Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District election, 2016

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Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District

General Election Date November 8, 2016

Primary Date April 26, 2016

November 8 Election Winner: Brian Fitzpatrick

Incumbent prior to election: Michael G. Fitzpatrick

Race Ratings Cook Political Report: Toss-up Sabato's Crystal Ball: Toss-up Rothenberg & Gonzales: Pure Toss-up

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2016 U.S. Senate Elections

The 8th Congressional District of Pennsylvania held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 8, 2016.

Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District was a battleground district in 2016. Incumbent Michael G. Fitzpatrick (R), who served in Congress from 2005 to 2007 and was elected once again in 2010, chose not to seek re-election in 2016, leaving the seat open. Fitzpatrick decided not to run in 2016 because of self-imposed term limits.

Brian Fitzpatrick (R), a former FBI agent and the brother of the retiring incumbent, defeated state Rep. Steve Santarsiero (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Fitzpatrick defeated former Bucks County Commissioner Andy Warren and clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist Marc Duome in the Republican primary. Santarsiero defeated business owner Shaughnessy Naughton to win the Democratic nomination. The primary elections took place on April 26, 2016.

HIGHLIGHTS

Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District was the only competitive U.S. House race in the state.

The seat was open following incumbent Michael G. Fitzpatrick's retirement.

Heading into the election, Brian Fitzpatrick (R) led Steve Santarsiero (D) in polling but trailed in total fundraising.

Candidate Filing Deadline	Primary Election	General Election
February 16, 2016	April 26, 2016	November 8, 2016

Primary: A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Pennsylvania utilizes a closed primary process. Voters are required to register with a political party to vote in the primary election.

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Incumbent: Heading into the election the incumbent was Michael G. Fitzpatrick (R), who was first elected in 2004 and served for a single term from 2005-2007. He was elected by voters from Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District again in 2010. He did not seek re-election.

Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District is located in eastern Pennsylvania and borders the state of New Jersey. It includes all of Bucks County and a portion of Montgomery County.

Election results

General election

U.S. House, Pennsylvania District 8 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Brian Fitzpatrick	54.4%	207,263
	Democratic	Steve Santarsiero	45.6%	173,555
Total Votes				380,818
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State

Primary election

U.S. House, Pennsylvania District 8 Democratic Primary, 2016

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Steve Santarsiero	59.8%	50,416
Shaughnessy Naughton	40.2%	33,864
Total Votes		84,280
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State

U.S. House, Pennsylvania District 8 Republican Primary, 2016

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Brian Fitzpatrick	78.4%	74,150
Andy Warren	12.5%	11,828
Marc Duome	9.1%	8,641
Total Votes		94,619
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State

Candidates

General election candidates:

Brian Fitzpatricka
Steve Santarsiero

Primary candidates:

Democratic

Shaughnessy Naughton
Steve Santarsiero a

Republican

Marc Duome
Brian Fitzpatrick - Former FBI agent a
Andy Warren - Former Bucks County commissioner

Withdrew:
Scott Petri - State Representative
Steve Scheetz (Libertarian)

Race background

Pennsylvania's 8th District race is one of the initial races listed on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Red to Blue Program. The program "highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country, and offers them financial, communications, grassroots, and strategic support." The DCCC has not yet endorsed any of the Democratic candidates in the race.

Brian Fitzpatrick was a member of the NRCC's Young Guns Program in 2016. The Young Guns program "supports and mentors challenger and open-seat candidates in races across the country."

Endorsements

Brian Fitzpatrick

For a full list of endorsements, click here

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• NFIB
• Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters

Steve Santarsiero

• Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf

• National Education Association (NEA)
• Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) - "Steve has a great track record of supporting issues that PSEA members care about in the General Assembly, and he’ll take that experience to Washington and keep fighting for policies that help kids learn, help educators teach, and help our members provide for their families."

