Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District elections, 2014
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November 4, 2014 |
May 20, 2014 |
Patrick Meehan  |
Patrick Meehan |
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Cook Political Report: Solid Republican[1] Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe R[2] |
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The 7th Congressional District of Pennsylvania held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Patrick Meehan, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary, defeated Mary Ellen Balchunis, who also ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, in the general election. The race was rated a "Safe Republican" contest by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.[3]
| Candidate Filing Deadline | Primary Election | General Election |
|---|---|---|
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.[4][5]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Voter registration: To vote in the primary, voters had to register by April 20, 2014. For the general election, the voter registration deadline was October 6, 2014 (at least 30 days prior to election).[6]
- See also: Pennsylvania elections, 2014
Incumbent: Heading into the election the incumbent was Patrick Meehan (R), who was first elected in 2010.
Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District is located in the southeast region of Pennsylvania and borders the states of Delaware and New Jersey. It includes portions of Berks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, and Montgomery counties.[7] On March 30, 2012, the 7th District was included in a list released by the National Journal of the top ten most contorted congressional districts due to redistricting.[8]
Candidates
General election candidates
- Patrick Meehan - Incumbent
[9] 
Mary Ellen Balchunis[9]
May 20, 2014, primary results
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Election results
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Patrick Meehan Incumbent |
62% | 145,869 | |
| Democratic | Mary Ellen Balchunis | 38% | 89,256 | |
| Total Votes | 235,125 | |||
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State | ||||
Campaign themes
Meehan's campaign website listed the following issues:[11]
- Economy
- Excerpt: "As the nation works to recover from the recession, our top economic priority must be to produce new, good paying and sustainable jobs in our region. That means developing an economic environment that allows small businesses to grow and flourish, creating new job opportunities for local residents."
- Fiscal Responsibility and Taxes
- Excerpt: "Congressman Meehan is a voice for fiscal responsibility in Washington, DC and will fight any effort to increase taxes on the middle class."
- Health Care
- Excerpt: "Congressman Meehan believes the current health care debate in Washington must focus on two key issues: controlling health care costs and increasing accessibility to health care."
- Transportation
- Excerpt: "Congressman Meehan believes that in order to ensure the future prosperity and continued economic development of the United States we must make it a priority to reinvest in our transportation system."
- Seniors – Protecting Social Security and Medicare
- Excerpt: "Congressman Meehan knows that Social Security and Medicare are an important part of an individual’s retirement and they are promises that the federal government needs to keep."
- Energy
- Excerpt: "Congressman Meehan believes that America must have access to affordable sources of energy if we expect to be economically viable, maintain our standard of living and become less reliant on foreign sources of energy."
Key votes
Below are important votes that Meehan cast during the 113th Congress.
National security
DHS Appropriations
Meehan voted in favor of HR 2217 - the DHS Appropriations Act of 2014. The bill passed the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 245 - 182 and was largely along party lines.[12]
Keystone Pipeline Amendment
Meehan voted against House Amendment 69, which would have amended HR 3 to "require that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, conduct a study of the vulnerabilities of the Keystone XL pipeline to a terrorist attack and certify that necessary protections have been put in place." The amendment failed on May 22, 2013, with a vote of 176 - 239 and was largely along party lines.[12]
CISPA (2013)
Meehan voted in favor of HR 624 - the CISPA (2013). The bill passed the House on April 18, 2013, with a vote of 288 - 127. The bill permitted federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities.[13] The bill was largely supported by Republicans, but divided the Democratic Party.[12]
NDAA
Meehan voted in support of HR 1960 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill passed the House on June 14, 2013, with a vote of 315 - 108. Both parties were somewhat divided on the vote.[12]
Economy
Farm bill
On January 29, 2014, the U.S. House approved the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, H.R. 2642, also known as the Farm Bill.[14] The bill passed by a vote of 251-166. The nearly 1,000-page bill reformed and continued various programs of the Department of Agriculture through 2018. The $1 trillion bill expanded crop insurance for farmers by $7 billion over the next decade and created new subsidies for rice and peanut growers that would kick in when prices drop.[15][16] It also cut the food stamp program an average of $90 per month for 1.7 million people in 15 states.[16] Meehan voted with 161 other Republican representatives in favor of the bill.
