Pennsylvania
Senator Bob Casey Robert Casey Jr. was born in the former coal town of Scranton, the oldest son in a large Irish-Catholic political family. Like his father, Robert Jr. graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts. He practiced law in Scranton, and then won election as state auditor general in 1996. He was reelected in 2000. In 2005, national Democrats were looking for a strong challenger to Republican Sen. Rick Santorum, a high-profile social conservative with a red-state following and a blue-state constituency. Casey won 59%-41%, to become the first Pennsylvania Democrat elected to a full Senate term since Joe Clark in 1962. In the Senate, Casey is a reliable supporter of his party s agenda, though his devout Catholicism and his social conservatism occasionally cause him to break ranks. He angered some anti-abortion groups in April 2011 when he voted against denying federal funds to Planned Parenthood, saying the group provides many family planning services beyond abortion. Republicans hoped to unseat Casey in 2012, but they had a hard time recruiting a top-tier candidate to take on the well-funded incumbent. His opponent, former coal company executive Tom Smith, outspent him, $21 million to $14 million, but Casey hung on to win, 54%-45%. Currently: Senator, PA Elected: 2006 Education: Col. of the Holy Cross, B.A., 1982; Catholic U., J.D., 1988 Family: Married (Terese), 4 Contact: (202) 224-6324 393 Russell Senate Office Washington, DC 20510 Strong supporter of the Second Amendment Anti-abortion, yet voted against defunding Planned Parenthood Casey voted against South Korea, Panama, and Colombia trade bills that became law in October 2011 Opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Senate Committee on Aging Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Senate Committee on Finance 2012 General Bob Casey (D) Votes: 3,021,364 Percent: 53.7% Tom Smith (R) Votes: 2,509,132 Percent: 44.6% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016.
Senator Pat Toomey Republican Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania s junior senator, grew up in Providence, R.I. After college, he worked in investment banking, founding a successful international financial services consulting firm in 1990 and amassing considerable wealth. After six years on Wall Street, Toomey moved to Allentown, Pa. In 1998, Toomey ran for the seat of retiring 15th District Rep. Paul McHale, a Democrat. One of six candidates in the Republican primary, he called for individual Social Security investment accounts, creation of a flat tax to replace income taxes, and term limits for members of Congress. He promised to serve only six years. As a member of the House, Toomey worked primarily on economic issues. Toomey kept his term limit pledge in 2004 and ran for the Senate seat held by then-republican Arlen Specter. After he lost the election, Toomey became president of the Club for Growth, a national organization that champions lower taxes and spends generously to support conservative candidates who share its views. Toomey s view was that the GOP was courting political disaster because it had abandoned conservative principles. He decided to challenge Specter again in 2010 after the incumbent cast one of three Republican votes for the Democrats economic stimulus bill. In the Senate, Toomey has shown a preference for policy over sound bites, and perhaps as a result, is not a frequent figure on cable television. But he has won praise for articulating conservative ideals in a reasonable way. Currently: Senator, PA Elected: 2010 Education: Harvard U., B.S., 1984 Family: Married (Kris), 3 Contact: (202) 224-4254 248 Russell Senate Office Washington, DC 20510 Supported Medicare Part D, but wouldn t vote for it unless it brought down cost Strongly supports reducing and eliminating taxes, voted to reduce the capital gains tax Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Senate Committee on the Budget Senate Committee on Finance Pat Toomey (R) Votes: 2,951,702 Percent: 49.0% Katie McGinty (D) Votes: 2,865,012 Percent: 47.0% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016.
Congressman Robert Brady Democrat Robert Brady, elected in 1998, is the personification of Philadelphia s old-fashioned urban politics, and is one of the few remaining white ethnic party bosses in big-city America. He depicts himself as a roll-up-your-sleeves guy who represents working-class voters, and says he s proud to be the boss of what he calls the nation s largest big-city machine, referring to his chairmanship of the Philadelphia Democratic Party, which he has held since 1986. Brady has a liberal voting record and keeps a low profile in Washington. For the most powerful man in Philadelphia, Philadelphia magazine once wrote, Washington gasbagging is not his thing. He boasts of once refusing to take a phone call from President Bill Clinton because he was busy dealing with a woman asking if he could send someone to fix her toilet. His loyalty to unions led him to buck environmentalists and most Democrats to vote for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Brady ran for Philadelphia mayor in the May 2007 primary, however his campaign ran into an unusual stumbling block: a lawsuit seeking to remove him from the ballot because he did not include his union pension on a candidate disclosure form. Brady revealed in court that his pension benefits were accruing as though he was working a full work week, a curiosity, given the fact that he was serving in Congress. In Philadelphia s Byzantine politics, Brady s weak performance he even lost his home ward in Overbrook raised questions about his political vulnerability, but none of the elections since have been competitive. 01 Elected: 1998 Education: St. Thomas More H.S. Family: Married (Debra), 2 Contact: (202) 225-4731 2004 Rayburn House Office As a long-time member of the Carpenters Union, Brady has a 100% rating from the AFL-CIO Championed the DISCLOSE Act, which requires corporations to disclose their election spending and to strengthen the ban on foreign money in US politics Supports increased funding for public education, job training programs and programs to combat discrimination House Committee on Administration House Committee on Armed Services Robert Brady (D) Votes: 245,791 Percent: 82.2% Deborah Williams (R) Votes: 53,219 Percent: 17.8% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016, Ballotpedia, 2017, bobbrady.us/issues, 2016.
