11 Things To Know About Pennsylvania’s 9th District
GOP Rep. Bill Shuster announced Tuesday that he’s not running for re-election so that he can more closely focus on working with President Donald Trump on an infrastructure bill, leaving behind an open seat.
Here are a few key things to know as the race develops:
- Geography: The South Central – Altoona district shares a southern border with West Virginia and Maryland, according to CQ’s Politics in America.
- Recent Presidential Results: Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton 70-27 percent in 2016, Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama 63-36 percent in 2012
- Other election results: 2014 Governor – GOP Gov. Tom Corbett over Democrat Tom Wolf 55-45 percent (even though Corbett lost statewide by nearly 10 points). 2012 Senate Republican Tom Smith over Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Jr. 59-39 percent (Casey won statewide by 9 points).
- Demographics: The district’s white (non-Hispanic) population is 93 percent compared to national district average of 61 percent; average age is 44 compared to national district average of 38; 19 percent have a college degree compared to national district average of 31 percent.
- Inside Elections rating: Solid Republican.
- Outgoing member: Bill Shuster, chairman of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, first elected unopposed in a 2001 special election to succeed his father, Rep. Bud Shuster.
- Filing Deadline: March 6
- Primary Date: May 15
- Potential Republican Field: State Sen. John Eichelberger, State House Majority Leader Dave Reed (per Roll Call)
- Potential Democratic Field: Initial prospects aren’t great considering the party’s 2016 nominee, Art Halvorson, lost to Shuster in the Republican primary but gained enough write-in votes to become the Democratic nominee.
- Retirement Rundown: Shuster is the 21st House Member (and fifteenth Republican) to announce they would not be seeing re-election without running for another office.