2014 Budget
On January 15, 2014, the Republican-run House approved H.R. 3547, a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September 30, 2014.[17][18] The House voted 359-67 for the 1,582-page bill, with 64 Republicans and three Democrats voting against the bill.[18] The omnibus package included 12 annual spending bills to fund federal operations.[19] It increased the paychecks of federal workers and military personnel by 1 percent, increased Head Start funding for early childhood education by $1 billion, reduced funding to the Internal Revenue Service and the Environmental Protection Agency, and protected the Affordable Care Act from any drastic cuts. Meehan voted with the majority of the Republican Party in favor of the bill.[17]
Government shutdown
- See also: United States budget debate, 2013
On September 30, 2013, the House passed a final stopgap spending bill before the shutdown went into effect. The bill included a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and would have also stripped the bill of federal subsidies for congressional members and staff. It passed through the House with a vote of 228-201.[20] At 1 a.m. on October 1, 2013, one hour after the shutdown officially began, the House voted to move forward with going to a conference. In short order, Sen. Harry Reid rejected the call to conference.[21] Meehan voted to approve the stopgap spending bill that would have delayed the individual mandate.[22]
The shutdown ended on October 16, 2013, when the House took a vote on HR 2775 after it was approved by the Senate. The bill to reopen the government lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funded the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies.[23] The House passed the legislation shortly after the Senate, by a vote of 285-144, with all 144 votes against the legislation coming from Republican members. Meehan voted for HR 2775.[24]
Immigration
Morton Memos Prohibition
Meehan voted in favor of House Amendment 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order. The amendment was adopted by the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 224 - 201. The purpose of the amendment as stated on the official text is to "prohibit the use of funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos." These memos would have granted administrative amnesty to certain individuals residing in the United States without legal status. The vote largely followed party lines.[12]
Healthcare
Health Care Reform Rules
Meehan voted against House Amendment 450 - Requires Congressional Approval for Any Rules Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The amendment was adopted by the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 227-185. The amendment requires all changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act be approved by Congress before taking effect. The vote was largely along party lines.[12]
Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act
Meehan voted against HR 2009 - Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013. The bill passed through the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 232-185. The bill would prevent the IRS and Treasury Secretary from enforcing the powers provided to them in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The vote largely followed party lines.[12]
Government affairs
HR 676
On July 30, 2014, the U.S. House approved a resolution 225 to 201 to sue President Barack Obama for exceeding his constitutional authority. Five Republicans—Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Paul Broun of Georgia, Scott Garrett of New Jersey, Walter Jones of North Carolina and Steve Stockman of Texas—voted with Democrats against the lawsuit.[25] Meehan joined the other 224 Republicans in favor of the lawsuit. All Democrats voted against the resolution.[26][27]
Campaign contributions
Patrick Meehan
Candidates for Congress were required to file reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Patrick Meehan's reports.[28]
| Patrick Meehan (2014) Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
| April Quarterly[29] | April 15, 2013 | $1,007,477.33 | $207,367.00 | $(153,706.43) | $1,061,137.90 | ||||
| July Quarterly[30] | July 15, 2013 | $1,061,137.90 | $402,221.00 | $(104,221.71) | $1,359,137.19 | ||||
| October Quarterly[31] | October 13, 2013 | $1,359,137.19 | $162,586.00 | $(117,462.62) | $1,404,260.57 | ||||
| Year-End[32] | January 31, 2014 | $1,404,260 | $280,115 | $(92,473) | $1,591,902 | ||||
| April Quarterly[33] | April 15, 2014 | $1,590,902.16 | $149,014.26 | $(130,772.94) | $1,609,143.48 | ||||
| Running totals | |||||||||
| $1,201,303.26 | $(598,636.7) | ||||||||
Mary Ellen Balchunis
Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Balchunis' reports.[34]
| Mary Ellen Balchunis (2014) Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