Congressman Dwight Evans Dwight Evans was born on May 16, 1954 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and graduated from La Salle University in 1975. Shortly after graduating, Evans went on to work as a teacher in the school district of Philadelphia and for the Urban League as a community activist. In 1980, Dwight Evans ran for State Representative in the 203rd legislative district of Pennsylvania and won. During his tenure as state representative, Evans made education and gun violence a priority in his policy platform. In 1997, Evans crafted the Charter School Law, which increased the number of choices parents had in choosing elementary and secondary schools. In 2005, he was a main author of the Blueprint for a Safer Philadelphia, which advocated for Congressional leaders to be active in keeping handguns out of the hands of, and he also passed a measure requiring a five-year mandatory sentence for possession of a firearm if the person has been convicted of two prior crimes involving serious violence or drug trafficking. In 1990, Evans became the first African American to serve on the House Appropriations Committee for the Pennsylvania State Legislature. Dwight Evans decided to run for Congress after Chaka Fattah was indicted on charges of bribery, money laundering, and mail fraud. In the primary, Dwight Evans beat three other candidates, including incumbent Chaka Fattah, with 42.3% of the vote. In the general election, he went on to beat Republican James Jones. 02 Elected: 2016 Education: La Salle U., B.A., 1975 Religion: Baptist Family: Single Contact: (202) 225-4001 1105 Longworth House Office Favors expanding Obamacare Strongly favors prioritizing green energy Strongly opposes vouchers for school choice Strongly opposes privatized Social Security Favors strong regulation of the fracking industry at the federal level House Committee on Small Business House Committee on Agriculture Dwight Evans (D) Votes: 322,514 Percent: 90.2% James Jones (R) Votes: 35,131 Percent: 9.8% Sources: Ballotpedia, Dwight Evans, 2017; Dwight Evans for Congress, Meet Dwight, 2016; Pennsylvania House, Rep. Dwight Evans, 2016; National Journal Almanac, 2017.
Congressman Mike Kelly Republican Mike Kelly, who won his seat in 2010, is an ex-college football player who is known for his fiery pep talks to colleagues behind closed doors. But he is mostly loyal to his party and supported former House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio. On issues, he promised to cut government spending and curtail government interference with small business. In the House, Kelly has been conservative, particularly on foreign policy, but not as far to the right on economic matters as some of his Class of 2010 colleagues. He has a strong pro-business bent, and voted against a 2012 amendment to eliminate the Economic Development Administration. Republicans laud his passion. He gave an August 2012 floor speech comparing a regulation requiring insurers to provide women birth control without a copayment to the September 11 terrorist attacks and to the attack on Pearl Harbor, which drew sharp criticism from Democrats. 03 Elected: 2010 Education: U. of Notre Dame, B.A., 1970 Family: Married (Victoria), 4, 10 grand Contact: (202) 225-5406 1707 Longworth House Office Opposes Obama s immigration executive orders Opposes same-sex marriage Opposes pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens Opposes Obamacare House Committee on Ways and Means Mike Kelly (R) Votes: 244,893 Percent: 100% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016; Ballotpedia, 2016.
