2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania
The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the 18 U.S. Representatives from the state of Pennsylvania, a loss of one seat following the 2010 United States Census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and an election to the U.S. Senate. Primary elections were held Tuesday, April 24.
Redistricting
control redistricting in Pennsylvania, which lost one seat in reapportionment. A map released on December 13, 2011, effectively merged the 4th and 12th congressional districts, represented by Democrats Jason Altmire and Mark Critz. The map was passed by the Pennsylvania Senate.Overview
District 1
has been represented by Democrat Bob Brady since 1998.Democratic primary
Candidates
- Bob Brady, incumbent
Withdrew
- Jimmie Moore, Philadelphia Municipal Court judge
Primary results
Republican primary
Candidates
- John Featherman, realtor and former candidate for mayor of Philadelphia
Primary results
General election
Results
District 2
has been represented by Democrat Chaka Fattah since 1995. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Robert Allen Mansfield, Jr. ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Independent candidate James Foster also ran creating a three-way race.Democratic primary
Primary results
Republican primary
Primary results
General election
Results
District 3
has been represented by Republican Mike Kelly since January 2011. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary.Democratic primary
Candidates
- Missa Eaton, president of Democratic Women of Mercer County
Disqualified
- Mel Marin
- George Schroeck
Declined
- Kathy Dahlkemper, former U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district
- Ron DiNicola, attorney and Marine Corps veteran and 1996 candidate for Pennsylvania's 21st congressional district
- Joe Sinnott, mayor of Erie
Primary results
Republican primary
Primary results
General election
Results
District 4
Republican Todd Platts, who has represented Pennsylvania's 19th congressional district since 2001 and had been expected to seek re-election in the new 4th district, will not seek re-election.Democratic primary
Candidates
- Harry Perkinson, Texas-based defense contractor employee won the
- Ken Lee
Declined
- Matt Matsunaga, former co-chair of the College Republicans at Catonsville Community College
- Doug Hoke, York County Commissioner
- Ryan Sanders, 2010 nominee for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district
- John Brenner, former Mayor of York
- Eugene DePasquale, state representative
Primary results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Kevin Downs
- Eric Martin
- Scott Perry, state representative
- Chris Reilly, York County Commissioner
- Sean Summers, lawyer who represented Albert Snyder in Snyder v. Phelps
- Mark Swomley
- Ted Waga, member of the York 912 Patriots
Declined
- Brock McCleary, deputy political director of the National Republican Congressional Committee
Primary results
General election
Results
District 5
is currently represented by Republican Glenn Thompson, who was first elected in 2008.Democratic primary
Candidates
- Charles Dumas, professor at Penn State University
Primary results
Republican primary
Primary results
General election
Results
District 6
has been represented by Republican Jim Gerlach since 2003, and he is running for re-election.Democratic primary
Candidates
- Manan Trivedi, physician, Iraq War veteran, and 2010 nominee for Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district
Declined
- Doug Pike, 2010 candidate for Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district
Primary results
Republican primary
Primary results
General election
Results
District 7
has been represented by Republican Pat Meehan since January 2011. He is running for re-election.Democratic primary
Candidates
- George Badey III, attorney
Declined
- Joe Sestak, former U.S. Representative 2010 candidate for U.S. Senate
- Jack Stollsteimer, former Safe Schools Advocate
Primary results
Republican primary
Primary results
General election
Results
District 8
has been represented by Republican Mike Fitzpatrick since January 2011. Fitzpatrick previously represented the district from 2005 until 2007. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary.Democratic primary
Candidates
- Kathy Boockvar, attorney and 2011 candidate for Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
Declined
- Cynthia Philo, Doylestown Township Supervisor
- Det Asinn, Doylestown Borough Council President
- Diane Marseglia, Bucks County Commissioner
Primary results
Republican primary
Primary results
General election
Results
District 9
has been represented by Republican Bill Shuster since 2001.Democratic primary