• United Steelworkers - "Steve Santarsiero has a proven track record in the Pennsylvania state legislature of fighting tirelessly to better the lives of workers and their families. His support of a stronger education system is well-documented, and he has been a leading voice for creating jobs by rebuilding our crumbling state infrastructure. The USW does not normally endorse in a primary race such as this, but we felt it necessary to do so here. Steve’s unwavering support for working families in the legislature is not just talk – it is proven. He will be a great voice in Congress."
• Auditor General of Pennsylvania Eugene DePasquale (D)
• Former Rep. Joe Hoeffel (D-Penn.)
• Union of Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776
• Solebury Democrats
• Ironworkers Local 401 - "Steve Santarsiero is the only candidate in this race with a real record of standing up for working people and actually fighting to protect Pennsylvanian jobs."
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) - "We have no doubt that Steve Santarsiero will be a voice in Congress fighting for a living wage, working to protect American jobs and making sure seniors retire with dignity and security. Steve has fought for us and now we are ready to fight for him."
• Local 542 of the International Union of Operating Engineers - "His support of organized labor and advocacy for pro-labor legislation has been felt statewide, as he has fought with us against attempts to restrict workers’ rights. We look forward to supporting Steve Santarsiero in the upcoming congressional race."
• Region 9 of the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America - "Steve has always stood up for working men and women and their families as a State Representative. He doesn’t just talk about supporting these families, he has cast votes in Harrisburg to enhance the way of life for families in Pennsylvania."
• Local 234 of the Transport Workers Union
• For a more complete list of labor endorsements, click here.

Shaughnessy Naughton

• Rep. Matt Cartwright - "For Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, I am happy to endorse Shaughnessy Naughton. I believe Ms. Naughton will bring credit not just to the Democratic Party, but also to the entire Pennsylvania delegation to the United States House of Representatives."

Scott Petri

• National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) - Placed Petri "On the Radar" in their Young Guns program.

Polls

Pennsylvania's 8th District - Brian Fitzpatrick vs. Steve Santarsiero
Poll	Brian Fitzpatrick	Steve Santarsiero	Margin of Error	Sample Size
Communication Concepts (R) September 6-7, 2016	50%	38%	+/-5.0	416
Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected]

Media

Brian Fitzpatrick

"Hometown Lessons" - Fitzpatrick's first ad, released September 2016

"Fastball" - Fitzpatrick campaign ad, released September 2016

"Needed The Most" - Fitzpatrick campaign ad, released October 2016

Steve Santarsiero

Support

"Steve Santarsiero For Congress - Perks"

Opposition

"PERKS" - NRCC ad opposing Santarsiero, released September 2016

"Bad Santa" - Defending Main Street ad opposing Santarsiero

"Dead End" - NRCC ad opposing Santarsiero, released September 2016

"Treadmill" - NRCC ad opposing Santarsiero, released October 2016

Campaign themes

Brian Fitzpatrick

“	Protecting Our Families: Give federal, state and local law enforcement all of the tools necessary to keep us safe. Opportunity for All: Support policies that put American manufacturing at the forefront of our economy, as it creates family sustaining careers and true wealth for our nation. 10 Steps to Fix and Reform Washington: 1. Support term limits for all Members of Congress. Protecting Medicare & Social Security: Like you, my parents worked a lifetime to earn their Medicare and Social Security. Some politicians seek to cut these programs. I will fight to protect and strengthen these programs for all of our seniors. Standing Up for Women and Women’s Health: Double women’s health funding at the National Institutes of Health from $4B to $8B annually, in order to enhance and expand services and accessibility at woman’s health clinics.	”
—Brian Fitzpatrick's campaign website