Congressman Scott Perry Republican Scott Perry claimed the 4th District House seat in 2012 after prevailing in a crowded primary, although he was the underdog. He is considerably more conservative than his predecessor, retiring moderate Republican Rep. Todd Platts, and ran on a message of a leaner federal government, gun rights, and traditional marriage. Perry was born in San Diego, Calif., but moved at age 7 to central Pennsylvania. After graduating from high school, Perry worked as an auto mechanic before enlisting in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He distinguished himself as a helicopter pilot, eventually rising to the rank of colonel. While serving as state representative, he was called to serve for a year in Iraq in 2009, flying 44 missions. When he launched his bid for Congress, Perry s past legal troubles became an issue in the seven-person Republican primary field, but it never got traction. He garnered endorsements from Corbett and from GOP Sen. Pat Toomey. Perry s win was attributed to his military background, which resonated in the district, and his higher-than-average profile in Harrisburg, according to the PoliticsPA website. He had no trouble in November against Democrat Harry Perkinson, an engineer, who struggled against the strong Republican tilt of the district. Perry won, 60% to 34%. 04 Elected: 2012 Education: PA St. U., B.A., 1991; U.S. Army War Col., M.S.P., 2012 Religion: Church of the United Brethren in Christ Family: Married (Christy), 2 Contact: (202) 225-5836 1207 Longworth House Office Strongly opposes expanding Obamacare Strongly favors absolute right to gun ownership Strongly opposes expanded free trade Strongly opposes pathway to citizenship for illegal citizens Strongly favors expanding the military House Committee on Foreign Affairs House Committee on Homeland Security House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016; Scott Perry., Ballotpedia, 2016. Scott Perry (R) Votes: 220,628 Percent: 66.1% Joshua Burkholder (D) Votes: 113,372 Percent: 33.9%
Congressman Glenn Thompson Republican Glenn Thompson, who won the seat in 2008, is an amiable centrist and the only Pennsylvanian to serve on an agriculture committee in Congress. He tries to protect farmers, as well as energy interests, from what he sees as excessive regulation. Thompson is a lifelong resident of Centre County where he attended nearby Penn State University. After graduation, Thompson began his career in healthcare working as a rehabilitation services manager at Williamsport Hospital. Thompson was elected three times to run the Centre County s Republican Party. In 2008, Rep. John Peterson announced he would not be running for reelection. Thompson jumped into the crowded GOP primary field where he faced a tough contest, but eventually squeaked out a victory after he received Peterson s endorsement. Thompson went on to easily win the general election. In the House, Thompson sticks with his party on major votes but has been increasingly moderate in recent years. He went against the grain of Tea Party advocates by voting to raise the federal debt limit in 2011, to preserve rural air subsidies in 2012, and to support the tax and spending legislation that averted the so-called fiscal cliff in 2013. Rural causes have been a priority for Thompson. In 2011, when Republicans took majority control, he got the chairmanship of the Agriculture Committee s panel on Conservation, Energy and Forestry. He has sought to strengthen voluntary conservation programs as part of the farm bill s reauthorization. Thompson also has a seat on the Natural Resources Committee, and has pushed for more natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation. Thompson has been highly critical of recent EPA regulations believing they have gotten in the way of energy development in his district. 05 Elected: 2008 Education: PA St. U., B.S., 1981; Temple U., M.Ed., 1998 Religion: Protestant Family: Married (Penny), 3 Contact: (202) 225-5121 124 Cannon House Office Opposes reducing Social Security and Medicare benefits for those already enrolled and receiving benefits Supports hydraulic fracking and increased oil drilling in order to secure energy independence Supports agricultural subsidies Supports training programs to fulfill in-demand occupations House Committee on Agriculture House Committee on Education and the Workforce House Committee on Natural Resources Glenn Thompson (R) Votes: 206,761 Percent: 67.2% Kerith Strano Taylor (D) Votes: 101,082 Percent: 32.8% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016; Ballotpedia 2016.
Congressman Ryan Costello Suburban Philadelphia was a national battleground for the two major parties in 2014, and Ryan Costello sealed it for the Republicans, keeping GOP control of a 6th District seat that has looked less and less friendly to Democrats in recent elections. Costello defeated physician Manan Trivedi, an Iraq War veteran and a former adviser to the Obama campaign who had lost two previous races for the seat. Costello, the son of two Pennsylvania public-school teachers, grew up in Chester County and earned his undergraduate degree from Ursinus College and his law degree from the Villanova School of Law. A practicing attorney, he served on the East Vincent Township Board of Supervisors, where he was elected chairman, and then as recorder of deeds in Chester County. He later was elected to the Chester County Board of Commissioners, the threemember governing body of the county, and was chosen by the commission as chairman. Costello touted a record of balancing county budgets of more than $500 million, cutting government spending, and improving the county's 911 emergency call system. He ran unopposed for the GOP nomination for the congressional seat after an early opponent, Michael Parrish, dropped out before the primary. Costello had the endorsement of the National Rifle Association and the help of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which spent $100,000 on an ad lauding Costello as the best candidate to rein in a "tax-and-spend White House." 06 Elected: 2014 Education: Ursinus Col., B.A., 1999; Villanova U., J.D., 2002 Religion: Presbyterian Family: Married (Christine), 2 Contact: (202) 225-4315 326 Cannon House Office One of ten GOP freshman to send letter of support of a resolution to avoid government shutdown Voted in support of all sections of the Trade Act of 2015 Supported the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 and the suspension of Iran sanctions Supports prohibiting abortions after 20 weeks except in cases of rape or danger to the mother Introduced the Ensuring VA Employee Accountability Act House Committee on Energy and Commerce Ryan Costello (R) Votes: 207,469 Percent: 57.2% Mike Parrish (D) Votes: 155,000 Percent: 42.8% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016. Ballotpedia 2016.
