2019 Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district special election
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A special election was held on May 21, 2019, to fill the remainder of the term for Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for the 116th United States Congress. Tom Marino, a Republican, resigned from office effective January 23.
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May 21, 2019
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Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district | |||||||||||||||||
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 County results Keller: 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Friedenberg: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Background
As a result of the 2018 elections, Pennsylvania's House delegation to the 116th U.S. Congress took office in early January 2019 with a tie of 9 Republicans and 9 Democrats.[1]
Republican Tom Marino, the incumbent representative for Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district, announced his resignation effective January 23, 2019. By state law, Governor Tom Wolf was required to call for a special election at least 60 days after the seat became vacant.[2] Wolf set the election for May 21.[3] Primary elections were not held in the race. Instead, nominees were chosen by each party.[4] Republicans selected their nominee on March 2.[5]
Republican conferee meeting
Candidates
Nominee
- Fred Keller, state representative[6][7]
Defeated at the convention
- Jessica Bowman-Hosley, professor[5]
- Malcolm Derk, former Snyder County commissioner[8]
- Kevin Ferrara, veteran[5]
- Stacy Garrity, businesswoman[9]
- Davis C. Haire, doctor[5]
- Chris Hoffman, vice president of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau[10]
- Matthew McDermott[5]
- Doug McLinko, Bradford County commissioner and candidate for Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district in 2018[11]
- Patrick Miller, law student[12]
- Maria Montero
- Joseph Moralez, vice president of a statewide nursing agency[13]
- Robert Noerr, former National Debate Tournament qualifier[12]
- Joseph Peters, former state deputy attorney general and candidate for Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district in 2018[5]
Withdrawn
Declined to run
- Lou Barletta, former U.S. Representative and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018[14]
- Jake Corman, majority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate[15]
- Keith Eckel, former president of the State Farm Bureau[15]
- Jonathan Fritz, state representative[15]
- Davis C. Haire[6]
- Sandra Major, former state representative[6]
- Tony Mussare, Lycoming County commissioner[15][16]
- Michael Peifer, state representative[citation needed]
- Mario Scavello, state senator[16][17]
- Jeff Stroehmann, businessman[6][15]
- Dave Weber, district director for outgoing U.S. Representative Tom Marino[6][15][16]
- Eugene Yaw, state senator[15]
Democratic selection
According to the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, Marc Friedenberg, the Democratic nominee for the district in 2018, was the only individual who submitted an application to be the nominee. Therefore, the convention was cancelled, and the party declared Friedenberg the nominee on February 12.[18]
General election
Endorsements
Federal politicians
- Donald Trump, President of the United States[19]
- Tom Marino, former U.S. Representative (PA-12)[20]
- G.T. Thompson, U.S. Representative (PA-15)[20]
- Guy Reschenthaler, U.S. Representative (PA-14)[21]
- Lou Barletta, former U.S. Representative (PA-11) and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018[22]
Local officeholders
- Joe Kantz, Snyder County Commissioner Chairman[23]
- John Zechman, Snyder County Sheriff[23]
- Preston Boop, Union County Commissioner Chairman[24]
- Lee Knepp, Snyder County Commissioner Vice Chairman[24]
Organizations
- American Conservative Union[25]
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce[26]
- National Right to Life Committee[27]
- Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation[27]
- National Federation of Independent Business[28]
- NRA Political Victory Fund[29]
- BIPAC[30]
- Fraternal Order of Police Bald Eagle Lodge 51 (Centre County)[31]
- Susan B. Anthony List[32]
Federal politicians
- Bob Casey Jr., U.S. Senator (D-PA)[33]
- Joe Sestak, former U.S. Representative (PA-7)[34]
- Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor[35]
Statewide and local politicians
Labor unions
Organizations
- Democratic Jewish Outreach Pennsylvania[38]
- Progressive Democrats of America[39]
- Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter[40]
Debates
| Dates | Location | Keller | Friedenberg | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 2019 | Luzerne County | Participant | Participant | [41] |
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2019 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate (party) | Total receipts | Total disbursements | Cash on hand |
| Fred Keller (R) | $662,214.65 | $521,614.93 | $140,599.72 |
| Marc Friedenberg (D) | $209,045.81 | $230,037.21 | $81,108.15 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[42] | |||
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Fred Keller | 90,000 | 68.08% | +2.04% | |
| Democratic | Marc Friedenberg | 42,195 | 31.92% | −2.04% | |
| Total votes | 132,195 | 100.0% | N/A | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
By county
| County | Fred Keller Republican |
Marc Friedenberg Democratic |
Margin | Total votes cast | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Bradford | 7,133 | 70.5% | 2,985 | 29.5% | 4,148 | 41.0% | 10,118 |
| Centre (part) | 4,769 | 33.8% | 9,360 | 66.2% | -4,591 | 32.4% | 14,129 |
| Clinton | 4,235 | 62.6% | 2,534 | 37.4% | 1,701 | 25.2% | 6,769 |
| Juniata | 3,557 | 77.5% | 1,033 | 22.5% | 2,524 | 55.0% | 4,590 |
| Lycoming | 20,493 | 73.7% | 7,309 | 26.3% | 13,184 | 47.4% | 27,802 |
| Mifflin | 4,524 | 75.3% | 1,484 | 24.7% | 3,040 | 50.6% | 6,008 |
| Northumberland (part) | 7,078 | 73.5% | 2,558 | 26.5% | 4,520 | 47.0% | 9,636 |
| Perry | 6,037 | 74.5% | 2,071 | 25.5% | 3,966 | 49.0% | 8,108 |
| Potter | 2,744 | 76.2% | 856 | 23.8% | 1,888 | 42.4% | 3,600 |
| Snyder | 6,288 | 78.4% | 1,729 | 21.6% | 4,559 | 56.8% | 8,017 |
| Sullivan | 1,142 | 67.2% | 557 | 32.8% | 585 | 34.4% | 1,699 |
| Susquehanna | 5,780 | 68.9% | 2,606 | 31.1% | 3,174 | 37.8% | 8,386 |
| Tioga | 6,057 | 73.8% | 2,145 | 26.2% | 3,912 | 47.6% | 8,202 |
| Union | 6,151 | 66.9% | 3,049 | 33.1% | 3,102 | 33.8% | 9,200 |
| Wyoming | 4,012 | 67.6% | 1,919 | 32.4% | 2,093 | 35.2% | 5,931 |
| Totals | 90,000 | 68.1% | 42,195 | 31.9% | 47,805 | 36.2% | 132,195 |