United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2012

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2012 U.S. House Elections in Pennsylvania

Primary Date
April 24, 2012

Partisan breakdownCandidates

Pennsylvania District Pages
District 1District 2District 3District 4District 5District 6District 7District 8District 9District 10District 11District 12District 13District 14District 15District 16District 17District 18

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2012 U.S. Senate Elections

Flag of Pennsylvania.png

The 2012 U.S. House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania took place on November 6, 2012. Voters elected 18 candidates to serve in the U.S. House, one from each of the state's 18 congressional districts.

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.[1]

See also: Pennsylvania elections, 2012


According to the New York Times race ratings in October 2012, four of the 18 districts were considered to be in play. Those were the 6th, 7th, 8th and 12th districts.[2]

The Center for Voting and Democracy (Fairvote) projected that Democrats would win four districts while Republicans would win seven seats. It did not make a projection for the remaining seven districts.[3]

Primary competitiveness

See also: National contested primary average during the 2012 U.S. congressional elections

Pennsylvania had the 45th most competitive congressional primaries in 2012, with 22.22% of major party primaries having been contested (8 out of 36). The national average was 54.31%.

Eighteen U.S. House incumbents sought re-election in Pennsylvania in 2012. 5 of those 18 (27.78%) faced a primary challenger. Nationwide, 200 out of the 386 incumbents seeking re-election faced a primary challenger (51.81%).

Partisan breakdown

Heading into the November 6 election, the Republican Party held 13 of the 19 Congressional seats from Pennsylvania. However, the state lost one seat after the 2010 census and elected 18 representatives.

Members of the U.S. House from Pennsylvania-- Partisan Breakdown
Party As of November 2012 After the 2012 Election
     Democratic Party 6 5
     Republican Party 13 13
Total 19 18

Incumbents

Heading into the 2012 election, the incumbents for the 19 congressional districts were:

Name Party District
Allyson Schwartz Electiondot.png Democratic 13
Bill Shuster Ends.png Republican 9
Chaka Fattah Electiondot.png Democratic 2
Charles W. Dent Ends.png Republican 15
Glenn Thompson Ends.png Republican 5
Jason Altmire Electiondot.png Democratic 4
Jim Gerlach Ends.png Republican 6
Joseph R. Pitts Ends.png Republican 16
Lou Barletta Ends.png Republican 11
Mark Critz Electiondot.png Democratic 12
Michael F. Doyle Electiondot.png Democratic 14
Michael G. Fitzpatrick Ends.png Republican 8
Mike Kelly Ends.png Republican 3
Patrick Meehan Ends.png Republican 7
Robert A. Brady Electiondot.png Democratic 1
Tim Holden Electiondot.png Democratic 17
Tim Murphy Ends.png Republican 18
Todd Russell Platts Ends.png Republican 19
Tom Marino Ends.png Republican 10

Margin of victory for winners

There were a total of 18 seats up for election in 2012 in Pennsylvania. The following table shows the margin of victory for each district winner, which is calculated by examining the percentage difference between the top-two vote getters. If the race was uncontested, the margin of victory is listed as 100%.