Congressman Patrick Meehan Meehan grew up in Cheltenham Township, in Montgomery County, just north of Philadelphia. He helped pay his tuition at Bowdoin College by working at a rubber factory, where he shoveled rubber pellets into an incinerator. Meehan graduated from Temple University law school, and then went to work for the large law firm founded by long ago Philadelphia Mayor Richardson Dilworth (1956-62). In 1994, Meehan was the campaign manager for Republican Rick Santorum in his successful Senate race against incumbent Democrat Harris Wofford. With his solid Republican credentials, he was elected district attorney in Delaware County in 1995. In 2001, Meehan was appointed U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. When Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak decided to challenge Specter for his Senate seat in 2010, Meehan ran for Sestak s House seat. Meehan was endorsed by the United Aerospace Workers Local 1069. Meehan won 55%-44%, carrying all three counties in the district. In the House, Meehan was one of three freshmen appointed to the Republican Steering Committee, a leadership-run panel that makes committee assignments. But he showed plenty of independence, especially on legal issues. He won House passage of his bill in 2012 to establish guidelines for the Homeland Security Department s sharing of information with state and local law enforcement about threats involving chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. 07 Elected: 2010 Education: Bowdoin Col., B.A., 1978; Temple U., J.D., 1986 Family: Married (Carolyn), 3 Contact: (202) 225-2011 2305 Rayburn House Office Strongly opposes expanding Obamacare Strongly opposes taxes on the wealthy Strongly favors keeping God in the public sphere Strongly opposes privatized Social Security Favors stricter punishment to reduce crime Voted to pass a bill to increase military and domestic spending level House Committee on Ways and Means Patrick Meehan (R) Votes: 225,678 Percent: 59.5% Mary Ellen Balchunis (D) Votes: 153,824 Percent: 40.5% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017; Patrick Meehan, Ballotpedia, 2017.
Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick Brian Fitzpatrick, born December 17th, 1973, is the brother of the incumbent, Mike Fitzpatrick, who is retiring. He was raised in Bucks County and attended LaSalle University, Penn State University and the Dickinson School of Law. Fitzpatrick graduated first in his academic class at Quantico, the FBI academy. He is a licensed certified public accountant and attorney. Brian Fitzpatrick has been an FBI special agent for the past 15 years and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was also the national director for the FBI s Campaign Finance and Election Crimes Enforcement Program and serves as a national supervisor for the FBI s Political Corruption Unit. In 2015, Fitzpatrick received the FBI Director s Leadership Award. 08 Elected: 2016 Education: La Salle U., B.A., 1996; PA St. U., M.B.A., J.D., 2001 Family: Single Contact: (202) 225-4276 514 Cannon House Office Supports term limits for all Members of Congress Opposes Obamacare Supports equal pay for equal work legislation Supports interest-free student loans for certain educational programs Supports lowering taxes to promote economic growth House Committee on Small Business House Committee on Homeland Security House Committee on Foreign Affairs Brian Fitzpatrick (R) Votes: 207,263 Percent: 54.5% Steve Santarsiero (D) Votes: 173,555 Percent: 45.6% Sources: Ballotpedia, 2017; National Journal Almanac, 2017.
