Southeast Pennsylvania is home to three of the last remaining competitive districts in the U.S House of Representatives.
PA-6, PA-7 and PA-8 have been the target of Democrats for decades with only intermediate success. For instance, the party won the latter two in 2006 but lost them again in 2010. The former has stayed red throughout.
Today several pieces of news broke in each race.
PA-6
For this seat, though, the biggest story may be that not much has changed.
The DCCC announced their latest “Red to Blue” list and PA-6 was nowhere to be seen. Not exactly good news for Democratic candidates Lindy Li and Mike Parrish.
Congressman Ryan Costello is sure to be happy about it, though, as was the NRCC.
“Even the DCCC sees the writing on the wall that Lindy Li and Mike Parrish are failing candidates,” spokesman Chris Pack told PoliticsPA. “That is why they are pulling the plug on PA-06 despite designating it as one of their top targets just one year ago.”
PA-7
This seat, however, did make the Democrats’ list, albeit their secondary one.
More importantly, the party named Bill Golderer as their preferred candidate in the race. We already knew that the DCCC recruited him to run but public support is another key step for him. This also leaves his primary opponent, 2014 nominee Mary Ellen Balchunis, in a bit of a lurch.
“Bill Golderer is an innovative problem-solver, who has already demonstrated to the world what a difference one man’s passion and dedication can make for everyday people,” said DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján. “Bill’s history of solving longstanding problems with creative business models has already helped thousands of people in Pennsylvania. His background and record of success has earned the respect of many in his community and he represents the exact type of new leadership needed in Washington.”
“Congress is broken and while some say that change isn’t possible, I disagree,” said Golderer. “I believe the stakes are too high to let cynicism decide our future. I’m proud that so many Pennsylvanians agree with me and have joined our campaign. It is because of them that our early strength has earned us a spot in the Emerging Races program.”
Additionally, Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball revealed today that they are moving Congressman Pat Meehan’s seat into a competitive category. The district has now gone from “Safe Republican” to “Likely Republican”.
“Moving onto the Likely Republican list from Safe Republican are Reps. Erik Paulsen (R, MN-3) and Pat Meehan (R, PA-7),” Managing Editor Kyle Kondik wrote. “Both represent the kind of politically balanced suburban districts that are of growing importance to Democrats as some of the traditionally Democratic rural districts they used to hold become increasingly Republican. Paulsen and Meehan should be fine, but if Democrats do end up making a serious play for the House, they hold the kind of districts that might become competitive.”
PA-8
This open seat remains the Democratic Party’s best hope in the Keystone State.
In reflection of that, the district was one of just twenty-one to make the DCCC’s primary list.
While the committee is not picking a favorite in the Democratic primary, both Shaughnessy Naughton and Steve Santarsiero considered the move a victory.
“The Red to Blue announcement confirms that this will be one of the most competitive races in the nation in November,” Campaign Manager Erik Polyak stated. “Shaughnessy isn’t a career politician in any way, but she has the resources to win. Shaughnessy is in a strong position to take back a Republican held seat and join Pennsylvania’s delegation as the only woman fighting to protect Planned Parenthood and to preserve Social Security and Medicare.”
“In 2008, I turned a Republican-held state house district blue and I’m ready to do it again in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District,” State Rep. Santarsiero said. “After earning the Democratic Party’s endorsement and now with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee listing this race on their “Red to Blue” program, I’m ready to take on the Republicans and return responsible leadership to this Congressional seat. I’ve been a proven progressive fighter in the State House where I’ve earned a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood, fought to protect Pennsylvanian jobs, and authored our commonwealth’s universal background check bill for sensible gun safety. A lot of candidates just talk and as my dad always says, “talk is cheap.” I’m ready to go to Congress to continue walking the walk.”
“The Democratic candidates in Pennsylvania’s 8th are both highly-qualified, passionate advocates who are ready to make sure the economy works for everyone in Southeast Pennsylvania,”said DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján. “The people of the Pennsylvania 8th voted for President Obama and hardworking families in this community are ready to send a Democrat to fight for them in Congress.”
The 6th Congressional District includes parts of Montgomery, Chester, Berks, and Lehigh Counties.
The 7th Congressional District includes most of Delaware County as well as parts of Chester, Montgomery, Berks and Lancaster Counties.
The 8th Congressional District represents all of Bucks County as well as parts of upper Montgomery County.
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12 Responses
Fitzpatrick by 6
Trump wants to “ban” Muslims. All Muslims. LMAO
Rob Boysen-
Democrats pitting Christians against Muslims? Are you f*cking kidding? Have you listened to the GOP debates and their calls to bar Muslims from entering the country (even refugee children)?
The GOP is all about rich white Christian men controlling every aspect. Trying to teach religion in schools (and denying evolution and other science). Telling people who they can marry. Controlling women’s bodies (trying to deny them birth control, then abortions for resulting unwanted pregnancies). Denying women equal pay. Supporting tax policies that make the rich richer. “Family values” that include breaking up families with deportation. Overt racism. The list goes on.
The Democrats are the party of divisive politics! They pit young vs. old, black vs. white, christian vs. Muslim, rich vs. poor and my favorite, women vs. men!
Come on Pennsylvania, haven’t we had enough of the Democrats and their lies? Governor Wolf was elected because the Republican “power brokers” in Harrisburg did not care for Tom Corbett, so now we have an uber Liberal in the Governor’s Mansion who’s only purpose is to raise taxes!
2016 SHOULD be a great year for Republicans, but if we don’t come together soon, the Democrats are going to sneak in win some Senate seats (Pat Toomey?), maybe the 8th Congressional District and even the White House (again!). We can’t let that happen!
We cannot permit the 8th Congressional District to fall back into the Progressive hands of a Steve Santarsiero or a Shaunessy Naughton! Pat Murphy was enough, we don’t need to go through that again!
Let’s get our act together and defeat these Progressives once and for all!
Stosh-
Actually, I haven’t met Molloy, and really don’t know anything about him (yet) other than the Delco Dems were desperate to recruit/kidnap a candidate. Sounds like Molloy drew the short straw.
I haven’t had a chance to talk to anyone about his record. I’m not in the 9th, and it’s still petition season, so the ballots for a lot of other races are occupying my time at the moment.
I appreciate your “warning” about him and will keep my ears open.
Once again the boys abandon the women.
David, do you hold the same feeling about the Dems nominee for State Senate in PA 9? Molloy has a similar abysmal voting record. Is he untrustworthy as well, or will you make excuses for him because the party endorsed him. Would be a tad hypocritical for your statement to apply to one candidate and not another, wouldn’t it?
Jack Washington-
Is that why his voting record is less than 50%?
How do you trust someone who thinks so little of democracy that he rarely votes?
Bill Golderer is the kind of candidate that SE PA needs. He’s a proven leader that’s created jobs, helped people in need and built organizations that are acting to improve people’s lives. He’s the kind of guy we need in congress.
It blows my mind that a career politician like Steve can say “talk is cheap” when that’s all he’s done in office. This guy has done nothing for us
Santarsiero walks the walk? Hasn’t he been in Harrisburg for 8 years without passing a single bill? Seems like just another empty suit.
This is not much of a mixed bag. There is no way that any of these incumbents are going to lose in a year where it looks like the economy is tanking, the healthcare act is failing, and the world is imploding. The free money is gone and the bills are due. That will be laid at the feet of Obama and anyone who wants to take up that mantle has no shot at getting elected.