2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania

Overview

Match-up summary

District 1

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Bob Brady, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 2

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Chaka Fattah, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Michael Gessner

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 3

English:
Porter: Incumbent Representative Phil English was re-elected with 53.6% of the vote.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Steven Porter

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Phil English, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 4

Altmire:

Hart:
Incumbent U.S. Representative Melissa Hart was defeated by healthcare lobbyist Jason Altmire, taking 48.1% of the vote to Altmire's 51.9%.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jason Altmire, healthcare lobbyist

Eliminated in primary

• Georgia Berner

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Melissa Hart, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 5

Peterson:

Incumbent Representative John E. Peterson was re-elected with 60.1% of the vote.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Donald L. Hilliard

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• John E. Peterson, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 6

In the Pennsylvania 6th congressional district election, incumbent Republican Jim Gerlach defeated Democratic opponent Lois Murphy by a 50.7%–49.3% margin to secure a third term. This was a rematch of the 2004 election, when Gerlach defeated Murphy by a similarly close margin. In the primary election, Gerlach was unopposed and Lois Murphy defeated developer Mike Leibowitz.

The candidates participated in two debates in October. The first, sponsored by the AARP focused on Social Security, healthcare, Iraq, and taxes. The second debate, airing on WPVI, focused on Iraq. Murphy outspent Gerlach by a margin of $4,097,663 to $3,492,402.

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Lois Murphy

Eliminated in primary

• Mike Leibowitz, developer

Primary results

Republican primary

Nominee

• Jim Gerlach, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 7

In the Pennsylvania 7th congressional district election, long-time incumbent Republican Curt Weldon was defeated by retired Navy 3-star admiral Joe Sestak. Prior to the primary election, Iraq war veteran Bryan Lentz agreed to drop his bid for the seat held by Weldon, instead running for a Pennsylvania state legislature seat, a move brokered by Governor Ed Rendell. Lentz had raised about $125,000 for his congressional campaign. Haverford Democrat Paul Scoles, who ran poorly funded race against Weldon in 2004, also backed out in early February, throwing his support behind Sestak.

, covering the suburbs west of Philadelphia, was one of the districts where John Kerry outpolled Bush in the 2004 election, which nonetheless elected a Republican to the House. As such, it became the target of Democratic strategists; in 2006 the Democrats fielded a much stronger and vastly better-funded challenger. On October 13, the media reported that Weldon and his daughter were being investigated by the FBI for their involvement with two Russian energy companies and a Serbian company connected with Slobodan Milosevic. The investigation focused on the lobbying firm Solutions North America owned and run by daughter Karen Weldon and local Republican operative Charlie Sexton, which was hired for $1 million, and whether Weldon was involved in obtaining the contracts or was lobbied by his daughter's firm. Three days later, FBI agents raided the home of Weldon's daughter, Karen, as well as five other locations of Weldon associates in Pennsylvania and Florida as part of the investigation. On October 17, 2006, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Weldon "acknowledged yesterday that he was under investigation."

On October 13, 2006, CQPolitics changed their rating on the race, from "Leans Republican" to the highly competitive "No Clear Favorite." This was the second time CQPolitics changed its rating in the match-up; in July, it reclassified the race from "Republican Favored" to the more competitive "Leans Republican." They subsequently noted, however, that this change was made the day before the media reported that the FBI was investigating Weldon and his daughter. Shortly after the raid, CQPolitics.com changed their rating on this race for a third time, this time from "No Clear Favorite" to "Leans Democratic".

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Joe Sestak, U.S. Navy vice admiral

Primary results

Republican primary

Nominee

• Curt Weldon, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

General election

Endorsements

• Wesley Clark, General, 2004 democratic presidential candidate}}

Predictions

Results

District 8

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Patrick Murphy, attorney and Iraq War veteran

Eliminated in primary

• Andrew Warren, former Bucks County commissioner

Primary results

Republican primary

Nominee

• Mike Fitzpatrick, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

General election

Endorsements

• Wesley Clark, General, 2004 democratic presidential candidate}}

Predictions

Results

District 9

Shuster:

Barr: Incumbent Representative Bill Shuster was re-elected with 60.3% of the vote.

Republican primary

Nominee

• Bill Shuster, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 10

Carney:

Sherwood:

The 2006 Pennsylvania 10th congressional district election was held on November 7 to elect a representative from the . Republican four-term incumbent Don Sherwood was defeated by Democrat Chris Carney, a former Defense Department consultant and Navy lieutenant commander.