Congressman Bill Shuster Republican Bill Shuster has represented Pennsylvania s 9th congressional district since succeeding his father in a special election in 2001. Shuster was born and raised in the Pittsburg area. After graduating from Dickinson College and American University s business school, he moved to Blair County, where he took over the family s car dealership, Shuster Chrysler in East Freedom, near Altoona. He sold the business in 2002. In the House, Bill Shuster has a solidly conservative voting record, though he has favored earmarks which put him at odds with much of the conservative leadership. In the end, he voted for their removal. Taking the helm of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, he vowed to cut through the polarization that marked the tenure of the previous chairman, Florida s John Mica. Though he initially said he was open to a vehicle-miles-traveled fee, he abandoned that idea along with raising the federal gasoline tax in late 2014, citing public and political opposition. He is in favor of high-speed rail, but only in the busy Northeast corridor, and thinks it should be privatized an idea many Democrats consider unworkable. He also takes a dim view of funding bike and pedestrian projects that many urban Democrats champion as essential. Shuster tried for years to get a multi-year highway fund bill through Congress and was eventually successful in helping to get the House to pass such a bill in 2014. 09 Elected: 2001 Education: Dickinson Col., B.A., 1983; American U., M.B.A., 1987 Religion: Lutheran Family: Separated, 2 Contact: (202) 225-2431 2079 Rayburn House Office Supports greater federal funding for highways and other infrastructure projects Strong pro-life stance, voted to defund Planned Parenthood Supports the Trans-Pacific Partnership Opposes amnesty for undocumented immigrants Opposes the Affordable Care Act House Committee on Armed Services House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Bill Shuster (R) Votes: 186,580 Percent: 63.3% Art Halvorson (D) Votes: 107,985 Percent: 36.7% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016; Ballotpedia, 2016.
Congressman Tom Marino Republican Tom Marino, who defeated Democratic Rep. Christopher Carney in 2010, is a former prosecutor who cultivates an image at home as an aggressive guardian of taxpayer interests. There are few as tough as Tom Marino, a 2012 campaign ad boasted. Outside his district, he s become known for his headline-grabbing remarks not all of them positive headlines. There was also negative reaction to a video clip of Marino shouting at protesters outside a campaign event in Williamsport. What do you do for a job? and What kind of welfare are you on? he demanded. In the House, Marino has been generally conservative, although he voted against a number of his fellow freshman Republicans efforts to cancel some federal programs, including subsidies to rural airports. He introduced a measure to bar people from attending animal fights that drew 227 cosponsors but did not advance in the 112th Congress (2011-12), leading Marino to reintroduce it in 2013. Some of his statements generated controversy. After President Barack Obama authorized military force in Libya in 2011, Marino said of the African nation, Where does it stop? Do we go into Africa next? During the Homeland Security Committee s 2011 hearings on Muslim extremism, Marino got into a shouting match with Rep. Al Green, D-Texas. 10 Elected: 2010 Education: Lycoming Col., B.A., 1985; Dickinson Col., J.D., 1988 Family: Married (Edie), 2 adopted Contact: (202) 225-3731 410 Cannon House Office Supports repealing and replacing Obamacare Strongly opposes same-sex marriage Supports downsizing the Department of Education Opposes pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens House Committee on the Judiciary House Committee on Foreign Affairs Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016. Tom Marino (R) Votes: 211,282 Percent: 70.0% Mike Molesevich (D) Votes: 89,823 Percent: 30.0%
Congressman Lou Barletta Republican Lou Barletta toppled 13-term Democrat Paul Kanjorski in 2010 on his third attempt, and went on to distinguish himself as a vociferous critic of illegal immigration, although his overall voting record is centrist. After graduating from Hazleton High School, he attended Bloomsburg University, but he left early to follow a dream of becoming a professional baseball player. After an unsuccessful tryout with the Cincinnati Reds, he returned to his hometown Hazleton, PA. In the House, Barletta has been a moderate who backs his party on big votes, like most of his fellow Pennsylvania Republicans. On immigration, however, he takes the hardest of hard lines. When others in the GOP looked at the 2012 presidential election results as a sign that they needed to reach out to Latino voters, Barletta was having none of it. After a bipartisan Senate group came out in February 2013 with a comprehensive immigration reform proposal, he scoffed that it was, amnesty that America can t afford. He also told The Morning Call of Allentown that courting Hispanics is a waste of time for his party. Barletta was equally dismissive of Democratic gun control efforts following the Newtown, Conn., elementary school massacre. Would banning spoons stop obesity? he asked on ABC News This Week. The Cook Political Report called Barletta the biggest winner in Pennsylvania s redistricting after state Republicans jettisoned Democratic precincts and stretched the 11th District to the conservative Harrisburg suburbs. 11 Elected: 2010 Education: Bloomsburg U., Attended Religion: Catholic Family: Married (Mary Grace), 4, 3 grand Contact: (202) 225-6511 2049 Rayburn House Office Opposed to offering a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants Opposes gun control policies Committed to reducing the federal government s role in higher education and providing states and districts more flexibility in their use of federal funds for education Supports a balanced budget and a balanced budget amendment House Committee on Homeland Security House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure House Committee on Education and the Workforce Lou Barletta (R) Votes: 199,421 Percent: 64.0% Michael Marsicano (D) Votes: 113,800 Percent: 36.0% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016, Ballotpedia, 2016, barletta.house.gov, 2016.
