Pennsylvania Notes

Congressional candidate filing closed yesterday for the new Pennsylvania districts and several points are worth mentioning.  As predicted before the recent special election concluded, political combatants Conor Lamb, the western Pennsylvania Congressman-Elect, and state Rep. Rick Saccone (R-Canonsburg) both filed to run in the regular election but in different districts.  Mr. Lamb will challenge Rep. Keith Rothfus (R-Sewickley) in new District 17, while Mr. Saccone will run in a new District 14 that contains 57% of the district in which he previously ran.  His major opponent is state Sen. Guy Reschenthaler, who Saccone defeated at the special district nominating convention.
 
Former Rep. Joe Hoeffel (D-Montgomery County), who served in the House from 1999-2005, is seeking to make a political comeback.  He filed petitions to run in the new open safely Democratic District 4, which contains 86% of Montgomery County.  Mr. Hoeffel will face a crowded Democratic primary, including a pair of state Representatives, Mary Jo Daley (D-Narberth) and Madeleine Dean (D-Abington).
 
Every incumbent seeking re-election faces major party opposition.  In an aside note, Shannon Edwards, the woman with who former Rep. Tim Murphy engaged in an extra-marital affair that eventually caused him to resign, is herself running for Congress.  Because no one else filed, she will be the Republican nominee against Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pittsburgh) in the new 18th District. 

--Jim Ellis