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.[1] A map released on December 13, 2011, effectively merged the 4th and 12th congressional districts, represented by Democrats Jason Altmire and Mark Critz.[2] The map was passed by the Pennsylvania Senate.[3] Critz won the incumbent-on-incumbent primary, but then lost the general election.
Pennsylvania was one of five states (along with Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, and Arizona) where the party that won the most seats did not win the most votes in the state.
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 has been represented by Republican incumbent Glenn Thompson, who was first elected in 2008.
Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district is located in southeastern part of the state with a combination some of very affluent suburban areas of Philadelphia and sparsely populated rural areas. It has been represented by Republican Jim Gerlach since 2003, and he ran for re-election.
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 has 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
Republican primary results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Bill Shuster (incumbent)
41,735
100.0
Total votes
41,735
100.0
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.[65] She was successful, receiving enough write-in votes to receive the Democratic nomination.[66]
Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district includes the entire city of Pittsburgh and parts of surrounding suburbs. Incumbent Democrat Mike Doyle defeated challenger Janis C. Brooks in the Democratic primary. He faced Republican Hans Lessmann in the general election.
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.[96]
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