Congressman Keith Rothfus Republican Keith Rothfus won the seat in 2012, becoming the beneficiary of redistricting that placed Pittsburgh s Republican-leaning northern suburbs in a new 12th District. Rothfus grew up in Endicott, NY. He worked for IBM for three years, and then attended Notre Dame Law School. He began his law career as a litigator in Pittsburgh and became an associate dean at the Regent University School of Law. He later returned to Pittsburgh to work at a law firm, where he negotiated commercial contracts. In 2007, Rothfus established a private practice in Pittsburgh. He also got increasingly involved in politics, working on faithbased initiatives in the George W. Bush administration, first in the Housing and Urban Development Department and later for the Homeland Security Department. Although he was long interested in public policy, Rothfus said he never thought he would run for office. That changed in 2009, when he looked for a candidate to support in his local congressional race in the 4th District for six months before deciding to put his own name forward. With tea party support, Rothfus pulled an upset in the 2010 primary in the 4th District. Rothfus said that he hopes to be a conciliator and deal-maker at a time of extreme political polarization in Congress. I have a reputation in my professional work, negotiating contracts, where I ve gone into deals where other people haven t closed the deal, and I ve been able to get it done, he said. We need to work with people of goodwill in both parties and start to tackle problems we have. 12 Elected: 2012 Education: SUNY Buffalo, B.S., 1984; U. of Notre Dame, J.D., 1990 Family: Married (Elsie), 6 Contact: (202) 225-2065 1205 Longworth House Office Opposes expanding Obamacare Favors absolute right to gun ownership Opposes expanded free trade Voted against the Farm Bill Voted in support of a stronger screening process for refugees from Iraq and Syria Voted against the export-import bank reauthorization House Committee on Financial Services House Committee on the Judiciary Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017; Keith Rothfus, Ballotpedia, 2017. Keith Rothfus (R) Votes: 221,851 Percent: 61.8% Erin McClelland (D) Votes: 137,353 Percent: 38.2%
Congressman Brendan Boyle Democrat Brendan Boyle cruised to victory in 2014, defeating Republican Dee Adcock to take over the seat held by retiring Democratic Rep. Allyson Schwartz. Boyle is one of the youngest members of Congress, but he emphasized old-school populism in his race. Raised by working-class parents, he was the first in his family to go to college, and his interest in public policy eventually led him to pursue a master's degree at Harvard. In 2008, he won a seat in Pennsylvania's House. Boyle's chance at a U.S. House run opened up when Schwartz announced she would compete in the Democratic primary for governor. With Boyle financially outgunned especially by rival Valerie Arkoosh, a well-funded doctor he hit the pavement. He held a total of 225 voter events and played up his roots, noting that his father was a public-transit maintenance worker and his mother a school crossing guard. Boyle generally tried to stay above the fray while his rivals sometimes took a more negative approach. One of their targets was his legislative record on women's health, namely his support for a bill that called for the renovation of health centers but reportedly led to the closing of several abortion clinics. In the end, Boyle scored an easy primary win in May, besting runnerup Margolies, 41 percent to 27 percent. Her ties to the Clintons were not enough to overcome what many saw as a weak and disorganized campaign. And once the primary results were in, Boyle's path in the general election proved easy, given the strong Democratic lean of the district. 13 Elected: 2014 Education: U. of Notre Dame, B.A., 1999; Harvard U., M.P.P., 2005 Family: Married (Jenny), 1 child Contact: (202) 225-6111 1133 Longworth House Office Supports a public option for health care Believes that Medicare should be able to negotiate for cheaper drugs Introduced legislation that would allow students who achieve and maintain a 3.0+ GPA to attend any Pennsylvania state school tuition-free Supports equal pay for equal work and is pro-choice Supports raising the minimum wage and ending tax incentives that reward companies for shipping jobs overseas House Committee on the Budget House Committee on Foreign Affairs Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017, Ballotpedia, 2017, voteboyle.com, 2017. Brendan Boyle (D) Votes: 239,316 Percent: 100%
