Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district special election, 2010
Encyclopedia
The 2010 special election for the 12th congressional district of Pennsylvania was held on May 18, 2010 to fill the seat
left vacant by the death of Democratic
U.S. Representative
John Murtha
. Democratic nominee Mark Critz
, Murtha's former district director, defeated Republican
nominee Tim Burns
. Both candidates were nominated at their respective primary election concurrent with the special election and will face off in November 2010.
, was consistently re-elected to his seat by large margins, the special election was expected to be competitive.
The 12th district is predominantly rural, and represents the coal
and manufacturing
industries, which have suffered in recent decades. It was the only congressional district in the United States which gave a majority of its vote to Republican nominee John McCain
in 2008
after voting for Democratic nominee John Kerry
in 2004. However, at the time of the election Democrats outnumbered Republicans by a 2-to-1 ratio
in the 12th district. A poll conducted by Public Policy Polling
(PPP) in May 2010 found President Obama with an approval rating of 35 per cent, with 55 per cent disapproving. A PPP poll conducted in April found Speaker of the House of Representatives
Nancy Pelosi
, U.S. Senator
Arlen Specter
, and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell
(all Democrats) to be "exceptionally unpopular", though 55 per cent of the district identify as members of the Democratic Party.
The special election result was considered likely to have ramifications on the national political environment, as an opportunity for Republicans to follow up their victory in the U.S. Senate special election in Massachusetts
in January 2010 in a district of the sort they intend to target in the November 2010 elections
. National issues, including health care
, government spending
, cap-and-trade
legislation and the role of government
. Republican nominee Tim Burns described the election as "a referendum on the Obama-[Nancy] Pelosi agenda," while The Washington Post
s Chris Cillizza said "the race is simply a must-win" for Republicans, and political scientist
Tom Schaller
of FiveThirtyEight wrote that the district "is precisely the sort of district Republicans have in their sights for 2010". The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
described the district as "exactly the type of district that House Republicans need to win this cycle." Critz downplayed the national consequences of the election, saying "I can't really concern myself with national issues. I'm concentrating on my race here. I'm just a local guy that's running for a seat."
On election day, CQ Politics
, The Rothenberg Political Report
, The Cook Political Report, and Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling all characterized the race as a tossup.
's Executive Committee will make the final decision on their party's nominee on March 8; however, they are expected to follow the non-binding recommendation of Critz made by local officials. T.J. Rooney, chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, said "The members of the Executive Committee will certainly take these results under consideration this Monday when they decide our nominee." On March 6, the Democratic committee of Washington County
declared that it would hold its own separate straw poll.
In early March, Hafer criticized the nominating process used by the state Democratic Party, describing the vote by 12th district Democrats as "flawed and non-transparent and non-democratic". She also criticized Critz over his ties to controversial earmark
s obtained by Murtha, and questioned Critz's electability against the Republican nominee. In response to Hafer's allegations, Critz asked the Office of Congressional Ethics on March 10 to release transcripts of interviews with Critz which were conducted while Murtha was under investigation.
Bucchianeri and U.S. Air Force
veteran
Ron Mackell Jr. ran for the Democratic nomination for the general election; it was therefore possible that Critz could win the special election but lose the primary for the November general election. Hafer had initially planned to run for the Democratic nomination in the general election, but withdrew on March 10, 2010, saying "He won both nominations, and I just think that it's time for me to step aside and let him go forward. There's no sense in me beating him up."
. Of the 49 votes cast by the Committee members, Critz received 30, Hafer received 18, Bucchianeri received one and Cernic received zero. Critz said "I’m honored to have the state committee’s endorsement," while Rooney described Critz as "a phenomenal candidate".
, the site of his first job. Burns said "We have to get Congress to focus on creating jobs, lowering taxes and fixing Washington for the future of our children."
, to choose their nominee. Tim Burns was nominated, receiving 85 of 131 votes cast. William Russell received 46. In a speech prior to the nomnation vote, Burns referred to his support for the Tea Party movement
, articulated his positions on the current plans for health care reform
, United States energy independence and the national deficit, and described his nomination as "an opportunity to put a common-sense conservative in a seat that has long been held by a political insider". Russell said that "The party doesn’t want a candidate that’s connected to the people, they want one with money. While unfortunate, this is what we expected."
borough councilman and unsuccessful candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
, received the Libertarian Party
nomination. Michael Robertson, the chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania
, said Agoris "offers real change" for residents of the 12th district. Agoris has said he is running "To bring to light the agenda
of the Libertarian Party and how the left and right agenda is destroying America and selling out America to foreign investors."
and U.S. Senate
primaries may have led to increased voter turnout
among Democrats, benefiting Critz; however, Jack Hanna, the chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party
's southwestern caucus, said "There's going to be a lackluster turnout in part because of the governor's race not generating the kind of interest that usually occurs, especially with an open seat." The special election coinciding with the primary also meant that Critz and Burns were running against one another, while also running against opponents from within their own parties in the regularly scheduled primary. On March 19, 2010, Republican candidate William Russell, who lost the Republican nomination to Burns and also ran against Burns in the regularly scheduled primary, stated that he would not directly support Burns as a protest against the process by which Burns was selected, saying "I won't support a process that is not open and free." Russell also said he would vote for himself as a write-in candidate
in the special election. Burns's campaign manager
said that Burns would focus on the special election rather than the simultaneous primary, saying "If we can get enough support going in the special then we'll have the primary too." The candidacy of Libertarian Party
nominee Demo Agoris may also have detracted from Burns's share of the vote.
