What's Next For Sestak's House Seat?
So with Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) now gearing up to challenge party-switching Sen. Arlen Specter in the Democratic primary, what happens now to his House seat?
A Pennsylvania Democratic source says that state Rep. Bryan Lentz, an Iraq War veteran who had briefly run for the seat in 2006 before yielding to Sestak, will be in the race for sure. A Republican source points to Steven Welch, founder of biopharmaceutical manufacturing company Mitos Technologies, as a prospective candidate.
National Democrats feel reasonably optimistic about retaining the seat, as the district voted 56%-43% for Barack Obama. On the other hand, my GOP source does point out that it was closer in 2004, with Kerry winning it 53%-47%, and Republican Rep. Curt Weldon held the seat for quite a while before Sestak's win in 2006.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
If Kerry won by 6% I don't see much hope for the GOP unless the political winds make an abrupt about-face. 2004 wasn't exactly a good year for Democrats.
May 28, 2009 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's known locally that the Republican's greatest concern is having to face Sestak's younger brother, Rich, who's the natural of the brothers, well-liked, runs his brother's campaigns, and does fundraising. He also worked on the Clinton and Obama campaigns.
The Sestak's have the only Democratic viable organizaton in this historically Republican District, and the Republicans have always been fearful that Sestak's younger brother would run for County Council and break the Republican's 30-year, one-party rule on it.
Sestak's younger brother, who ran as a District delegate to the DNC convention last year and won, actually had a higher vote total than Craig Williams who was the Republican candidate for Congress.
May 28, 2009 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
"A Republican source points to Steven Welch,"
from opensecrets.org
WELCH, STEVEN
PHOENIXVILLE,PA 19460 MITOS TECHOLOGIES INC./PRESIDENT 9/29/06 $300 Sestak, Joe (D)
Do Repubs usually donate to the opposition?
May 28, 2009 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink