PENNSYLVANIA

The Senate: No Race...


The House:...

• Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district: Phil English (R) could have a test in 2008, as he represents an Erie-based district that gave George W. Bush 53% of the vote and 47% of its vote to John Kerry in 2004. Also, in 2006, English received 54% of the vote against a political newcomer with no political experience. Despite the presence of heavily Democratic Erie, only two Democrats have represented the district and its predecessors since 1893, and the district has historically been friendly to moderate Republicans. Civic Leader and Businesswoman Kathy Dahlkemper is the Democratic candidate.

• Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district: Jason Altmire (D) defeated incumbent Melissa Hart (R) in a 52% to 48% upset, as Hart had won 63% of the vote in 2004, when George W. Bush carried this suburban Pittsburgh district with 53% to 45% for John Kerry. In 2006, Pennsylvania was perhaps the most disastrous state for incumbent GOP House members, who lost four seats here. Hart has announced she will run again and Republicans have high hopes for her campaign.

• Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district: Incumbent John E. Peterson (R) is retiring. Pennsylvania's fifth district is currently the largest of all of Pennsylvania's congressional districts. It contains a large portion of north-central Pennsylvania. Bush won 61% of the vote here in 2004. The Republican nominee is Centre County Republican Committee Chairman Glenn "G.T." Thompson. The Democratic nominee is Clearfield County Commissioner Mark B. McCracken. Donald Wilson of the Green Party is also running.^[165]

• Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district: Jim Gerlach (R) survived threats from wealthy attorney Lois Murphy in 2004 and 2006 with 51% each year and could face another for his suburban Philadelphia district in 2008, which went to John Kerry with 51% in 2004. The Democratic nominee is former Businessman Bob Roggio.

• Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district: Freshman Joe Sestak (D) won this district in 2006 by winning 56% against 20-year Republican incumbent Curt Weldon, whose reelecion bid was destroyed by ethics charges and an FBI investigation. This year, his Republican opponent is former Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Williams, a veteran of the Persian Gulf War.

• Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district: This Bucks County district voted for John Kerry with 51% in 2004 and was narrowly won by Democrat Pat Murphy in 2006, when Murphy unseated one-term Mike Fitzpatrick (R) by 1,521 votes. Fitzpatrick has ruled out running for his old seat after announcing he would be running for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Pharmaceutical executive and U.S. Marines Colonel Tom Manion, the father of a slain Iraq War soldier is the Republican candidate.

• Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district: Chris Carney (D) may face a difficult reelection bid in this district that he won after widely-publicized allegations of incumbent Republican Don Sherwood’s extramarital affair with and alleged abuse of Cynthia Ore, who later settled for an undisclosed amount. Carney defeated Sherwood 53% to 47%. However, the district has a considerable Republican tilt. Chris Hackett, a successful CPA, is the Republican nominee. Hackett defeated Dan Meuser, the head of Pride Mobility in the April 22 Republican primary. Meuser was recently embarrassed when it was revealed that his business was fined for employing illegal aliens in 1997.^[166] Bush won here 60% to 40%.

• Pennsylvania's 11th congressional district: Incumbent Paul Kanjorski (D) has seldom had difficulty at the polls, but this year could be different. He faces a challenge from Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta.^{[citation needed]} Barletta ran against Kanjorski in 2002, losing by 14 points, but then he was not widely known and was heavily outspent. Now, he's a nationally recognized opponent of illegal immigration, which gives him name recognition and a potential fundraising base he didn't have before.^{[citation needed]}

• Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district: Charlie Dent (R) could face a tough race in 2008. He won 53% of the vote against a political newcomer with no political experience in a district that narrowly went to John Kerry with 50% in 2004. His district covers the Lehigh Valley region and is politically marginal. Allentown Democratic Party chairwoman Sam Bennett is the Democratic nominee.

• Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district: Tim Murphy (R) was reelected in 2006 with 58% of the vote against a little-known Democrat in this suburban Pittsburgh district that George W. Bush won here with 54% to 46% for John Kerry in 2004, an indication that Murphy could be vulnerable against a stronger opponent. The Democratic nominee is self-funding Businessman Steve O'Donnell.

Retirements:...
Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district: John Peterson(R)