Campaign spending on this year’s U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania totaled more than $334 million, and Republican Dave McCormick had a $13.7 million spending edge against Democratic incumbent Bob Casey.
McCormick unseated Casey by a narrow margin — less than 15,000 votes and 0.18% of the vote — in the Nov. 6 election. Casey’s campaign outspent McCormick’s campaign $62.7 million to $31.7 million, but outside groups spent more $239.7 million on the race, according to data gathered by OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks campaign finance and lobbying.
The Pennsylvania Senate contest was the second most expensive in the nation. The general election candidates for Ohio’s Senate seat and outside groups spent more than more than $421 million on that race.
Outside spending comes from groups and individuals that operate independently from and don’t coordinated with candidates’ committees. Outside groups shelled out $20.6 million supporting of Casey, $110.8 million opposing Casey, $31.3 supporting McCormick and $76.9 million opposing McCormick, according to OpenSecrets.
8th Congressional District
Spending on the 8th Congressional District contest totaled more than $32.3 million. Republican Rob Bresnahan unseated U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright despite Cartwright’s $5.7 million spending edge.
The most expensive congressional race was in California’s 45th Congressional District with more than $50.2 million spent.
Cartwright, a Democrat from Moosic, spent $8.4 million in campaign committee funds. Bresnahan, a businessman from Dallas Twp., spent $3.6 million in campaign committee funds.
Outside groups spent $764,934 million supporting of Cartwright, $8.6 million opposing Cartwright, $1.2 million supporting Bresnahan and $9.8 million opposing Bresnahan, according to OpenSecrets.
The 8th district includes: the most populated parts of Luzerne County in the eastern portion of the county; most of Monroe County; and all of Lackawanna, Pike and Wayne counties.
7th Congressional District
The race for the 7th Congressional District cost more than $37.4 million. Republican Ryan Mackenzie unseatedU.S. Rep. Susan Wild despite Wild’s spending edge of $9.3 million.
Wild, a resident of South Whitehall Twp. in Lehigh County, spent $8.7 million in campaign committee funds.Mackenzie, who was a state representative and lives in Lower Macungie Twp., Lehigh County, spent $1.7 million in committee funds.
Outside groups spent $4.7 million supporting of Wild, $10.9 million opposing Wild, $1.5 million supporting Mackenzie and nearly $10 million opposing Mackenzie, according to OpenSecrets.
The 7th district includes all of Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton counties, and parts of Monroe County.
9th Congressional District
The 9th Congressional District is a heavily Republican district, and the race between U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, a Republican from Jackson Twp., and Democrat Amanda Waldman was significantly less costly than the more competitive contests for the 7th and 8th Districts.
Meuser’s campaign committee spent 1.7 million. Waldman’s campaign spent $9,001. Outside groups sent $2,740 supporting Meuser, $1,456 supporting Waldman, $914 opposing Meusuer and $0 opposing Waldman, according to OpenSecrets.
Meuser’s district includes: the western, more rural parts of Luzerne County; all of Bradford, Columbia, Lebanon, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties; and parts of Berks and Lycoming counties.
![Mr. and Mrs. Jon YonKondy, of West Pittston, are delighted to announce the marriage of their daughter, Jillian YonKondy, to Drew Love, son of Andrew Love, of Hanover, and Nancy Senchak, of White Haven. Jillian is the granddaughter of the late Vincent and Regina (Dobilas) Poplawski, Dupont, and the late John and Anne (Puchalsky) YonKondy, […]](https://www.citizensvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CVC-L-WEDYONKONDYLOVE-1229.jpg?w=234 "Mr. and Mrs. Jon YonKondy, of West Pittston, are delighted to announce the marriage of their daughter, Jillian YonKondy, to Drew Love, son of Andrew Love, of Hanover, and Nancy Senchak, of White Haven. Jillian is the granddaughter of the late Vincent and Regina (Dobilas) Poplawski, Dupont, and the late John and Anne (Puchalsky) YonKondy, […]")
![A shiny, blue 1970 AMC Hornet cruises down the street, blasting music from its cassette player and turning heads as it passes. In the driver’s seat of the 54-year-old car is its unexpected owner, 21-year-old Carly Kappler of Dallas. Kappler bought and restored the classic car when she was a teenager, using her family’s love of old cars to foster her passion for hands-on work. She always knew that she wanted a classic car and loved the uniqueness of the 1970 AMC Hornet, which she said is usually junked instead of restored. When Kappler found the car, she knew it […]](https://www.citizensvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CVC-L-KAPLER4-12EG.jpg?w=538 "A shiny, blue 1970 AMC Hornet cruises down the street, blasting music from its cassette player and turning heads as it passes. In the driver’s seat of the 54-year-old car is its unexpected owner, 21-year-old Carly Kappler of Dallas. Kappler bought and restored the classic car when she was a teenager, using her family’s love of old cars to foster her passion for hands-on work. She always knew that she wanted a classic car and loved the uniqueness of the 1970 AMC Hornet, which she said is usually junked instead of restored. When Kappler found the car, she knew it […]")