2000 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

Republican primary

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Phil Berg
• Tom Foley, former Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry and nominee for Lt. Governor in 1994
• Ron Klink, U.S. Representative from Murrysville
• Murray Levin
• Robert A. Rovner, former Republican State Senator from Philadelphia
• Allyson Schwartz, State Senator from Northeast Philadelphia

Campaign

The contest began for Democrats with a close primary challenge; U.S. Congressman Klink narrowly defeated State Senator Allyson Schwartz and former lieutenant governor nominee Tom Foley by portraying himself as the only candidate who could defeat Santorum.

Results

General election

Candidates

• Robert Domske (Reform)
• John Featherman (Libertarian)
• Ron Klink, U.S. Representative from Murrysville (Democratic)
• Rick Santorum, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1995 (Republican)
• Lester Searer (Constitution)

Campaign

Santorum had gained a reputation as a polarizing figure during his first term in the Senate and had lost the support of more moderate members of his own party by 1999, but entered the race with a large fundraising advantage and high levels of support from the political right. Klink was viewed as a viable choice because he was a traditional Democrat on most issues and had strong union ties but also was opposed to abortion rights, which Democrats hoped would return votes to their party in the heavily Catholic but economically liberal coal regions of the state. The campaign turned increasingly negative as both candidates publicly questioned each other's integrity.

Enthusiasm around Klink's campaign then waned as liberal Democrats balked at donating to a candidate who was almost as socially conservative as Santorum. This was especially true in Philadelphia, where Klink was all but unknown. Klink was also badly outspent, leaving him unable to expand his presence in the state; he didn't run a single advertisement on Philadelphia television stations. Ultimately, Klink only carried eight counties as Santorum, who had achieved nationwide prominence for taking positions against abortion and LGBT rights in the United States, was ultimately able to secure victory.

Debates

• Complete video of debate, September 30, 2000
• Complete video of debate, October 14, 2000
• Complete video of debate, October 23, 2000

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Cambria (largest municipality: Johnstown)
• Clinton (Largest city: Lock Haven)
• Luzerne (largest municipality: Wilkes-Barre)

References

References

1. Resnick, Jolyn and Kalen Churcher. "[https://www.newspapers.com/image/426578774/?terms=Santorum&match=1 Supporters rally in area for candidates]." Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania: ''The Times Leader'', November 7, 2000, p. 4 (subscription required).
2. Miller, Rhonda. "[https://www.newspapers.com/image/89877538/?terms=Santorum&match=1 State GOP leaders rally the faithful: Six-city campaign tour ends at county airport]." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', November 7, 2000, p. 8 (subscription required).
3. "Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information".
4. "Pennsylvania Elections {{!}} Summary Results".
5. Jesdanun, Anick. "[https://www.newspapers.com/image/552839676/?terms=Santorum%20and%20gay&match=1 Santorum's views not right on]." Danville, Pennsylvania: ''The Danville News'', January 26, 1999, p. 5 (subscription required).
6. Brown, Jack. "[https://www.newspapers.com/image/179240296/?terms=Santorum%20and%20gay&match=1 Former congressman mulls run for Senate]." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'', January 7, 1999, p. 11 (subscription required).
7. Marx, Claude R. "[https://www.newspapers.com/image/503447471/?terms=Santorum&match=1 Santorum, Klink spend final day making pleas for votes: The two candidates for Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate seat both predict victory in hotly contested race]." Hazleton, Pennsylvania: ''Standard-Speaker'', November 7, 2000, p. 1 (subscription required).
8. [https://books.google.com/books?id=1J_9q-lIWRkC&q=santorum&pg=PA112 Pennsylvania Elections: Statewide Contests from 1950-2004]
9. "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".