District Winner Margin of Victory Total Vote Top Opponent
Pennsylvania, District 10 Republican Party Tom Marino 31.2% 273,790 Philip Scollo
Pennsylvania, District 11 Republican Party Lou Barletta 17.1% 285,198 Gene Stilp
Pennsylvania, District 12 Republican Party Keith Rothfus 3.5% 338,941 Mark Critz
Pennsylvania, District 13 Democratic Party Allyson Schwartz 38.2% 303,819 Joe Rooney
Pennsylvania, District 14 Democratic Party Michael F. Doyle 53.8% 327,634 Hans Lessmann
Pennsylvania, District 15 Republican Party Charlie Dent 13.5% 297,724 Rick Daugherty
Pennsylvania, District 16 Republican Party Joseph R. Pitts 15.8% 284,781 Aryanna Strader
Pennsylvania, District 17 Democratic Party Matt Cartwright 20.6% 267,601 Laureen Cummings
Pennsylvania, District 18 Republican Party Tim Murphy 27.9% 338,873 Larry Maggi
Pennsylvania, District 1 Democratic Party Robert Brady 69.9% 277,102 John Featherman
Pennsylvania, District 2 Democratic Party Chaka Fattah 79.9% 356,386 Robert Mansfield
Pennsylvania, District 3 Republican Party Mike Kelly 13.8% 302,514 Missa Eaton
Pennsylvania, District 4 Republican Party Scott Perry 25.3% 303,980 Harry Perkinson
Pennsylvania, District 5 Republican Party Glenn Thompson 25.8% 282,465 Charles Dumas
Pennsylvania, District 6 Republican Party Jim Gerlach 14.3% 335,528 Manan Trivedi
Pennsylvania, District 7 Republican Party Patrick Meehan 18.8% 353,451 George Badey
Pennsylvania, District 8 Republican Party Michael G. Fitzpatrick 13.2% 352,238 Kathryn Boockvar
Pennsylvania, District 9 Republican Party Bill Shuster 23.3% 274,305 Karen Ramsburg

General election candidates

This is a map of the congressional districts of Pennsylvania before and after the 2010 redistricting. The image also includes the partisan breakdown of the districts that are close in registration figures.
District General Election Candidates Incumbent 2012 Winner Partisan Switch?
1st Democratic Party Robert Brady
Republican Party John Featherman
Robert Brady Democratic Party Robert Brady No
2nd Democratic Party Chaka Fattah
Republican Party Robert Mansfield
Grey.png Robert Ogborn
Grey.png James Foster (PHP)
Chaka Fattah Democratic Party Chaka Fattah No
3rd Democratic Party Missa Eaton
Republican Party Mike Kelly
Grey.pngSteven Porter
Mike Kelly Republican Party Mike Kelly No
4th Democratic Party Harry Perkinson
Republican Party Scott Perry
Libertarian Party Mike Koffenberger
Grey.pngWayne Wolff
Jason Altmire Republican Party Scott Perry Yes
5th Democratic PartyCharles Dumas
Republican PartyGlenn Thompson
Glenn Thompson Republican Party Glenn Thompson No
6th Democratic Party Manan Trivedi
Republican Party Jim Gerlach
Jim Gerlach Republican Party Jim Gerlach No
7th Democratic Party George Badey
Republican PartyPatrick Meehan
Patrick Meehan Republican Party Patrick Meehan No
8th Democratic Party Kathryn Boockvar
Republican Party Michael G. Fitzpatrick
Michael G. Fitzpatrick Republican Party Michael G. Fitzpatrick No
9th Democratic Party Karen Ramsburg
Republican Party Bill Shuster
Bill Shuster Republican Party Bill Shuster No
10th Democratic Party Philip Scollo
Republican Party Tom Marino
Tom Marino Republican Party Tom Marino No
11th Democratic Party Gene Stilp
Republican Party Lou Barletta
Lou Barletta Republican Party Lou Barletta No
12th Democratic Party Mark Critz
Republican Party Keith Rothfus
Mark Critz Republican Party Keith Rothfus Yes
13th Democratic Party Allyson Schwartz
Republican Party Joe Rooney
Allyson Schwartz Democratic Party Allyson Schwartz No
14th Democratic Party Michael F. Doyle
Republican Party Hans Lessmann
Michael F. Doyle Democratic Party Michael F. Doyle No
15th Democratic Party Rick Daugherty
Republican Party Charlie Dent
Charlie Dent Republican Party Charlie Dent No
16th Democratic Party Aryanna Strader
Republican PartyJoseph R. Pitts
Grey.pngJohn Murphy
Grey.pngJames Bednarski
Joseph R. Pitts Republican Party Joseph R. Pitts No
17th Democratic Party Matt Cartwright
Republican Party Laureen Cummings
Tim Holden Democratic Party Matt Cartwright No
18th Democratic Party Larry Maggi
Republican Party Tim Murphy
Tim Murphy Republican Party Tim Murphy No

Candidates

Note: Election results were added on election night as races were called. Vote totals were added after official election results had been certified. Click here for more information about Ballotpedia's election coverage plan. Please contact us about errors in this list.