Karen Ramsburg, a nurse from Mercersburg, had been running as an Independent, but after no Democrat filed to run, she mounted a write-in campaign for the April primary. She was successful, receiving enough write-in votes to receive the Democratic nomination.Republican primary
Candidates
- Bill Shuster, incumbent
Disqualified
- Travis Schooley, businessman
Primary results
General election
Results
District 10
has been represented by Republican Tom Marino since January 2011.Democratic primary
Candidates
- Philip Scollo
Declined
- Chris Carney, former U.S. Representative
Primary results
Republican primary
Primary results
General election
Results
District 11
has been represented by Republican Lou Barletta since January 2011.Democratic primary
Candidates
- Gene Stilp, activist, 2006 candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, and 2010 candidate for Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- William Vinsko, lawyer and assistant Wilkes-Barre city attorney
Declined
- Chris Doherty, mayor of Scranton
- Paul Kanjorski, former U.S. Representative
- Michael Lombardo, former mayor of Pittston
- Corey O'Brien, Lackawanna County Commissioner
Primary results
Republican primary
Primary results
General election
Results
District 12
Democrats Mark Critz, who has represented Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district since 2010; and Jason Altmire, who has represented Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district since 2007, both sought re-election in the new 12th district.Democratic primary
Candidates
- Jason Altmire, U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district
- Mark Critz, U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district
Primary results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Keith Rothfus, 2010 candidate for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district
Declined
- Jim Christiana, state representative
- Mike Turzai, majority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Primary results
General election
Results
District 13
Democrat Allyson Schwartz, who has represented Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district since 2005, sought re-election.Democratic primary
Candidates
- Allyson Schwartz, incumbent
Declined
- Nathan Kleinman, member of the Occupy Philadelphia movement and field organizer for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign
Primary results
Republican primary
Primary results
General election
Results
District 14
Incumbent Democrat Mike Doyle defeated challenger Janis C. Brooks in the Democratic primary. He faced Republican Hans Lessmann in the general election.Democratic primary
Primary results
Republican primary
Primary results
General election
Results
District 15
has been represented by Republican Charlie Dent since 2005.Democratic primary
Candidates
- Rick Daugherty, chairman of the Lehigh County Democratic Party
- Jackson Eaton, Army veteran
Declined
- John Callahan, mayor of Bethlehem and 2010 candidate for Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district
Primary results
Republican primary
Primary results
General election
Results
District 16
Incumbent Republican Joe Pitts will face Democrat Aryanna C. Strader. They each ran unopposed in their respective primaries.Democratic primary
Primary results
Republican primary
Primary results
General election
Results
District 17
Democrat Tim Holden, who has represented Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district since 2003, ran for re-election.Pennsylvania Republicans, who controlled the redistricting process after the 2010 United States Census, drew this district to be much more Democratic, taking in parts of Scranton and Wilkes Barre. Holden, a Blue Dog Democrat who had represented a very Republican district for 10 years, was considered vulnerable to a primary challenge due to the bluer hue of the new district. Holden was defeated in the Democratic primary by attorney Matt Cartwright, 57-43. Holden's opposition to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and climate change legislation are believed to have contributed to his defeat by a more liberal opponent.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Matt Cartwright, attorney
- Tim Holden, incumbent
Declined
- Corey O'Brien, Lackawanna County and 2010 candidate for Pennsylvania's 11th congressional district
Primary results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Laureen Cummings, Tea Party activist
Primary results
General election
Results
District 18
Republican Tim Murphy, who has represented Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district since 2003, successfully sought re-election.Republican primary
Candidates
- Evan Feinberg, former aide to U.S. Senators Tom Coburn and Rand Paul Murphy won the primary with over 60% of the vote.
- Tim Murphy, incumbent
Primary results
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Larry Maggi, Washington County Commissioner
Declined
- Ralph Kaiser, former state representative
Primary results