Congressman Mike Doyle Democrat Mike Doyle was born on August 5 in 1953 in Swissvale, Pennsylvania. Doyle grew up in the Mon Valley town of Swissvale and worked in steel mills during summers off from Penn State. He became an insurance agent and was elected to the Swissvale Borough Council in 1977, at age 24. In 1978, he became chief of staff to state Sen. Frank Pecora, a Republican. In 1994, Doyle, who had just switched himself to the Democratic Party, ran for the House seat vacated by Republican Rep. Rick Santorum, who ran successfully for the Senate. With endorsements from labor unions and community leaders, he won 55%-45% against Republican John McCarty. In the House, Doyle initially had a mixed voting record, often on the right on cultural issues and on the left on economics. During the years in which his party controlled the House and emphasized economics, he became much more of a progressive populist. The pattern has continued with his party in the minority. As an anti-abortion Catholic, he helped broker the deal on abortion during the final days of the 2010 health care debate that brought other anti-abortion members of his party on board. On the Energy and Commerce Committee, his focus has been on high-tech initiatives, including increased availability of broadband services in underserved areas. 14 Elected: 1994 Education: PA St. U., B.S., 1975 Family: Married (Susan), 4 Contact: (202) 225-2135 239 Cannon House Office Strongly favors expanding Obamacare Strongly opposes an absolute right to gun ownership Favors higher taxes on the wealthy Strongly opposes free trade deals Opposes privatizing Social Security Opposes abortion rights House Committee on Energy and Commerce Mike Doyle (D) Votes: 255,293 Percent: 74.0% Lenny McAllister (R) Votes: 87,999 Percent: 25.7% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2016. Ballotpedia 2016.
Congressman Charlie Dent Charlie Dent, elected in 2004, is prominent in the rapidly dwindling ranks of moderate House Republicans, and he is admired by more conservative colleagues for his survival skills. Dent grew up in Allentown, graduated from Penn State University and got a graduate degree at Lehigh, where he later worked as a development officer. In 1990, he was elected to the state House and in 1998 to the state Senate. When Republican Rep. Pat Toomey announced that he would run against Sen. Arlen Specter in the 2004 Republican primary, Dent was the front-runner to succeed him. In the House, Dent has one of the most liberal voting records among Republicans. He is a co-chairman of the Tuesday Group, a caucus of about 49 moderates in a GOP Conference dominated by conservatives. (He told National Journal that he prefers the term center-right to moderate. ) In the 111th Congress (2009-10), he broke from the majority of Republicans to back such issues as expanding the State Children s Health Insurance Program, allowing the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco, and overhauling food safety laws. The House Republican leadership has come to regard him as a useful swing vote. In 2011, Dent got a seat on the influential Appropriations Committee. That post was in part an acknowledgment of his willingness two years earlier to serve on the House Ethics Committee, regarded by most lawmakers as an unpalatable chore. 15 Elected: 2004 Education: PA St. U., B.A., 1982; Lehigh U., M.P.A., 1993 Religion: Presbyterian Family: Married (Pamela), 3 Contact: (202) 225-6411 2082 Rayburn House Office Supports some abortion rights Supports expansion of the State Children s Health Insurance Program Supports FDA regulation of tobacco and food safety laws Opposes privatization of Social Security Favors expanding Obamacare House Committee on Appropriations Charlie Dent (R) Votes: 190,618 Percent: 58.4% Rick Daugherty (D) Votes: 124,129 Percent: 38.0% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017; Ballotpedia 2017.