1st Congressional District

General election candidates

Democratic Party Robert Brady Green check mark transparent.png
Republican Party John Featherman


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic Primary

Republican Party Republican Primary

2nd Congressional District

General election candidates

Democratic Party Chaka Fattah Green check mark transparent.png
Republican Party Robert Mansfield
Grey.png Robert Ogborn
Grey.png James Foster (PHP)


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic primary

Republican Party Republican primary

3rd Congressional District

General election candidates

Democratic Party Missa Eaton
Republican Party Mike Kelly Green check mark transparent.png
Grey.png Steven Porter


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic primary

Withdrawn:

Republican Party Republican primary

4th Congressional District

General election candidates

Democratic Party Harry Perkinson
Republican Party Scott Perry Green check mark transparent.png
Libertarian Party Mike Koffenberger
Grey.png Wayne Wolff


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic primary

Withdrawn:

Republican Party Republican primary

Libertarian Party Libertarian candidate

5th Congressional District

General election candidates

Democratic Party Charles Dumas
Republican Party Glenn Thompson Green check mark transparent.png


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic primary

Republican Party Republican primary

6th Congressional District

General election candidates

Democratic Party Manan Trivedi
Republican Party Jim Gerlach Green check mark transparent.png


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic primary

Republican Party Republican Primary

7th Congressional District

General election candidates

Democratic Party George Badey
Republican Party Patrick Meehan Green check mark transparent.png


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic primary

Republican Party Republican primary

8th Congressional District

General election candidates

Democratic Party Kathryn Boockvar
Republican Party Michael G. Fitzpatrick Green check mark transparent.png


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic primary

Republican Party Republican primary

9th Congressional District

General election candidate

Democratic Party Karen Ramsburg
Republican Party Bill Shuster Green check mark transparent.png


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic Primary

  • No candidates filed to run as a Democrat.

Republican Party Republican Primary

Withdrawn:

10th Congressional District

General election candidates

Democratic Party Philip Scollo
Republican Party Tom Marino Green check mark transparent.png


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic Primary

Republican Party Republican Primary

11th Congressional District

General election candidates

Democratic Party Gene Stilp
Republican Party Lou Barletta Green check mark transparent.png


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic Primary

Republican Party Republican Primary

12th Congressional District

General election candidates

Democratic Party Mark Critz
Republican Party Keith Rothfus Green check mark transparent.png


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic Primary

Republican Party Republican Primary

13th Congressional District

General election candidates

Democratic Party Allyson Schwartz Green check mark transparent.png
Republican Party Joe Rooney


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic Primary

Republican Party Republican Primary

14th Congressional District

General election candidates

Democratic Party Michael F. Doyle Green check mark transparent.png
Republican Party Hans Lessmann


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic Primary

Republican Party Republican Primary

15th Congressional District

General election candidates

Democratic Party Rick Daugherty
Republican Party Charlie Dent Green check mark transparent.png


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic Primary

Republican Party Republican Primary

16th Congressional District

General election candidates

Democratic Party Aryanna Strader
Republican Party Joseph R. Pitts Green check mark transparent.png
Grey.png John Murphy
Grey.png James Bednarski (BFC)


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic Primary

Republican Party Republican Primary

17th Congressional District

General election candidates

Democratic Party Matt Cartwright Green check mark transparent.png
Republican Party Laureen Cummings


April 24, 2012, primary results

Democratic Party Democratic Primary

Republican Party Republican Primary

18th Congressional District

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

Race background

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.[41] Pennsylvania tied with Ohio for 9th on the list.[41]