In March 2010, Robert Gleason, chair of the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania
, described a Republican victory as "doable".
Burns announced his opposition to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
at a "Kill the Bill Rally" on March 19, describing the bill as "probably the worst piece of legislation in American history". He went on to tell the crowd that he had asked Critz to "simply state his position" on the bill, but had not yet seen a statement from Critz.
On March 30, Critz received the endorsement of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
. The next day, Burns received the endorsement of Minnesota Governor
Tim Pawlenty
. Former Speaker of the House
Newt Gingrich
campaigned for Burns on April 22, while Vice President
Joe Biden
campaigned for Critz on April 23. On April 26, Burns received the endorsement of former Governor of Alaska and 2008
vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin
; while on April 28, Critz received the endorsement of the United Steelworkers
. On May 3, 2010, Burns announced that Republican U.S. Senator
Scott Brown
of Massachusetts
would campaign with him in Washington, Pennsylvania
on May 14. The same day, Critz announced that Democratic Governor Joe Manchin
of West Virginia
would join him at a campaign event. Musician Jon Bauman
of doo-wop
group Sha Na Na
also campaigned for Critz in May.
Burns' first television advertisement began airing on March 31, while Critz's first advertisement was launched a day later. On April 9, the National Republican Congressional Committee
(NRCC) reported having spent $200,000 on Burns's campaign. Critz's campaign also ran advertisements stating his opposition to "tax break
s for companies that outsource
jobs overseas", while Burns criticized Critz's relationship with Murtha's ethics scandals. The NRCC also launched an advertisement linking Critz to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; to which Critz responded by releasing an advertisement stating he had opposed the legislation. Critz also described himself in the advertisement as "pro-life and pro-gun
." Critz later said he would not support repeal
of the legislation, following which Burns accused him of "playing both sides of the issue" on health care.
Burns was criticised for having served as an executive in a healthcare company which deferred taxes
on income earned overseas. Critz was criticised for his record as John Murtha's director of economic development, in which unemployment
rates rose in every county within the 12th district.
In an interview with RealClearPolitics
on April 22, Burns referenced a controversial comment made by then-presidential candidate Barack Obama
in April 2008, in which Obama said people in rural Pennsylvania "get bitter, they cling to guns or religion … as a way to explain their frustrations." Burns said "People do cling to their Bibles and their guns here. And I wouldn't apologize for it and people are not embarrassed by it."
Burns's campaign website crashed
on April 23, during a moneybomb
focusing on Joe Biden's visit to the district. Spokesman Kent Gates initially cited "a problem with the hosting company", but the Burns campaign later claimed in a fundraising email that the site was "attacked". Gates told The Hill
""it is true that the site was hacked
at some level" and that a "disgruntled employee" may have been responsible.
As of May 7, 2010, Burns had a cash on hand advantage over Critz, with US$
308,000 to Critz's $73,000. The National Republican Congressional Committee has spent $728,000 on Burns' behalf, while the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
has spent $341,000 in support of Critz.
. The candidates addressed issues including Social Security privatization
(which Burns promised to oppose), the FairTax
proposal (which Burns said would not be practical), and Critz's relationship with the "liberal agenda
" (Critz reiterated his opposition to the health care reform legislation passed by Congress, while Burns advocated repeal). Critz also endorsed the repeal of the don't ask, don't tell
policy.
Burns, in his concession speech, said "I didn't get in this race to win an election, I got in this race to play my small part in helping to save this country. This isn't a loss – this is a setback."
The Pennsylvania Republican Party and Burns's campaign planned to file a complaint in response to allegations that Critz was campaigning inside polling places on election day, and that "about 170" voters in Fayette County
were given two ballot papers for the special election.
Michael Steele, chair of the Republican National Committee
issued a statement saying Burns had "pushed his Democratic opponent to the wire by campaigning against the liberal agenda of national Democrats … This race should serve notice to Democratic officeholders everywhere that no seat is safe and that voters will not accept business-as-usual." Former Republican U.S. Representative Tom Davis
, however, asked "If you can’t win a seat that is trending Republican in a year like this, then where is the wave?"
Stuart Rothenberg
of the non-partisan Rothenberg political report, however, has stated that even though Democrats were able to win a competitive race to hold onto Murtha's former seat, "But the road doesn't necessarily get easier for Democrats. Critz was pro-life, pro-gun, and opposed the health care reform bill that many vulnerable Democratic incumbents supported." Rothenberg still predicts that Republicans will make substantial gains, which suggests that this could be a pyrrhic victory
for Democrats comparable to the Republican win in 2006 special House election in California's 50th congressional district in which the ruling party managed to hold onto a district in a special election, but still lost control of Congress months later.