Congressman Lloyd Smucker Lloyd K. Smucker was born on January 23, 1964 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He attended Franklin & Marshall College and Lebanon Valley College, and later founded a commercial construction firm called Smucker Company. He served as president of the Smucker Company for 25 years. Smucker also served as a member of the West Lampeter Township Planning Commission for four years, and later as the township supervisor for two terms. He successfully ran for the Pennsylvania State Senate in 2008 representing the state s 13th district, and won reelection in 2012. During his time in the State Senate, Smucker chaired the Senate Education Committee and advocated for local control over educational standards and policy. He ran for Congress in 2016 after incumbent Joseph Pitts (R) retired and left an open seat for Pennsylvania s 16th district. Smucker defeated Chet Beiler in the Republican primary and successfully ran against Democrat Christina Hartman and Libertarian Shawn Patrick House. 16 Elected: 2016 Education: Franklin and Marshall Col.; Lebanon Valley Col. Religion: Lutheran Family: Married (Cindy), 3 Contact: (202) 225-2411 516 Cannon House Office Strongly supports repealing Obamacare Advocates for a stricter ban on illegal immigration and supports ending sanctuary cities Opposes Common Core requirements and supports local control of education policy Strongly opposes abortion rights Strongly opposes gun regulation House Committee on the Budget House Committee on Education and the Workforce House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Sources: Ballotpedia, 2017; National Journal Research, 2017. Lloyd Smucker (R) Votes: 168,669 Percent: 53.8% Christina Hartman (D) Votes: 134,586 Percent: 42.9%
Congressman Matt Cartwright Scranton lawyer and political newcomer Matt Cartwright toppled Rep. Tim Holden in the 2012 Democratic primary by running to the left of Holden in a redrawn district that contained significant new territory for the incumbent. He started at Temple University s law school before transferring to earn his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. I wanted to make something of myself, and I knew I was lousy at math, he said of his decision to pursue law. Cartwright practiced law in Philadelphia for several years while his wife was working as a judicial clerk. The couple later moved to Scranton to join the law firm of Cartwright s father-in-law, Robert Munley. For the next 25 years, Cartwright represented consumers tangling with large corporations on a variety of civil claims. In 2012, Cartwright decided to take on Holden. By March, Cartwright had raised around $600,000, much of it from fellow trial lawyers. Cartwright ran as a progressive, pushing for environmental protections and criticizing corporate tax breaks. The two candidates differed on health care, too. Cartwright supported President Barack Obama s 2010 health care overhaul, while Holden had voted against it. The new Democratic district was better suited to Cartwright s liberal views than Holden s centrism. He won the primary, 57% to 43%. In the general election, Cartwright faced Scranton Tea Party founder Laureen Cummings. In Democratic territory, Cartwright had a distinct advantage and won easily, 60% to 40%. 17 Elected: 2012 Education: Hamilton Col., B.A., 1983; U. of PA, J.D., 1986 Family: Married (Marion), 2 Contact: (202) 225-5546 1034 Longworth House Office Believes that the United States should continue to be a strong ally to NATO and Israel Believes that America needs a comprehensive, cohesive plan to develop its infrastructure as a key element of job production Supports finding newer, better uses for older forms of energy production, as well as investing in sustainable clean energy technologies to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Wishes the Affordable Care Act went further to expand health care coverage and hold insurance companies accountable House Committee on Appropriations House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Matt Cartwright (D) Votes: 157,734 Percent: 53.8% Matt Connolly (R) Votes: 135,430 Percent: 46.2% Sources: National Journal Almanac, 2017, Ballotpedia, 2016, cartwrightcongress.com, 2017.
Congressman Conor Lamb Conor Lamb, born on June 27, 1984 in Washington D.C., grew up in Mt. Lebanon, a western suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Several members of Lamb s family have been involved in state politics, including his grandfather, who was the Democratic majority leader in the Pennsylvania State Senate and later secretary of legislative affairs under Governor Robert P. Casey. Lamb attended received a B.A. in 2006 and a J.D. in 2009 from the University of Pennsylvania. Following the completion of his law degree, Lamb was commissioned as a Judge Advocate General officer for the Marine Corps. He was stationed at a Marine base on Okinawa Island where he prosecuted cases of rape and sexual assault. He completed his active duty service in 2013 and continued his military service in the Marine Corp s Reserve as a major. From 2013 to 2014, Lamb clerked for Judge Joseph Bianco of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. After his clerkship, Lamb was appointed an assistant U.S. attorney with the Department of Justice s Pittsburgh office. He was involved in efforts to combat the opioid crisis in western Pennsylvania and prosecuted cases involving opioid-related deaths. Lamb ran against Republican Rick Saccone in a highly contested special election in March 2018. The special election was held following Rep. Tim Murphy s resignation. The election gained national attention after the president and vice president came to PA-18 to campaign for Saconne, Lamb s opponent. Lamb is running in the 14th district in the 2018 general election following Pennsylvania s congressional redistricting. 18 Elected: 2018 Education: U. of PA, B.A., 2006, J.D., 2009 Religion: Catholic Family: Single Contact: (202) 225-2301 2332 Rayburn House Office Supports investing in infrastructure Supports the protection of Social Security and Medicare Supports affordable healthcare reform Supports raising the minimum wage and union rights Opposes stricter gun laws Supports universal background checks House Committee on Science, Space and Technology House Committee on Veterans Affairs 2018 Special Election Conor Lamb (D) Votes: 113,813 Percent: 49.8% Rick Saccone (R) Votes: 113,186 Percent: 49.5% Sources: Ballotpedia, 2018; Conor Lamb.gov.