By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor
The National Journal has named Rep. Mark Critz (D-12) one of the ten Democrats most endangered by redistricting.
“The Pennsylvania Democrat embarrassed Republicans nationally by handily winning a May 2010 special election, but the GOP may get the last laugh,” the Journal reports.
“Western Pennsylvania has borne the brunt of the state’s population loss, and Republicans could easily combine Critz into a district with Democratic Rep. Jason Altmire by stretching from Critz’s home in Johnstown to Altmire’s home north of Pittsburgh. Most of Critz’s current territory could end up in the heavily conservative districts of GOP Reps. Bill Shuster and Tim Murphy.”
It would set up an interesting Democratic primary between two Congressman best known as centrists.
Critz was the only Pennsylvania congressman to make the Journal’s list of endangered Democrats or Republicans.
The idea of combining Rep. Critz district with that of Jason Altmire is a fairly popular idea among Republicans, and it matches what PoliticsPA has heard from GOP insiders in DC and Harrisburg. Historically blue (but trending red) counties like Greene and Fayette would join Rep. Shuster’s district.