CQPolitics noted that "[a]t the outset of the 2006 midterm campaign cycle, it would have been difficult to identify a more politically 'safe' member than Pennsylvania Rep. Don Sherwood. A four-term Republican from the strongly conservative 10th District in northeastern Pennsylvania, Sherwood had run unchallenged by Democrats in 2002 and 2004." But, he "enters the general election campaign in a weakened position mostly because of his extramarital relationship with a young woman, to which he publicly admitted last year. Sherwood, though, adamantly denied the woman's charges that he also physically abused her. A lawsuit brought by the woman against Sherwood was later settled."

On May 15, 2006, Sherwood survived a "surprisingly strong challenge" in the Republican primary from Kathy Scott, a political newcomer. Sherwood received 56% of the vote. CQPolitics reported that his "mediocre showing" could be attributed to the admitted affair. Scott did not file a report with the FEC, which indicates that she spent less than $5,000 in her campaign. His small margin of victory came despite the fact that, prior to the primary, Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum endorsed Sherwood and recorded an automated telephone call on Sherwood's behalf, as did President George W. Bush.

Sherwood's continuing problems resulting from the extramarital affair and Carney's nationally famous ads about it (in which actual residents of the district accuse Sherwood of having "no family values"), as well as polls that showed him 7 to 9 points behind, compelled Sherwood to respond with a television ad in which he directly apologized to voters for the affair, denied the allegations of physical abuse, and promised to continue what he said was his effective representation of the district if the voters were to forgive and re-elect him. However, the initial 2005 news about Sherwood admitting to an affair and being accused of choking the woman as well as the well-recognized Carney ads, which were described by the Associated Press as "hard-hitting", stuck with Sherwood's name throughout the campaign. Fallout for Sherwood continued, including charges that he voted against an increase in the minimum wage while hiking his own congressional income, a claim which the Congressman denounced as "bullshit", and for voting for the Central American Free Trade Agreement, which Carney said "sent Pennsylvanian jobs overseas." Sherwood fought back by labeling Carney a "liar" for the minimum wage charges and subsequently accused Carney of being a "liberal" for supposedly supporting tax increases. Carney shot back, accusing Sherwood of supporting tax cuts for the wealthy, while depriving the middle-class. Carol Sherwood, the Congressman's wife, wrote a letter to registered Republicans in the 10th District in which she lambasted Carney as someone who "gets some pleasure out of hurting our family" and stated that "I am certainly not condoning the mistake Don made, but I am not going to dwell on either." Simultaneously, President Bush made a visit to the area in October to Keystone College in La Plume Township, Pennsylvania to endorse Sherwood's run, a move which many believe might have hurt Sherwood when given Bush's declining popularity both nationwide and in the district. Bush supported Sherwood as "the right man to represent this district", to which the President drew uncertain applause from the audience, which included several empty tables. Coincidentally, Bush had deemed the week that he flew to Pennsylvania to help Sherwood as "National Character Counts Week", which propelled Carney to blast Bush as a hypocrite, stating he could not comprehend how President Bush could both endorse moral values and campaign for the affair-laden Sherwood in the same week. Simultaneously, Sherwood's campaign took a boost from a local newspaper, Times Leader, which ran a front-page headline in late October in which it accused Carney of "misrepresenting" quotes that were included in a Times Leader editorial page about Sherwood's extramarital affair. Meanwhile, Carney took pages from the Republican playbook by using the same tactics the GOP uses against Democrats to attack Sherwood, accusing the Congressman of having a "pre-9/11 mentality" on port security and of supporting amnesty for illegal immigrants, referring to President Bush's guest worker program for illegal immigration. Despite endorsements from Vice President Cheney, President Bush, and U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, Sherwood's campaign was surprisingly beaten in the financial spending wars by the Carney campaign. In the closing days of the campaign, last-minute news about new developments in a 2005 $500,000 deal with Sherwood's former mistress and accuser helped boost Carney, who had consistently played the trump card of "honor", "integrity", and "family values" in his campaign. Many voters also resonated with Carney's vague yet inspiring vow "to make Pennsylvania proud", a slogan that became very familiar to the 10th District, as well as his impressive record as a senior terrorism advisor in the Pentagon and his Navy service.

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Chris Carney, former Defense Department consultant and U.S. Navy lieutenant commander

Primary results

Republican primary

Nominee

• Don Sherwood, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Kathy Scott

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 11

Kanjorski:
Incumbent U.S. Representative Paul Kanjorski was re-elected with 72.5% of the vote.