Critz and Burns each received their parties' nomination for the regularly scheduled election for the seat, and will face each other again in November 2010 for a full two-year term.
Official candidate sites
Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district
Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district is represented by Congressman Mark Critz after a special election was held on May 18, 2010 following the death of Democrat John Murtha. The district has a Cook Partisan Voting Index score of R+1...
left vacant by the death of Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
John Murtha
John Murtha
John Patrick "Jack" Murtha, Jr. was an American politician from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Murtha, a Democrat, represented Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1974 until his death in 2010....
. Democratic nominee Mark Critz
Mark Critz
Mark S. Critz is the U.S. Representative for , serving since the special election in 2010. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
, Murtha's former district director, defeated Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee Tim Burns
Tim Burns (Pennsylvania businessman)
Tim Burns is a Pennsylvania businessman who ran as a Republican in the 2010 special election to represent Western Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Burns won the party nomination but lost the November general election to Democratic incumbent Mark Critz...
. Both candidates were nominated at their respective primary election concurrent with the special election and will face off in November 2010.
Background
Though the late Representative, Murtha, the longest serving congressman in the history of PennsylvaniaHistory of Pennsylvania
The history of Pennsylvania is as varied as any in the American experience and reflects the salad bowl vision of the United States. Before Pennsylvania was settled by Europeans, the area was home to the Delaware , Susquehannock, Iroquois, Eries, Shawnee and other Native American tribes...
, was consistently re-elected to his seat by large margins, the special election was expected to be competitive.
The 12th district is predominantly rural, and represents the coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
and manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
industries, which have suffered in recent decades. It was the only congressional district in the United States which gave a majority of its vote to Republican nominee John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
in 2008
United States presidential election in Pennsylvania, 2008
The 2008 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania took place on November 4, 2008 throughout all 50 states and D.C., which was part of the 2008 United States presidential election...
after voting for Democratic nominee John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
in 2004. However, at the time of the election Democrats outnumbered Republicans by a 2-to-1 ratio
Ratio
In mathematics, a ratio is a relationship between two numbers of the same kind , usually expressed as "a to b" or a:b, sometimes expressed arithmetically as a dimensionless quotient of the two which explicitly indicates how many times the first number contains the second In mathematics, a ratio is...
in the 12th district. A poll conducted by Public Policy Polling
Public Policy Polling
Public Policy Polling is an American Democratic Party-affiliated polling firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina. PPP was founded in 2001 by businessman and Democratic pollster Dean Debnam, the firm's current president and chief executive officer...
(PPP) in May 2010 found President Obama with an approval rating of 35 per cent, with 55 per cent disapproving. A PPP poll conducted in April found Speaker of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
, U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter is a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter is a Democrat, but was a Republican from 1965 until switching to the Democratic Party in 2009...
, and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
(all Democrats) to be "exceptionally unpopular", though 55 per cent of the district identify as members of the Democratic Party.
The special election result was considered likely to have ramifications on the national political environment, as an opportunity for Republicans to follow up their victory in the U.S. Senate special election in Massachusetts
United States Senate special election in Massachusetts, 2010
The 2010 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts was a special election held on January 19, 2010, in order to fill the Massachusetts Class I United States Senate seat for the remainder of the term ending January 3, 2013...
in January 2010 in a district of the sort they intend to target in the November 2010 elections
United States House of Representatives elections, 2010
The 2010 United States House of Representatives elections, also known as the 2010 midterm elections, were held on November 2, 2010, at the midpoint of President Barack Obama's first term in office. Voters of the 50 U.S. states chose 435 U.S. Representatives. Voters of the U.S...
. National issues, including health care
Health care in the United States
Health care in the United States is provided by many separate legal entities. Health care facilities are largely owned and operated by the private sector...
, government spending
Government spending
Government spending includes all government consumption, investment but excludes transfer payments made by a state. Government acquisition of goods and services for current use to directly satisfy individual or collective needs of the members of the community is classed as government final...
, cap-and-trade
Emissions trading
Emissions trading is a market-based approach used to control pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants....
legislation and the role of government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
. Republican nominee Tim Burns described the election as "a referendum on the Obama-[Nancy] Pelosi agenda," while The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
s Chris Cillizza said "the race is simply a must-win" for Republicans, and political scientist
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
Tom Schaller
Thomas Schaller
Thomas F. Schaller is Professor of Political Science at University of Maryland, Baltimore County . A weekly political columnist for the Baltimore Sun, he has published commentaries in a variety of publications, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Salon, The American...
of FiveThirtyEight wrote that the district "is precisely the sort of district Republicans have in their sights for 2010". The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. They play a critical role in recruiting candidates, raising funds, and organizing races in districts that are expected to yield...
described the district as "exactly the type of district that House Republicans need to win this cycle." Critz downplayed the national consequences of the election, saying "I can't really concern myself with national issues. I'm concentrating on my race here. I'm just a local guy that's running for a seat."
