# 2019 Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district special election

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vte :
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.

## 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.
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. Wolf set the election for May 21. Primary elections were not held in the race. Instead, nominees were chosen by each party. Republicans selected their nominee on March 2.

## Republican conferee meeting
### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Fred Keller, state representative

#### Defeated at the convention

* Jessica Bowman-Hosley, professor
* Malcolm Derk, former Snyder County commissioner
* Kevin Ferrara, veteran
* Stacy Garrity, businesswoman
* Davis C. Haire, doctor
* Chris Hoffman, vice president of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau
* Matthew McDermott
* Doug McLinko, Bradford County commissioner and candidate for Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district in 2018
* Patrick Miller, law student
* Maria Montero
* Joseph Moralez, vice president of a statewide nursing agency
* Robert Noerr, former National Debate Tournament qualifier
* Joseph Peters, former state deputy attorney general and candidate for Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district in 2018

#### Withdrawn

* Christopher Bain
* James Canning, businessman and constable
* Gerald Carlin, businessman
* Brian Fuller, activist
* Bobby Jeffries
* Dale McElhattan
* Chuck Risio
* Matthew Timm
* Jeff Wheeland, state representative
* Matthew Zeigler, lawyer

#### Declined to run

* Lou Barletta, former U.S. Representative and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018
* Jake Corman, majority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate
* Keith Eckel, former president of the State Farm Bureau
* Jonathan Fritz, state representative
* Davis C. Haire
* Sandra Major, former state representative
* Tony Mussare, Lycoming County commissioner
* Michael Peifer, state representative
* Mario Scavello, state senator
* Jeff Stroehmann, businessman
* Dave Weber, district director for outgoing U.S. Representative Tom Marino
* Eugene Yaw, state senator

## 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.

## General election
### Endorsements

Federal politicians
* Donald Trump, President of the United States
* Tom Marino, former U.S. Representative (PA-12)
* G.T. Thompson, U.S. Representative (PA-15)
* Guy Reschenthaler, U.S. Representative (PA-14)
* Lou Barletta, former U.S. Representative (PA-11) and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018
Local officeholders
* Joe Kantz, Snyder County Commissioner Chairman
* John Zechman, Snyder County Sheriff
* Preston Boop, Union County Commissioner Chairman
* Lee Knepp, Snyder County Commissioner Vice Chairman
Organizations
* American Conservative Union
* U.S. Chamber of Commerce
* National Right to Life Committee
* Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation
* National Federation of Independent Business
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* BIPAC
* Fraternal Order of Police Bald Eagle Lodge 51 (Centre County)
* Susan B. Anthony List
Federal politicians
* Bob Casey Jr., U.S. Senator (D-PA)
* Joe Sestak, former U.S. Representative (PA-7)
* Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor
Statewide and local politicians
* John Fetterman, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
Labor unions
* Pennsylvania AFL–CIO
Organizations
* Democratic Jewish Outreach Pennsylvania
* Progressive Democrats of America
* Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter

### Debates

| Dates | Location | Keller | Friedenberg | Link |
| May 2, 2019 | Luzerne County | Participant | Participant | |

### 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 ||||

### Results

Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district special election, 2019 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Fred Keller | 90,000 | 68.08% | +2.04% |
| | Democratic | Marc Friedenberg | 42,195 | 31.92% | −2.04% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 132,195 | 100.0% | N/A |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |