Indiana — When former Rep. Mark Critz lost reelection for his 12th-district congressional seat, he was devastated, but after eight months out of the public eye, he decided to make what he hopes will be his triumphant return to public service as Pennsylvania’s next lieutenant governor.
The former congressman, who lost his seat to Republican Rep. Keith Rothfus last November, officially declared his run last week for the Democratic lieutenant governor ticket.
At a Patriot Day event in Indiana, the town that also houses Critz’s alma mater, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Critz told PoliticsPA that his decision to not attempt to return to Capitol Hill and instead set his sights on Harrisburg came after the devastation of his loss to Rothfus.
“After I lost, I was devastated,” he said. “I thought I had done a good job. I was serving and representing people of this area. I wanted to continue representing this area.”
After redistricting, Critz lost large chunks of Indiana, Fayette and Washington counties — all areas where Critz has personal or familial ties.
“One of the things that bothered me about redistricting was that it took away a lot of my home area,” Critz said. “What I mean is that I’m an IUP grad — it took away Indiana County. My Dad and Mom are from Fayette County and Washington County respectively, they took that away. I lost areas that I had grown up in my whole life, areas that I was thrilled to represent.”
So, instead of attempting to run for his former Congressional seat, Critz decided to set his sights on an office that could encompass those areas, and to do that he had to look statewide. But due to his past experience in Congress, Critz realized that lieutenant governor was for him.
“As a former staffer and member of Congress, I don’t need my name on the door. It doesn’t have to be me [as governor],“ Critz said. “When I looked at lieutenant governor and thought, well, I can represent this whole area, and actually the whole state.”
Critz, a conservative Democrat, said he is up to the challenge and looks forward to taking on the more advisory role of a lieutenant governor, and, if he makes it through the primary, will balance the November ticket well.
“So the governor [nominee] is going to be from Eastern Pennsylvania, it looks to be, and is going to be fairly liberal,” Critz said. “I bring geographic balance, I bring ideological balance. It’s a team effort.”
He faces Harrisburg city official Brenda Alton, Bradford County Commissioner Mark Smith and Harrisburg city Councilman Brad Koplinski in the Democratic primary. State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Phila), State Rep. John Galloway (D-Bucks) and Northampton County DA John Morganelli are also considering getting into the race.
The responsibility of the lieutenant governor, Critz said, is as a helper to the governor. Due to the fact that the lieutenant governor is not the one who actually signs legislation into law, Critz said he believes that he would be a team player for the governor.
“The governor is boss, so the job of the lieutenant governor is one, how do you help win an election and two to be a team player for the governor,” Critz said.
Looking toward a primary race that is already filled with several contenders for the spot, Critz believes his campaign experience and fundraising efforts will make the difference.
“I’ve been through multi-million dollar campaigns,” Critz said. “In a race of this magnitude, lieutenant governor is not high profile or expensive. But I can raise — my budget’s going to be about $1.5 million. I think those people that are running think that if they hit a quarter million then they’ve done a good job.”
For Critz, the reason behind the run comes from a desire to represent his former district and to shift the power from Republican to Democrat in the commonwealth.
“The reason I’m running is that I want to help my home base area, but also to help us win in November and flip it from Republican to Democrat,” Critz said.
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26 Responses
Newman just isn’t known, in fact he hasn’t even actually declared he is running, he has hinted and suggested and talked about it but hasn’t done it yet. Maybe he will, but he hasn’t gotten back to us yet. Good man I am sure, an up and comer yes, but he is running, if he is running, to BUILD name reckonition. Not because he has name reckonition. Critz and Newman both represent parts of party bankrupt brad ( not mine but I like it) Koplinski so while I support Critz, Brandon is a good second pick, pro life pro gun, smart on energy.Just like Critz
Critz says he is a moderate and knows how to raise money. Critz ran for Congress running against the policies of an incumbent Democrat President and against Democratic principles.He also sold his soul to special interests (fund raising). Last time I looked we have a Republican Governor with the same qualities. I don’t think we need Critz in any elected position in Pennsylvania.
@Radio GaGa
Great call by YOU GaGa; Chelsa Wagner quit the legislature for another job; perhaps she didn’t like being one of only one or two Democratic women in Harrisburg from Western PA. In the meantime, who does the HDCC recruit to run for the General Assembly from Western PA and much of the rest of the state? Young white men who soon become entrenched old boys, which why nothing changes in Harrisburg. As far as the Lt. Governor spot is concerned, as I said Newman is totally unknown and comes off like nothing more than a Harrisburg old boy in training. I’m not necessarily supporting Critz, but FOR SURE I’m NOT supporting Newman for Lt. Governor.
I am not a Koplinski supporter but I am a Brandon Neuman supporter upset with how certain people have already discredited his run. I think Neuman has been working very hard and has built a nice coalition from the west on over. He has support in all parts and Washington County is very important this election. If you ever have to deal with Brandon in Harrisburg, he is very professional and prompt in getting back to you. Nothing against the Critz faction here but the only opposition isn’t Koplinski and it isn’t wise to act that way.
“Get serious” that should be I’m sorry not I erred but it doesn’t matter, I hold you no ill will. We agree you and I that Critz is a conservative Dem. You say that wont fly in a primary, maybe you are right. But I know Critz helps top of ticket and the goal is to beat Corbett. Critz helps our Gov candidate beat Corbett. What’s sad is the Koplinski folks pretending to be Neuman folks to start a fight. Transparent. I will say this Neuman is a way better candidate than Koplinski for the same reasons, he helps top of ticket more than bankruptcy brad….Neuman doesn’t have same name recknotion as Critz though
Facts notification, no I am an intellectually consistent liberal Democrat from SEPA. You are right. I completely erred. Sandy Hook did occur in Dec 2012 instead of the Aug 2012 that was in my head when I posted. So you are right, Critz’s A+ rating came two months before Sandy Hook. I stand corrected. Point still stands: Critz proudly received an A+ from the NRA in 2012, and that is something that I do not think Dem primary voters will ignore.
All this bashing of Brandon Neuman tells me Critz is worried that a real Democrat like Bradon Neuman can beat him. Brandon is the real deal out west, not Mark Critz.
Who is Brandon Newman?
I have never heard of any of the names except for Critz on the LG ticket…
Why climb an uphill battle on name recognition?
Vote Critz!
Ask any member of the Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women – you will find out how popular Mark Critz is.
Ain’t gonna happen Mr. Critz.
Great call PA Dem Committeewoman, how about Pam Snyder or Chelsa Wagner?
Newman is too young, too unknown, and he just reeks of one of the young male “up and comers” who think that because they are a young white male they are entitled to the keys to the PA State Capitol. Newman needs to pay his dues in the PA House a little longer, or better yet step aside and let some Democratic women candidates from Western PA have a chance!
Nonsense. Who will turn on top of ticket if Critz is Lt Gov? No one. Same for the Neuman kid except maybe seniors who might see him as a child. Left wing Dems are gonna getthetop of ticket, most likelyfor the foreseeable future. Dems like Critz and Neuman for that matter draw in conservative Dems who voted against the President. Neuman in fact seems to be much like Critz except he just has no name reckonition. Do you want to beat Corbett or do you prefer a hard left ticket that will lose? You may not like pro life democratic candidates like Critz and the Neuman kid but they represent Dems we are losing and making one of them part of the equation is just smart game planning because while the left wing may think beatingCorbett is. A layup, the fact is we are talking about unseating an ncumbent with 7 decades of history on his side. Lt gov matters very little in a blowout, but a little means a lot in a tight race. Critz helps defeat Corbett like no other declared candidate can. That said I think most of those who have declaredforLG can do the job once elected, I just know that getting that win will require the hard left to allow for pro life Dems to be part of the plan. You want to beat Corbett, vote Critz because he gives the top of the ticket more than the rest of the field
Critz lost. Isn’t much of his appeal then tarnished? He seems like a whiner at the beginning of this article, not too appealing. Go Neuman!
Critz’s words will be used against the Democratic nominee.
Critz is right in that he has appeal in areas of the state that help beat Corbett.
A million and a half for lt gov though? As for “Get Serious” Sandy Hook shootings took place in December 2012, Days before Critz left office. Your twisted statement that he got an A plus from NRA after that tragedy is shameful. Are You a swift boat republican?
Critz and Senator Casey are more aligned than Critz and the President thats true and I believe his ( Critz) point was he has appeal in areas of state where radical left wing financial failures from Harrisburg hurt not help. Neuman does have potiiential but has not declared, at least not officially. If Casey can be pro life and win state wide office, why not Critz? If the goal is beat Corbett Critz is a plus.
A proven anti-lgbt, anti-environment, anti-woman, friend of the NRA is only a “moderate” in Pennsylvania. How does his contempt for Obama, liberals and the party platform help
Here’s a Politics PA fluff piece on critz from last spring. “Critz Goes to Gov’t Affairs, Grassroots Firm” (https://www.politicspa.com/update-critz-goes-to-govt-affairs-grassroots-firm/46261/)
““As a former Member of Congress and district director for Congressman John Murtha, Mark Critz has the experience and relationships at the local level to help difficult projects get approval,” EIS Solutions President Wade Haerle said. “Mark knows how to navigate local politics and governmental bureaucracies at the state and federal levels and will be an asset to clients seeking to build local support for energy related projects in the coal and natural gas industries.”
“It was an honor to serve the people of Western Pennsylvania in Congress where I had the opportunity fight for jobs and economic development,” Critz said in a company press release. “Development of our energy resources is vital to growing our regional economy and making our nation independent of foreign sources of energy. I look forward to working to make sure that our region develops these resources in a safe, responsible manner while working to grow our economy and meet our energy needs.”
And then here’s information on ESI from the Center on Information and Democracy.
“is a Grand Junction, Colorado-based public relations and astroturfing firm that handles government affairs,lobbying and PR for companies involved in the energy industry. The group’s principle spokesperson for energy industry issues in Colorado is Curtis Moore”
I’d love to see Keegan or this writer actually do reporting on Critz’s prior employers and his time as a lobbyist for the gas industry instead of being a stenographer for every person they write an article for.
The best western candidate with no negative baggage is Brandon Neuman. He is young, articulate and not a closeted Republican.
“Triumphant return” by Mark Critz, sounds like a politicspa coronation. Mark Critz is a moderate only when you throw the whole Congress into the equation. Otherwise, he’s the most conservative Democrat in the state.
What a fluff piece. When will the Murtha/Critz corruption become relevant? Even worse, when will Mark’s war against Erin McClelland become a story? He is trying to destroy her.
Critz isn’t even a moderate Republican
Or HER back. It is still wide open.
I have a hard time hearing a guy who got an A+ from NRA in 2012 after Sandy Hook, and who got a 0% rating from NARAL describe himself as a moderate Democrat. And you got to love how he is already trying to pull the ticket to the right, and calling the likely candidates at the top of the ticket ‘very liberal’. If this guy wins, the Gov nominee better watch for arrows in his back.
I’d love to hear Critz – a republican – explain his stint as a lobbyist for the gas industry. Also, I’d love him hear himself explain away his crappy stances on social issues.