On election day, CQ Politics
Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
, The Rothenberg Political Report
Stuart Rothenberg
Stuart Rothenberg is an American editor, publisher, and political analyst best known for his Washington-based, biweekly, self-proclaimed non-partisan political newsletter The Rothenberg Political Report...
, The Cook Political Report, and Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling all characterized the race as a tossup.
Ran for nomination
- Ryan Bucchianeri, United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
veteranVeteranA veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."... - Ed Cernic Jr., Cambria CountyCambria County, PennsylvaniaCambria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It comprises the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 143,679....
Controller - Mark CritzMark CritzMark S. Critz is the U.S. Representative for , serving since the special election in 2010. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
, Murtha's district director - Barbara HaferBarbara HaferBarbara Hafer is an American politician from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.-Early political career:...
, former Pennsylvania Auditor GeneralPennsylvania Auditor GeneralThe Pennsylvania Auditor General is the chief fiscal officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It became an elected office in 1850. The current Auditor General of Pennsylvania is Jack Wagner.- History :...
and TreasurerPennsylvania TreasurerThe Pennsylvania Treasurer is the head of the Pennsylvania Department of the Treasury, which is the custodian of virtually all the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's funds....
Declined to run
- Tom Ceraso, Westmoreland CountyWestmoreland County, Pennsylvania-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
Commissioner, endorsed Ed Cernic Jr. - Jack Hanna, chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic PartyPennsylvania Democratic PartyThe Pennsylvania Democratic Party is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Pennsylvania. The party has had strong support in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia area for a long time, having controlled the mayoral office in Philadelphia since 1952, and the Pittsburgh...
's southwest caucus - Joyce Murtha, Murtha's widow, endorsed Mark Critz
- Albert Penksa, former Cambria County Controller, endorsed Mark Critz
- Mark SingelMark SingelMark Stephen Singel served as the Democratic lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995 under Bob Casey He was acting governor from June 14, 1993, to December 13, 1993, during Casey's lengthy battle with amyloidosis and subsequent multiple organ transplant.A graduate of Pennsylvania...
, former Lieutenant Governor of PennsylvaniaLieutenant Governor of PennsylvaniaThe Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor. Jim Cawley of Bucks County is the incumbent Lieutenant Governor...
announced his intention to run on February 19, 2010, but withdrew from the race on February 25 and endorsed Mark Critz. - John Wozniak, state SenatorPennsylvania State SenateThe Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
Campaign
On March 6, 2010, a panel of Democratic officials from the 12th district recommended Mark Critz as their preferred Democratic nominee. Critz received 46 of 83 votes cast, while Barbara Hafer received 22, Ed Cernic Jr. received 14, and Ryan Bucchianeri received one vote. The Pennsylvania Democratic PartyPennsylvania Democratic Party
The Pennsylvania Democratic Party is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Pennsylvania. The party has had strong support in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia area for a long time, having controlled the mayoral office in Philadelphia since 1952, and the Pittsburgh...
's Executive Committee will make the final decision on their party's nominee on March 8; however, they are expected to follow the non-binding recommendation of Critz made by local officials. T.J. Rooney, chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, said "The members of the Executive Committee will certainly take these results under consideration this Monday when they decide our nominee." On March 6, the Democratic committee of Washington County
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
declared that it would hold its own separate straw poll.
In early March, Hafer criticized the nominating process used by the state Democratic Party, describing the vote by 12th district Democrats as "flawed and non-transparent and non-democratic". She also criticized Critz over his ties to controversial earmark
Earmark (politics)
In United States politics, an earmark is a legislative provision that directs approved funds to be spent on specific projects, or that directs specific exemptions from taxes or mandated fees...
s obtained by Murtha, and questioned Critz's electability against the Republican nominee. In response to Hafer's allegations, Critz asked the Office of Congressional Ethics on March 10 to release transcripts of interviews with Critz which were conducted while Murtha was under investigation.
Bucchianeri and U.S. Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
Ron Mackell Jr. ran for the Democratic nomination for the general election; it was therefore possible that Critz could win the special election but lose the primary for the November general election. Hafer had initially planned to run for the Democratic nomination in the general election, but withdrew on March 10, 2010, saying "He won both nominations, and I just think that it's time for me to step aside and let him go forward. There's no sense in me beating him up."
Results
On March 8, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party Executive Committee followed the recommendation of the district officials by nominating Mark CritzMark Critz
Mark S. Critz is the U.S. Representative for , serving since the special election in 2010. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
. Of the 49 votes cast by the Committee members, Critz received 30, Hafer received 18, Bucchianeri received one and Cernic received zero. Critz said "I’m honored to have the state committee’s endorsement," while Rooney described Critz as "a phenomenal candidate".
Ran for nomination
- Tim BurnsTim Burns (Pennsylvania businessman)Tim Burns is a Pennsylvania businessman who ran as a Republican in the 2010 special election to represent Western Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Burns won the party nomination but lost the November general election to Democratic incumbent Mark Critz...
