Redistricting Map, "Map" accessed July 30, 2012
  4. ↑ PoliticsPa "WashCo Commish Maggi Gets in Vs. Murphy" accessed January 23, 2012
  5. ↑ PoliticsPA Tim Murphy gets a challenger December 15, 2011
  6. ↑ The Cook Political Report, "Recent race ratings changes," October 11, 2012
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Washington Post, "The 10 states that will determine control of the House in 2012," accessed April 25, 2012
  8. ↑ Moonshadow Mobile's CensusViewer, "Pennsylvania's congressional districts 2001-2011 comparison"
  9. ↑ Labels & Lists, "VoterMapping software voter counts"
  10. ↑ "2011 Redistricting and 2012 Elections in Pennsylvania," September 2012
  11. ↑ Cook Political Report, "Partisan Voting Index Districts of the 113th Congress: 2004 & 2008" accessed October 2012
  12. ↑ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's "Early Returns" "Another Outside Attack on Murphy," April 3, 2012
  13. ↑ CBS News, "Anti-incumbent group shakes up Pennsylvania primaries," April 24, 2012
  14. ↑ Open Secrets, "Campaign for Primary Accountability Independent Expenditures," accessed April 29, 2012
  15. ↑ YouTube channel
  16. ↑ YouTube channel
  17. ↑ YouTube channel
  18. ↑ YouTube channel
  19. ↑ YouTube channel
  20. ↑ PoliticsPA "Club for Growth Targets Murphy in TV Ads" accessed March 26, 2012
  21. ↑ PoliticsPA "PAC Unveils Anti-Murphy Ad" accessed April 3, 2012
  22. ↑ Evan Feinberg
  23. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Tim Murphy July Quarterly," accessed August 4, 2012
  24. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Larry Maggi July Quarterly," accessed August 4, 2012
  25. ↑ opensecrets.org accessed April 14, 2012
  26. ↑ opensecrets.org, "Top Contributors" accessed April 14, 2012
  27. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
  28. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013
  29. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006," accessed March 28, 2013
  30. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2004"
  31. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002"
  32. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2000"
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