2010 Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district special election
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County results Critz: 45–50% 55–60% Burns: 50–55% | ||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Pennsylvania |
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Government |
The 2010 special election for the 12th congressional district of Pennsylvania was held on May 18, 2010 to fill the
Background
Though the late Representative, Murtha, the longest serving congressman in the history of Pennsylvania, was consistently re-elected to his seat by large margins, the special election was expected to be competitive.[2][3][4]
The 12th district is predominantly rural, and represents the
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
On election day,
Democratic nomination
Candidates
Ran for nomination
- Ryan Bucchianeri, United States Navy veteran[20]
- Ed Cernic Jr., Cambria County Controller[21]
- Mark Critz, Murtha's district director[22]
- Treasurer[23]
Declined to run
- Tom Ceraso, Westmoreland County Commissioner, endorsed Ed Cernic Jr.[24]
- Jack Hanna, chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party's southwest caucus[25]
- Joyce Murtha, Murtha's widow,[26] endorsed Mark Critz[27]
- Albert Penksa, former Cambria County Controller, endorsed Mark Critz[28]
- Mark Singel, former Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania announced his intention to run on February 19, 2010,[29] but withdrew from the race on February 25[30] and endorsed Mark Critz.[31]
- John Wozniak, state Senator[32]
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
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".[37] She also criticized Critz over his ties to controversial earmarks obtained by Murtha, and questioned Critz's electability against the Republican nominee.[35][37] 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.[38]
Bucchianeri and U.S. Air Force veteran Ron Mackell Jr. ran for the Democratic nomination for the general election;[39][40] it was therefore possible that Critz could win the special election but lose the primary for the November general election.[41] 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."[39]
Results
On March 8, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party Executive Committee followed the recommendation of the district officials by nominating Mark Critz.[5] Of the 49 votes cast by the Committee members, Critz received 30, Hafer received 18, Bucchianeri received one and Cernic received zero.[42] Critz said "I'm honored to have the state committee's endorsement," while Rooney described Critz as "a phenomenal candidate".[42]
Republican nomination
Candidates
Ran for nomination
- Tim Burns, businessman[20]
- Bill Choby, three-time former candidate for the 12th district[28]
- Ron Robertson, businessman[43]
- William Russell, 2008 Republican nominee[20]
- Luke Summerfield[43]
Declined to run
- Diana Irey, Washington County Commissioner and 2006 Republican nominee, endorsed Tim Burns[25]
- Mark Pasquerilla, chief executive officer of Crown American, endorsed Democratic candidate Mark Critz[44]
- Jeff Pyle, state Representative[45]
- Dave L. Reed, state Representative[45]
- Kim Ward, state Senator[45]
Campaign
Businessman Tim Burns began his campaign for the Republican nomination on March 3 at the Surf & Turf Inn in Johnstown, 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."[46]
Results
Republicans from the 12th district met on March 11, 2010, in
Libertarian nomination
Demo Agoris, a businessman, former
General election
Campaign
The fact that the special election coincided with contested Democratic
In March 2010,
Burns announced his opposition to the
On March 30, Critz received the endorsement of the
Burns' first television advertisement began airing on March 31,
Burns was criticised for having served as an
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."[75] 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."[76]
Burns's campaign website
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.[79]
Debates
Burns and Critz attended a debate held on May 5, 2010 in
Polling
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Mark Critz (D) | Tim Burns (R)
|
Demo Agoris (L) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling (report) | May 15–16, 2010 | 831 | ±3.4% | 47% | 48% | – | – | 6% |
Susquehanna Polling & Research (report) | May 10, 2010 | 400 | ±4.9% | 44% | 38% | – | – | – |
Anzalone Liszt1 (report) | April 27–29, 2010 | 406 | ? | 43% | 41% | – | – | – |
Global Strategy Group2 (report[permanent dead link]) | April 27–29, 2010 | 400 | ±4.9% | 45% | 37% | – | – | – |
44% | 36% | 2% | – | – | ||||
Public Policy Polling (report) | April 17–18, 2010 | 1,197 | ±2.8% | 41% | 44% | – | – | 13% |
McLaughlin & Associates3 (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 Strategies4 (report) | March 14–15, 2010 | 400 | ±4.9% | 41% | 45% | – | – | 13% |
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review/ Susquehanna Polling & Research (report) |
March 14–15, 2010 | 400 | ±4.9% | 36% | 31% | – | 2% | 31% |
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Mark Critz | 70,915 | 52.6 | |
Republican | Tim Burns
|
60,740 | 45.1 | |
Libertarian | Demo Agoris | 3,158 | 2.3 | |
Total votes | 134,813 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold |
By county[82]
County | Critz | % | Burns | % | Agoris | % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allegheny | 519 | 57.6% | 359 | 39.9% | 23 | 2.6% |
Armstrong | 3,392 | 41.9% | 4,454 | 55.0% | 246 | 3.0% |
Cambria | 19,216 | 57.2% | 13,864 | 41.3% | 500 | 1.5% |
Fayette | 11,176 | 59.2% | 7,352 | 39.0% | 343 | 1.8% |
Greene | 5,164 | 56.7% | 3,716 | 40.8% | 224 | 2.5% |
Indiana | 1,540 | 42.5% | 1,990 | 54.9% | 93 | 2.6% |
Somerset | 4,269 | 48.3% | 4,430 | 50.1% | 144 | 1.6% |
Washington | 10,485 | 49.7% | 9,715 | 46.0% | 914 | 4.3% |
Westmoreland | 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[83] of 52.6 percent to Burns's 45.1 percent.[82] Critz's election was the eleventh straight Democratic victory in special elections to the House of Representatives.[83]
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."[84]
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.[85]
Critz and Burns each received their parties' nomination for the regularly scheduled general election for the seat and faced each other again in November 2010 for a full two-year term, with Critz beating Burns for a second time.[1]
Notes
- 1. ^ Poll conducted on behalf of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
- 2. ^ Poll conducted on behalf of Mark Critz's campaign.
- 3. ^ Poll conducted on behalf of the American Action Network, a conservative organization.[89]
- 4. ^ Ulm is a Republican strategist and pollster.[90]
References
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External links
- Debates
- Official candidate sites