, businessman - Bill Choby, three-time former candidate for the 12th district
- Ron Robertson, businessman
- William Russell, 2008 Republican nominee
- Luke Summerfield
Declined to run
- Diana Irey, Washington CountyWashington County, Pennsylvania-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
Commissioner and 2006 Republican nominee, endorsed Tim Burns - Mark Pasquerilla, chief executive officerChief executive officerA chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Crown AmericanCrown AmericanCrown American is a privately held American company that manages and develops commercial real estate. The corporate headquarters is in downtown Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in a building designed by architect Michael Graves....
, endorsed Democratic candidate Mark Critz - Jeff PyleJeff PyleJeffrey P. "Jeff" Pyle is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and was elected in 2004. He represents the 60th District which includes parts of Armstrong and Indiana counties....
, state RepresentativePennsylvania House of RepresentativesThe Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts.... - Dave L. ReedDave L. ReedDave L. Reed is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He represents the 62nd District, made up of parts of Indiana County....
, state Representative - Kim WardKim WardKim Ward is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate. It was reported on December 9, 2010 that Senator Ward was exploring a run against US Senator Bob Casey, Jr. in 2012. Senator Ward confirmed she is considering a run, but no formal decision had been made.-External links:* official...
, state Senator
Campaign
Businessman Tim Burns began his campaign for the Republican nomination on March 3 at the Surf & Turf Inn in JohnstownJohnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
, the site of his first job. Burns said "We have to get Congress to focus on creating jobs, lowering taxes and fixing Washington for the future of our children."
Results
Republicans from the 12th district met on March 11, 2010, in LatrobeLatrobe, Pennsylvania
Latrobe is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in the United States, approximately southeast of Pittsburgh.The city population was 7,634 as of the 2000 census . It is located near the Pennsylvania's scenic Chestnut Ridge. Latrobe was incorporated as a borough in 1854, and as a city in 1999...
, to choose their nominee. Tim Burns was nominated, receiving 85 of 131 votes cast. William Russell received 46. In a speech prior to the nomnation vote, Burns referred to his support for the Tea Party movement
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
, articulated his positions on the current plans for health care reform
Health care reform in the United States
Health care reform in the United States has a long history, of which the most recent results were two federal statutes enacted in 2010: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act , signed March 23, 2010, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 , which amended the PPACA and...
, United States energy independence and the national deficit, and described his nomination as "an opportunity to put a common-sense conservative in a seat that has long been held by a political insider". Russell said that "The party doesn’t want a candidate that’s connected to the people, they want one with money. While unfortunate, this is what we expected."
Libertarian nomination
Demo Agoris, a businessman, former HoustonHouston, Pennsylvania
Houston is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,314 at the 2000 census.Students in Houston and neighboring Chartiers Township attend school in the Chartiers-Houston School District.-Geography:...
borough councilman and unsuccessful candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
, received the Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
nomination. Michael Robertson, the chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania
Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania
The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania is the Pennsylvania affiliate of the Libertarian Party. The state chair is Michael Robertson.-Elected officeholders:*Rochelle Etzel - Assessor, Ashland Township*Ebert Beeman - Auditor, Waterford Township...
, said Agoris "offers real change" for residents of the 12th district. Agoris has said he is running "To bring to light the agenda
Political agenda
A political agenda is a set of issues and policies laid out by an executive or cabinet in government that tries to influence current and near-future political news and debate....
of the Libertarian Party and how the left and right agenda is destroying America and selling out America to foreign investors."
Campaign
The fact that the special election coincided with contested Democratic gubernatorialPennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2010
The Pennsylvania gubernatorial election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010. The winning candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor will serve a four-year term from 2011 to 2015. Candidates for Lieutenant Governor were nominated in a separate primary contest; however, the Lieutenant Governor,...
and U.S. Senate
United States Senate election in Pennsylvania, 2010
The 2010 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania took place on November 2, 2010, during the 2010 midterm elections. Incumbent Republican-turned-Democrat U.S. Senator Arlen Specter ran for re-election to a sixth term, but lost in the Democratic primary to Joe Sestak. Republican nominee Pat...
primaries may have led to increased voter turnout
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
among Democrats, benefiting Critz; however, Jack Hanna, the chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party
Pennsylvania Democratic Party
The Pennsylvania Democratic Party is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Pennsylvania. The party has had strong support in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia area for a long time, having controlled the mayoral office in Philadelphia since 1952, and the Pittsburgh...
's southwestern caucus, said "There's going to be a lackluster turnout in part because of the governor's race not generating the kind of interest that usually occurs, especially with an open seat." The special election coinciding with the primary also meant that Critz and Burns were running against one another, while also running against opponents from within their own parties in the regularly scheduled primary. On March 19, 2010, Republican candidate William Russell, who lost the Republican nomination to Burns and also ran against Burns in the regularly scheduled primary, stated that he would not directly support Burns as a protest against the process by which Burns was selected, saying "I won't support a process that is not open and free." Russell also said he would vote for himself as a write-in candidate
Write-in candidate
A write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu...
in the special election. Burns's campaign manager
Campaign manager
A campaign manager is a paid or volunteer individual, whose role is to coordinate the campaign's operations such as fundraising, advertising, polling, getting out the vote , and other activities supporting the effort, directly.Apart from the candidate, they are often a campaign's most visible leader...
said that Burns would focus on the special election rather than the simultaneous primary, saying "If we can get enough support going in the special then we'll have the primary too." The candidacy of Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
nominee Demo Agoris may also have detracted from Burns's share of the vote.