See also

Footnotes

  1. Pennsylvania Department of State, "Registration Deadlines," accessed June 28, 2012
  2. New York Times, "House Race Ratings," accessed July 25, 2012
  3. , "2011 Redistricting and 2012 Elections in Pennsylvania," September 2012
  4. Delco Times "County Democrats choose runners for primary election" accessed April 15, 2012
  5. Philadelphia Weekly "Breaking: Former Republican Mayoral Candidate John Featherman Running for U.S. Congress" accessed April 15, 2012
  6. Bryn Mawr-Gladwyne Patch "All Major Republicans Make Presidential Primary; New GOP Challenger for Fattah" accessed April 15, 2012
  7. GoErie.com "Sharon resident Eaton to run for Congress in the 3rd District" accessed April 15, 2012
  8. Sharon Herald "Court tosses 2 candidates' petitions" accessed April 15, 2012
  9. Sharon Herald "Court tosses 2 candidates' petitions" accessed April 15, 2012
  10. goerie.com "Lawyer George Schroeck announces candidacy for 3rd District congressional seat" accessed January 30, 2012
  11. York Daily News "Two Democrats announce candidacies for Platts' seat" accessed January 23, 2012
  12. York Daily Record "Nine candidates file petitions for Rep. Platts' congressional seat" accessed April 15, 2012
  13. Pennsylvania Secretary of State
  14. witf.org "State Representative Scott Perry says he'll run for Congress" accessed January 23, 2012
  15. York Dispatch "Perry gets Gov. Corbett's endorsement" accessed April 15, 2012
  16. York Daily Record "4th District congressional candidates agree on many policy issues, highlight their different backgrounds" accessed April 15, 2012
  17. York Daily Record "Platts retiring from Congress" accessed January 20, 2012
  18. pennlive.com "York County Commissioner Chris Reilly will run for Congress" accessed April 15, 2012
  19. The Patriot News "Sean Summers, lawyer for Albert Snyder in case against Westboro Baptist Church, announces run for Congress" accessed January 23, 2012
  20. whptv.com "Springettsbury Township's Mark Swomley to run for Congress" accessed April 15, 2012
  21. York Dispatch "Two area Democrats announce congressional bids" accessed January 27, 2012
  22. GoErie.com "Dumas expected to challenge in 5th Congressional District race" accessed April 15, 2012
  23. Punxsutawney Spirit "Thompson's 'bus stops here' for re-election announcement" accessed April 15, 2012
  24. philly.com Reading physician, an Iraq vet to challenge Gerlach December 13, 2011
  25. Delco Times "Radnor Democrat George Badey III looking to run against Meehan in 7th District" accessed April 20, 2012
  26. PoliticsPA "It’s Official: Boockvar to Challenge Fitzpatrick" accessed April 20, 2012
  27. Politics PA "Shuster Alone on the PA-9 Ballot, Might Face Dem," March 16, 2012
  28. SunGazette.com "Marino, Scollo are only candidates for 10th House seat" accessed April 20, 2012
  29. PoliticsPA "Updated: Anti-Pay Raise Activist Gene Stilp to Challenge Barletta" accessed January 20, 2012
  30. Politico Barletta has first challenger December 13, 2011
  31. Pittsburgh Tribune Edgeworth lawyer Rothfus planning another run at Congress December 12, 2011
  32. Phillyburbs.com "Rooney sets sail in 13th District race" accessed April 20, 2012
  33. Plum-Oakmont Patch "PA Congressional District 14 Candidate: Janis Brooks" accessed April 20, 2012
  34. Dormont-Brookline Patch "PA Congressional District 14 Candidate: Hans Lessmann" accessed 20, 2012
  35. The Morning Call Challenger to Charlie Dent surfaces December 14, 2011
  36. DCCC.org "Red to Blue 2012" accessed January 21, 2012
  37. PoliticsPA "Pitts Challenger Lives Outside District Lines" accessed April 20, 2012
  38. Scranton Times Tribune "Cartwright getting into congressional race
  39. PoliticsPa "WashCo Commish Maggi Gets in Vs. Murphy" accessed January 23, 2012
  40. PoliticsPA Tim Murphy gets a challenger December 15, 2011
  41. 41.0 41.1 Washington Post, "The 10 states that will determine control of the House in 2012," accessed April 25, 2012