| April Quarterly[35] | April 15, 2014 | $0.00 | $10,119.06 | $(506.28) | $9,612.78 | ||||
| Running totals | |||||||||
| $10,119.06 | $(506.28) | ||||||||
District history
| Candidate ballot access |
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2012
The 7th Congressional District of Pennsylvania held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Patrick Meehan (R) won re-election in the district.[36]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | George Badey | 40.6% | 143,509 | |
| Republican | Patrick Meehan Incumbent |
59.4% | 209,942 | |
| Total Votes | 353,451 | |||
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
2010
On November 2, 2010, Patrick Meehan won election to the United States House. He defeated Bryan Lentz (D) and James D. Schneller (American Congress Party) in the general election.[37]
| U.S. House, Pennsylvania District 7 General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Patrick Meehan |
54.9% | 137,825 | |
| Democratic | Bryan Lentz | 44% | 110,314 | |
| American Congress Party | James D. Schneller | 1.1% | 2,708 | |
| Total Votes | 250,847 | |||
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2014
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2014
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "2014 HOUSE RACE RATINGS FOR AUGUST 8, 2014," accessed August 21, 2014
- ↑ Sabato's Crystal Ball, "2014 House Races," accessed August 21, 2014
- ↑ Roll Call, "2014 Election Race Ratings," accessed September 17, 2014
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures Website, "State Primary Election Types," accessed September 24, 2024
- ↑ Casetext, "25 Pa. Stat. § 299," accessed September 24, 2024
- ↑ Votes PA, "How to Register," accessed January 3, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Redistricting Map "Map" accessed July 30, 2012
- ↑ National Journal "Modern Gerrymanders: 10 Most Contorted Congressional Districts—MAPS" accessed March 31, 2012
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Associated Press, "Pennsylvania - Summary Vote Results," May 20, 2014
- ↑ Delco Times, "Rep. Meehan visits Riddle's ER to assess Affordable Care Act implementation," accessed March 11, 2014
- ↑ Campaign website, "Issues," accessed March 17, 2014
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 Project Vote Smart, "Patrick Meehan Key Votes," accessed October 15, 2013
- ↑ The Library of Congress, "Bill Summary & Status - 113th Congress (2013 - 2014) - H.R.624," accessed August 27, 2013
- ↑ Clerk of U.S. House, "Roll Call Vote 31: H.R. 2642," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ Politico, "House clears farm bill," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 New York Times, "Senate passes long-stalled farm bill, with clear winners and losers," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 CNN.com, "House passes compromise $1.1 trillion budget for 2014," accessed January 20, 2014
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 U.S. House, "Roll Call Vote 21," accessed January 20, 2014
- ↑ Roll Call, "House passes $1.1 trillion omnibus," accessed January 15, 2014
- ↑ Clerk of the U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 504," accessed October 31, 2013
- ↑ Buzzfeed, "Government Shutdown: How We Got Here," accessed October 1, 2013
- ↑ Clerk of the U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 504," accessed October 31, 2013
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Reid, McConnell propose bipartisan Senate bill to end shutdown, extend borrowing," accessed October 16, 2013
- ↑ U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 550," accessed October 31, 2013
- ↑ U.S. House, "House Resolution 676," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ Associated Press, "Suing Obama: GOP-led House gives the go-ahead," July 31, 2014
- ↑ Washington Post, "House clears way for lawsuit against Obama," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Patrick Meehan 2014 Summary reports," accessed October 28, 2013
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "April Quarterly," accessed July 22, 2013
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "July Quarterly," accessed July 22, 2013
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "October Quarterly," accessed October 28, 2013
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Meehan Year-End," accessed February 5, 2014
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "April Quarterly," accessed April 21, 2014
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Balchunis 2014 Summary reports," accessed April 23, 2014
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "April Quarterly," accessed April 23, 2014
- ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, Pennsylvania"
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