In March 2010, Robert Gleason, chair of the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania
Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania
The Republican Party of Pennsylvania is based in Harrisburg in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is affiliated with the Republican Party of the United States.-Founding:...
, described a Republican victory as "doable".
Burns announced his opposition to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
at a "Kill the Bill Rally" on March 19, describing the bill as "probably the worst piece of legislation in American history". He went on to tell the crowd that he had asked Critz to "simply state his position" on the bill, but had not yet seen a statement from Critz.
On March 30, Critz received the endorsement of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
. The next day, Burns received the endorsement of Minnesota Governor
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty
Timothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...
. Former Speaker of the House
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
campaigned for Burns on April 22, while Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
campaigned for Critz on April 23. On April 26, Burns received the endorsement of former Governor of Alaska and 2008
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
; while on April 28, Critz received the endorsement of the United Steelworkers
United Steelworkers
The United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union is the largest industrial labor union in North America, with 705,000 members. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, U.S., the United Steelworkers represents workers in the United...
. On May 3, 2010, Burns announced that Republican U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Scott Brown
Scott Brown
Scott Brown is a United States senator.Scott Brown may also refer to:-Sportsmen:*Scott Brown , American college football coach of Kentucky State...
of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
would campaign with him in Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
on May 14. The same day, Critz announced that Democratic Governor Joe Manchin
Joe Manchin
Joseph "Joe" Manchin III is the junior United States Senator representing West Virginia. Manchin, a Democrat, was Governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010...
of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
would join him at a campaign event. Musician Jon Bauman
Jon Bauman
Jon "Bowzer" Bauman is an American musician, best known as a member of the band Sha Na Na, and game show host. Bauman's popular Sha Na Na character, "Bowzer" Jon "Bowzer" Bauman (born September 14, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American musician, best known as a member of the band Sha Na Na,...
of doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
group Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na
Sha Na Na is an American rock and roll group. The name is taken from a part of the long series of nonsense syllables in the doo-wop hit song "Get a Job", originally recorded in 1957 by the Silhouettes....
also campaigned for Critz in May.
Burns' first television advertisement began airing on March 31, while Critz's first advertisement was launched a day later. On April 9, the National Republican Congressional Committee
National Republican Congressional Committee
The National Republican Congressional Committee is the Republican Hill committee which works to elect Republicans to the United States House of Representatives....
(NRCC) reported having spent $200,000 on Burns's campaign. Critz's campaign also ran advertisements stating his opposition to "tax break
Tax break
Tax break is a slang term referring to any item which reduces tax, including any tax exemption, tax deduction, or tax credit. Tax break is also a pejorative term used in the United States to refer to purportedly favorable tax treatment of any class of persons, as in "individuals get a tax break...
s for companies that outsource
Outsourcing
Outsourcing is the process of contracting a business function to someone else.-Overview:The term outsourcing is used inconsistently but usually involves the contracting out of a business function - commonly one previously performed in-house - to an external provider...
jobs overseas", while Burns criticized Critz's relationship with Murtha's ethics scandals. The NRCC also launched an advertisement linking Critz to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; to which Critz responded by releasing an advertisement stating he had opposed the legislation. Critz also described himself in the advertisement as "pro-life and pro-gun
Gun politics in the United States
Gun politics in the United States refers to an ongoing political and social debate regarding both the restriction and availability of firearms within the United States. It has long been among the most controversial and intractable issues in American politics...
." Critz later said he would not support repeal
Repeal
A repeal is the amendment, removal or reversal of a law. This is generally done when a law is no longer effective, or it is shown that a law is having far more negative consequences than were originally envisioned....
of the legislation, following which Burns accused him of "playing both sides of the issue" on health care.
Burns was criticised for having served as an executive in a healthcare company which deferred taxes
Tax deferral
Tax deferral refers to instances where a taxpayer can delay paying taxes to some future period. In theory, the net taxes paid should be the same. Taxes can sometimes be deferred indefinitely, or may be taxed at a lower rate in the future, particularly for deferral of income taxes...
on income earned overseas. Critz was criticised for his record as John Murtha's director of economic development, in which unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
rates rose in every county within the 12th district.
In an interview with RealClearPolitics
RealClearPolitics
RealClearPolitics is a political news and polling data aggregator based in Chicago, Illinois. The site's founders say their goal is to give readers "ideological diversity." They have described themselves as frustrated with what they perceive as anti-conservative, anti-Christian media bias, and...
on April 22, Burns referenced a controversial comment made by then-presidential candidate Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
in April 2008, in which Obama said people in rural Pennsylvania "get bitter, they cling to guns or religion … as a way to explain their frustrations." Burns said "People do cling to their Bibles and their guns here. And I wouldn't apologize for it and people are not embarrassed by it."