Steve Santarsiero

“	Economic Security for the Middle Class: Steve has seen middle class families bear the burden of the volatile economy in recent years. While the economy is on the rebound, many families still feel a lack of security and ask – Are there jobs to allow us compete in a 21st century economy? Is our retirement secure? Will our children have a chance at a better future? In Congress, Steve will fight to ensure that we continue to grow our economy and create good, stable jobs that support our families and sustain our communities. Enhancing Public Education: Steve understands that economic security and investing in education go hand in hand. With his background in teaching, education will always be a focus of his work. Investing in a strong and accessible education system that opens the door to opportunity for all students is the best way to move our country forward. A Real Reform Agenda: Steve is an avid supporter of commonsense reforms that will make our country more representative and turn down the volume on hyper-partisanship. He has been outspoken against gerrymandering and the Citizens United decision, both of which make our political system more divisive and less focused on serving the people and the community. Fighting For the Rights of All Pennsylvanians: In Congress, Pennsylvanians need someone who is going to fight to ensure that everyone has equal rights and equal opportunities. Steve is committed to protecting the rights of all Pennsylvanians and Americans, regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. A Committed Environmentalist: Environmental protection has long been a passion of Steve’s. He understands the balance between affordable energy and economic growth while protecting the incredible natural resources the 8th District and Pennsylvania have to offer. Steve knows that dealing with climate change goes hand in hand with securing our environment and our local economy. Steve will push for renewable energy sources, not just alternative energy sources, and understands the importance of investing in green jobs.	”
—Steve Santarsiero's campaign website, http://santarsieroforcongress.com/issues/

Campaign contributions

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Source: This graphic was generated using data from the FEC.

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Source: This graphic was generated using data from the FEC.

Brian Fitzpatrick

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Source: This graphic was generated using data from the FEC.

Steve Santarsiero

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Source: This graphic was generated using data from the FEC.

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The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may not represent all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer, and campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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District history

2014

Michael G. Fitzpatrick won re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. He defeated Kevin Strouse in the general election.

U.S. House, Pennsylvania District 8 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Michael G. Fitzpatrick Incumbent	61.9%	137,731
	Democratic	Kevin Strouse	38.1%	84,767
Total Votes				222,498
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State

2012

The 8th Congressional District of Pennsylvania held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Michael G. Fitzpatrick (R) won re-election in the district.

U.S. House, Pennsylvania District 8 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Kathryn Boockvar	43.4%	152,859
	Republican	Michael G. Fitzpatrick Incumbent	56.6%	199,379
Total Votes				352,238
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

Important dates and deadlines

See also: Pennsylvania elections, 2016

The calendar below lists important dates for political candidates in Pennsylvania in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline	Event type	Event description
February 16, 2016	Ballot access	Last day to file nomination petitions for the primary election
March 15, 2016	Campaign finance	Sixth Tuesday pre-primary report due
April 15, 2016	Campaign finance	Second Friday pre-primary report due
April 26, 2016	Election date	Primary election
May 26, 2016	Campaign finance	30-day post-primary report due
August 1, 2016	Ballot access	Last day to file nomination petitions for the general election
September 27, 2016	Campaign finance	Sixth Tuesday pre-general report due
October 28, 2016	Campaign finance	Second Friday pre-general report due
November 8, 2016	Election date	General election
December 8, 2016	Campaign finance	30-day post-general report due
January 31, 2017	Campaign finance	2016 annual report due
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, "2016 Election Calendar," accessed January 11, 2016

See also

• United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2016
• United States House of Representatives elections, 2016

Footnotes

For information about public policy issues in the 2016 elections, see: Public policy in the 2016 elections!

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Pennsylvania's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Bob Casey (D)

John Fetterman (D)

Representatives

District 1

Brian Fitzpatrick (R)

District 2

Brendan Boyle (D)

District 3

Dwight Evans (D)

District 4

Madeleine Dean (D)

District 5

Mary Scanlon (D)

District 6

Chrissy Houlahan (D)

District 7

Susan Wild (D)

District 8

Matt Cartwright (D)

District 9

Dan Meuser (R)

District 10

Scott Perry (R)

District 11

Lloyd Smucker (R)

District 12

Summer Lee (D)

District 13

John Joyce (R)

District 14

Guy Reschenthaler (R)

District 15

Glenn Thompson (R)

District 16

Mike Kelly (R)

District 17

Chris Deluzio (D)

Democratic Party (11)

Republican Party (8)