Shuster runs away with 9th Congressional
Less than one percentage point separated incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster from GOP primary opponent Art Halvorson in April, but, oh, what a difference six months makes.
Halvorson, whose campaign against Shuster was resurrected by winning the Democratic write-in nomination, trailed badly election night. The Pennsylvania Department of State website showed Shuster with 63.87 percent of the vote while Halvorson had a mere 36.13 percent.
The raw vote was Shuster, 147,477 to Halvorson’s 83,418.
Washington and Greene counties lie on the fringes of the 12-county district that stretches 150 miles eastward to Altoona and Chambersburg. Most of the two counties’ communities in the Mon Valley are included in the 9th Congressional District. With all of Greene County’s 44 precincts reporting, Shuster had 4,618 votes to Halvorson’s 2,100. In Washington County, with all 176 precincts reporting, Shuster topped Halvorson 10,672 to 7,783.
In a statement, Shuster said, “We were successful because instead of focusing on negative and personal attacks that bring out the worst in politics, like my opponent did, we stayed committed to talking about improving our communities with positive ideas and solutions. For those who did not support me, I hear your concerns and I will work hard to earn your support and trust.
“I’m honored to represent this region and appreciate the opportunity to continue serving the 9th Congressional District.”
The next contest between Halvorson and the Shuster campaign is scheduled to take place next month in the courtroom of District Judge Richard Kasunic II in Dunbar Township, Fayette County.
What was already an unusual congressional contest made headlines last month when state police filed a summary citation of harassment against Halvorson in connection with an August incident at the Fayette County Fair.
State police accuse Halvorson of grabbing and squeezing the wrist of a Shuster campaign worker. Halvorson maintains he touched no one and requested an expedited hearing before Election Day rather than the Dec. 5 date set.
Halvorson asked the Fayette County district attorney to prosecute what he has called the filing of a false police report, and he threatened to sue for defamation. Halvorson said he is “exercising all avenues to make sure the rule of law is preserved. My honor is important to me but the rule of law is important to all of us.”
In the 18th Congressional District, which includes the western parts of Washington and Greene counties, U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, was running unopposed for an eighth, two-year term.