Burns's campaign website crashed
Crash (computing)
A crash in computing is a condition where a computer or a program, either an application or part of the operating system, ceases to function properly, often exiting after encountering errors. Often the offending program may appear to freeze or hang until a crash reporting service documents...
on April 23, during a moneybomb
Moneybomb
Moneybomb is a neologism coined in 2007 to describe a grassroots fundraising effort over a brief fixed time period, usually to support a candidate for election by dramatically increasing, concentrating, and publicizing fundraising activity during a specific hour or day...
focusing on Joe Biden's visit to the district. Spokesman Kent Gates initially cited "a problem with the hosting company", but the Burns campaign later claimed in a fundraising email that the site was "attacked". Gates told The Hill
The Hill (newspaper)
The Hill, a subsidiary of News Communications Inc., is a newspaper published in Washington, D.C. since 1994.Its first editor was Martin Tolchin, a veteran correspondent in the Washington bureau of The New York Times....
""it is true that the site was hacked
Hacker (computer security)
In computer security and everyday language, a hacker is someone who breaks into computers and computer networks. Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, including profit, protest, or because of the challenge...
at some level" and that a "disgruntled employee" may have been responsible.
As of May 7, 2010, Burns had a cash on hand advantage over Critz, with US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
308,000 to Critz's $73,000. The National Republican Congressional Committee has spent $728,000 on Burns' behalf, while the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. They play a critical role in recruiting candidates, raising funds, and organizing races in districts that are expected to yield...
has spent $341,000 in support of Critz.
Debates
Burns and Critz attended a debate held on May 5, 2010 in Johnstown, PennsylvaniaJohnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
. The candidates addressed issues including Social Security privatization
Social Security debate (United States)
This article concerns proposals to change the Social Security system in the United States. Social Security is a social insurance program officially called "Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance" , in reference to its three components. It is primarily funded through a dedicated payroll tax...
(which Burns promised to oppose), the FairTax
FairTax
The FairTax is a tax reform proposal for the federal government of the United States that would replace all federal taxes on personal and corporate income with a single broad national consumption tax on retail sales. The Fair Tax Act would apply a tax once at the point of purchase on all new goods...
proposal (which Burns said would not be practical), and Critz's relationship with the "liberal agenda
Political agenda
A political agenda is a set of issues and policies laid out by an executive or cabinet in government that tries to influence current and near-future political news and debate....
" (Critz reiterated his opposition to the health care reform legislation passed by Congress, while Burns advocated repeal). Critz also endorsed the repeal of the don't ask, don't tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
policy.
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Mark Critz Mark Critz Mark S. Critz is the U.S. Representative for , serving since the special election in 2010. He is a member of the Democratic Party.... (D) |
Tim Burns Tim Burns (Pennsylvania businessman) Tim Burns is a Pennsylvania businessman who ran as a Republican in the 2010 special election to represent Western Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Burns won the party nomination but lost the November general election to Democratic incumbent Mark Critz... (R) |
Demo Agoris (L) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling Public Policy Polling Public Policy Polling is an American Democratic Party-affiliated polling firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina. PPP was founded in 2001 by businessman and Democratic pollster Dean Debnam, the firm's current president and chief executive officer... (report) |
May 15–16, 2010 | 831 | ±3.4% | 47% | 48% | – | – | 6% |
| Susquehanna Polling & Research Susquehanna Polling & Research Susquehanna Polling & Research is an American public opinion polling company, based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.Susquehanna Polling & Research was founded by James Lee in 2000. The firm is the official polling company for ABC 27 television station in Harrisburg... (report) |
May 10, 2010 | 400 | ±4.9% | 44% | 38% | – | – | – |
| Anzalone Liszt (report) | April 27–29, 2010 | 406 | ? | 43% | 41% | – | – | – |
| Global Strategy Group Global Strategy Group Global Strategy Group is a public affairs and research firm specializing in research, strategic communications, digital strategy, grassroots and grasstops organizing, marketing and branding. GSG clients include political candidates, corporations and advocacy organizations worldwide... (report) |
April 27–29, 2010 | 400 | ±4.9% | 45% | 37% | – | – | – |
| 44% | 36% | 2% | – | – | ||||
| Daily Kos Daily Kos Daily Kos is an American political blog that publishes news and opinions from a progressive point of view. It functions as a discussion forum and group blog for a variety of netroots activists, whose efforts are primarily directed toward influencing and strengthening the Democratic Party... /Research 2000 Research 2000 Research 2000 is a U.S. opinion polling and marketing research company based in Olney, Maryland. It began doing research on upcoming elections in 1999 after its President, Del Ali, moved on from Mason-Dixon Political Media Research... (report) |
April 26–28, 2010 | 600 | ±4% | 40% | 46% | – | – | 14% |
| Public Policy Polling Public Policy Polling Public Policy Polling is an American Democratic Party-affiliated polling firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina. PPP was founded in 2001 by businessman and Democratic pollster Dean Debnam, the firm's current president and chief executive officer... (report) |