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Paul Kanjorski, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

Republican primary

Nominee

• Joseph F. Leonardi

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 12

Murtha:
Incumbent U.S. Representative John Murtha was re-elected with 60.8% of the vote.

Democratic primary

Nominee

• John Murtha, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

Republican primary

Nominee

• Diana Irey

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 13

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Allyson Schwartz, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

Republican primary

Nominee

• Raj Peter Bhakta, entrepreneur and media personality

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 14

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Mike Doyle, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Mike Isaac

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 15

Republican primary

Nominee

• Charlie Dent, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 16

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Lois Herr, activist and 2004 Democratic Party nominee

Primary results

Republican primary

Nominee

• Joe Pitts, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 17

Holden:

Wertz: Incumbent Representative Tim Holden was re-elected with 64.5% of the vote.

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Tim Holden, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

Republican primary

Nominee

• Matthew A. Wertz

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 18

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Chad Kluko

Eliminated in primary

• Thomas Kovach

Primary results

Republican primary

Nominee

• Tim Murphy, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

District 19

Platts: Incumbent Representative Todd Platts was re-elected with 64.0% of the vote.

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Philip J. Avillo Jr., college professor

Primary results

Republican primary

Nominee

• Todd Platts, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

General election

Predictions

Results

References

References

1. (2004). "Representative in Congress – 2006 General Election". Pennsylvania Department of State.
2. "Pennsylvania Elections - 2006 General Primary (Official Returns)". [[Pennsylvania Department of State]].
3. (6 November 2006). "2006 Competitive House Race Chart". Cook Political Report.
4. (6 November 2006). "2006 House Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report.
5. (6 November 2006). "2006 House". Sabato's Crystal Ball.
6. (7 November 2006). "Battle for the House of Representatives". Real Clear Politics.
7. "Balance of Power Scorecard: House". Congressional Quarterly Inc.
8. "Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information".
9. "Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information".
10. Philadelphia Inquirer, [http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/politics/15820742.htm Civilly, Gerlach and Murphy go over differences] by Nancy Petersen, October 22, 2006
11. (22 October 2006). "Gerlach and Murphy debate a range of issues". [[Daily Local News]].
12. Associated Press, [http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-10212006-730315.html Gerlach, Murphy spar over war, taxes, health care in Pa. debate]{{Dead link. (August 2019)
13. (August 2019)
14. "Pennsylvania District 06 2006 Race". [[OpenSecrets]].
15. link. (2007-09-30 , ''Delaware County Times'', February 10, 2006)
16. Giroux, Greg. (December 2021). "Navy Vet Sestak Coming Closer to Sinking Weldon in Pa. 7". CQPolitics.com }}{{Dead link.
17. "South FL Things To Do, Restaurants & Nightlife - miami.com".
18. http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/15760138.htm {{Dead link. (February 2022)
19. (October 16, 2006). "Agents raid homes of Rep. Curt Weldon's daughter, close friend".
20. Maryclaire Dale, [http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-10162006-727776.html "FBI raids home of Weldon's daughter, friend in influence probe"] {{Webarchive. link. (2006-10-27 , ''Associated Press'', October 16, 2006.)
21. (17 October 2006). "Weldon inquiry boils as FBI seizes material". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
22. "Politics Home Page : Roll Call".
23. Giroux, Greg. (October 17, 2006). "Weldon, Under Investigation, Is Now the Underdog in Pa. 7". CQPolitics.com.
24. "Joe Sestak (PA-7) | WesPAC".
25. "Patrick Murphy (PA-08) | WesPAC".
26. Giroux, Greg. (October 9, 2006). "Carney's Bid Turns Sherwood from Unopposed to Apologetic". CQPolitics.com.
27. Giroux, Greg. (May 17, 2006). "PA 10: Lingering Scandal Puts Sherwood on At-Risk List". CQPolitics.com.
28. Hefling, Kimberly. (May 17, 2006). "Four-term congressman survives close race". York Dispatch.
29. Giroux, Greg. (May 17, 2006). "PA House: Murphys Easily Win Primaries; Sherwood Hangs On". CQPolitics.com.
30. Kaplan, Jonathan E.. (May 3, 2006). "Santorum calls to shore up Sherwood". The Hill.
31. Krawszeniuk, Borys. (May 13, 2006). "Bush offers a pitch for ally Sherwood – uses recorded calls from president". Scranton Times-Tribune.