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.
Republicans 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. Critz won the incumbent-on-incumbent primary, but then lost the general election.
Pennsylvania was one of five states in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2012, the other states being Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.
Overview Statewide PartyCandidatesVotesSeats %+/– %Republican172,710,07048.7713 172.22Democratic172,793,53850.285 227.78Independent546,5120.8400.0Libertarian16,2100.1100.0Total405,556,330100.018 1100.0
District Results of the 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania by district:
DistrictDemocraticRepublicanOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 235,394 84.95% 41,708 15.05% 0 0.00% 277,102 100.00% Democratic holdDistrict 2 318,176 89.28% 33,381 9.37% 4,829 1.35% 356,386 100.00% Democratic holdDistrict 3 123,933 40.97% 165,826 54.82% 12,755 4.22% 302,514 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 4 104,643 34.42% 181,603 59.74% 17,734 5.83% 303,980 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 5 104,725 37.08% 177,740 62.92% 0 0.00% 282,465 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 6 143,803 42.86% 191,725 57.14% 0 0.00% 335,528 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 7 143,509 40.60% 209,942 59.40% 0 0.00% 353,451 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 8 152,859 43.40% 199,379 56.60% 0 0.00% 352,238 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 9 105,128 38.33% 169,177 61.67% 0 0.00% 274,305 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 10 94,227 34.42% 179,563 65.58% 0 0.00% 273,790 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 11 118,231 41.46% 166,967 58.54% 0 0.00% 285,198 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 12 163,589 48.26% 175,352 51.74% 0 0.00% 338,941 100.00% Republican gainDistrict 13 209,901 69.09% 93,918 30.91% 0 0.00% 303,819 100.00% Democratic holdDistrict 14 251,932 76.89% 75,702 23.11% 0 0.00% 327,634 100.00% Democratic holdDistrict 15 128,764 43.25% 168,960 56.75% 0 0.00% 297,724 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 16 111,185 39.04% 156,192 54.85% 17,404 6.11% 284,781 100.00% Republican holdDistrict 17 161,393 60.31% 106,208 39.69% 0 0.00% 267,601 100.00% Democratic holdDistrict 18 122,146 36.04% 216,727 63.96% 0 0.00% 338,873 100.00% Republican holdTotal 2,793,538 50.28% 2,710,070 48.77% 52,722 0.95% 5,556,330 100.00%
District 1
Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district includes primarily central and South Philadelphia, the City of Chester, the Philadelphia International Airport, and other small sections of Delaware County. It had been represented by Democrat Bob Brady since 1998.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Bob Brady, incumbent U.S. representative
Withdrew Jimmie Moore, Philadelphia Municipal Court judge
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee John Featherman, realtor and former candidate for mayor of Philadelphia
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call, November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal BallCrystal Ball , November 5, 2012 NY TimesHouse Race Ratings, The New York Times, November 4, 2012RCP, November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 2
Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district includes predominantly African American sections of the city of Philadelphia—West Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, and Northwest Philadelphia—in addition to parts of South Philadelphia, Center City, and western suburbs such as Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County. It had been represented by Democrat Chaka Fattah since 1995.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Chaka Fattah, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Robert Allen Mansfield Jr., businessman and US Army veteran
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 3
Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district is located in the northwestern part of the state and includes the cities of Erie, Sharon, Hermitage, Butler and Meadville. It had been represented by Republican Mike Kelly since January 2011. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Mike Kelly, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Missa Eaton, professor and president of Democratic Women of Mercer County
Disqualified Mel Marin George Schroeck, attorney
Declined Kathy Dahlkemper, former U.S. representative Ron DiNicola, attorney, Marine Corps veteran and nominee for Pennsylvania's 21st congressional district in 1996 Joe Sinnott, mayor of Erie
Endorsements
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 4
Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district is located in the south-central part of the state covering all of Adams and York counties, as well as parts of Cumberland and Dauphin counties.
Republican Todd Platts, who had represented Pennsylvania's 19th congressional district since 2001 and had been expected to seek re-election in the new 4th district, did not seek re-election.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Scott Perry, state representative
Eliminated in primary Kevin Downs, businessman Eric Martin Chris Reilly, York County commissioner Sean Summers, lawyer who represented Albert Snyder in Snyder v. Phelps Mark Swomley, businessman Ted Waga, member of the York 912 Patriots
Declined Brock McCleary, deputy political director of the National Republican Congressional Committee Todd Platts, incumbent U.S. representative
Endorsements
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Harry Perkinson, Texas-based defense contractor employee
Eliminated in primary Ken Lee, attorney
Withdrawn Matt Matsunaga, businessman
Declined John Brenner, former mayor of York Eugene DePasquale, state representative (running for auditor general) Doug Hoke, York County commissioner Matt Matsunaga, former co-chair of the College Republicans at Catonsville Community College Ryan Sanders, nominee for Pennsylvania's 19th congressional district in 2010
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 5
Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district is located in north central Pennsylvania. It is the largest in area, and least densely populated, of all of Pennsylvania's congressional districts. It had been represented by Republican incumbent Glenn Thompson, who was first elected in 2008.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Glenn Thompson, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Charles Dumas, professor at Penn State University
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 6
Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district is located in the southeastern part of the state, with a combination of some very affluent suburban areas of Philadelphia and sparsely populated rural areas. It had been represented by Republican Jim Gerlach since 2003, and he ran for re-election.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jim Gerlach, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Manan Trivedi, physician, Iraq War veteran, and nominee for this seat in 2010
Declined Doug Pike, candidate for this seat in 2010
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Polling Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin of errorJimGerlach (R)MananTrivedi (D)UndecidedWPA Opinion Research Gerlach (R)WPA Opinion Research Gerlach (R) August 20–21, 2012 400 ±4.9% 54% 30% 17%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 7
The 7th district incorporates parts of the Philadelphia suburbs, including most of Delaware County along with portions of Chester County, Montgomery County, Berks County, and Lancaster County. It had been represented by Republican Pat Meehan since January 2011. He ran for re-election.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Pat Meehan, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee George Badey III, attorney
Declined Joe Sestak, former U.S. representative and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2010 Jack Stollsteimer, former Safe Schools advocate
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Polling Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin of errorPatMeehan (R)GeorgeBadey (D)UndecidedGBA Strategies Badey (D)GBA Strategies Badey (D) May 30–June 3, 2012 400 ±4.9% 50% 30% 20%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 8
Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district is located in Bucks County, along with portions of Montgomery County. It had 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.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Mike Fitzpatrick, incumbent U.S. representative
Declined Jennifer Stefano, activist
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Kathy Boockvar, attorney and nominee for Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania in 2011
Declined Det Asinn, Doylestown Borough Council president Diane Marseglia, Bucks County commissioner Cynthia Philo, Doylestown Township supervisor
Endorsements
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 9
Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district is located in the South Western part of the state. Redistricting added majority-Democratic Fayette County as well as some of the Democratic portions of Washington, Greene, Cambria and Westmoreland counties. It had been represented by Republican Bill Shuster since 2001. He ran for re-election.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Bill Shuster, incumbent U.S. representative
Disqualified Travis Schooley, businessman
Primary results
Democratic primary