April 17–18, 2010 | 1,197 | ±2.8% | 41% | 44% | – | – | 13% |
| McLaughlin & Associates (report) | April 15, 2010 | 300 | ±5.6% | 40% | 39% | – | – | 21% |
| We Ask America (report) | March 15, 2010 | 1,365 | ±2.65% | 38.83% | 34.73% | – | – | 26.45% |
| Gene Ulm, Public Opinion Strategies (report) | March 14–15, 2010 | 400 | ±4.9% | 41% | 45% | – | – | 13% |
| Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Pittsburgh Tribune-Review The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, also known as "the Trib," is the second largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States... / Susquehanna Polling & Research (report) |
March 14–15, 2010 | 400 | ±4.9% | 36% | 31% | – | 2% | 31% |
Results
By county| County | Critz | % | Burns | % | Agoris | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh... |
519 | 57.6% | 359 | 39.9% | 23 | 2.6% |
| Armstrong Armstrong County, Pennsylvania Armstrong County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,941. It is located northeast of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Armstrong County was added to the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area in 2003.The county seat is Kittanning... |
3,392 | 41.9% | 4,454 | 55.0% | 246 | 3.0% |
| Cambria Cambria County, Pennsylvania Cambria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It comprises the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 143,679.... |
19,216 | 57.2% | 13,864 | 41.3% | 500 | 1.5% |
| Fayette Fayette County, Pennsylvania Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the2010 census, the population was 136,606. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area.... |
11,176 | 59.2% | 7,352 | 39.0% | 343 | 1.8% |
| Greene Greene County, Pennsylvania -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 40,672 people, 15,060 households, and 10,587 families residing in the county. The population density was 71 people per square mile . There were 16,678 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile... |
5,164 | 56.7% | 3,716 | 40.8% | 224 | 2.5% |
| Indiana Indiana County, Pennsylvania -Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 58,077 registered voters in Indiana County .* Democratic: 26,653 * Republican: 24,159 * Other Parties: 7,265 -County commissioners:*Rodney Ruddock, Chairman, Republican... |
1,540 | 42.5% | 1,990 | 54.9% | 93 | 2.6% |
| Somerset Somerset County, Pennsylvania Somerset County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 77,742. Somerset County was created on April 17, 1795, from part of Bedford County and named for Somerset, United Kingdom. Its county seat is Somerset. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania,... |
4,269 | 48.3% | 4,430 | 50.1% | 144 | 1.6% |
| Washington Washington County, Pennsylvania -Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482... |
10,485 | 49.7% | 9,715 | 46.0% | 914 | 4.3% |
| Westmoreland Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile... |
15,154 | 49.4% | 14,860 | 48.4% | 671 | 2.2% |
Aftermath
On election day, Critz prevailed over Burns by a greater than expected margin of 52.6 per cent to Burns's 45.1 per cent. Critz's election was the eleventh straight Democratic victory in special elections to the House of Representatives.Burns, in his concession speech, said "I didn't get in this race to win an election, I got in this race to play my small part in helping to save this country. This isn't a loss – this is a setback."
The Pennsylvania Republican Party and Burns's campaign planned to file a complaint in response to allegations that Critz was campaigning inside polling places on election day, and that "about 170" voters in Fayette County
Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the2010 census, the population was 136,606. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area....
were given two ballot papers for the special election.
Michael Steele, chair of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
issued a statement saying Burns had "pushed his Democratic opponent to the wire by campaigning against the liberal agenda of national Democrats … This race should serve notice to Democratic officeholders everywhere that no seat is safe and that voters will not accept business-as-usual." Former Republican U.S. Representative Tom Davis
Thomas M. Davis
Thomas Milburn "Tom" Davis III was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Virginia's 11th congressional district in Northern Virginia. Davis was considering a run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by five-term incumbent and fellow Republican John...
, however, asked "If you can’t win a seat that is trending Republican in a year like this, then where is the wave?"
Stuart Rothenberg
Stuart Rothenberg
Stuart Rothenberg is an American editor, publisher, and political analyst best known for his Washington-based, biweekly, self-proclaimed non-partisan political newsletter The Rothenberg Political Report...
of the non-partisan Rothenberg political report, however, has stated that even though Democrats were able to win a competitive race to hold onto Murtha's former seat, "But the road doesn't necessarily get easier for Democrats. Critz was pro-life, pro-gun, and opposed the health care reform bill that many vulnerable Democratic incumbents supported." Rothenberg still predicts that Republicans will make substantial gains, which suggests that this could be a pyrrhic victory
Pyrrhic victory
A Pyrrhic victory is a victory with such a devastating cost to the victor that it carries the implication that another such victory will ultimately cause defeat.-Origin:...
for Democrats comparable to the Republican win in 2006 special House election in California's 50th congressional district in which the ruling party managed to hold onto a district in a special election, but still lost control of Congress months later.
Critz and Burns each received their parties' nomination for the regularly scheduled election for the seat, and will face each other again in November 2010 for a full two-year term.
External links
Debates- Pennsylvania 12th District Special Election Candidates Debate, C-SPANC-SPANC-SPAN , an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels , one radio station and a group of websites that provide streaming...
, May 5, 2010
Official candidate sites