Two Republicans, one nominated by Democrats, square off on 9th Congressional District ballot
Life doesn’t often present chances for a do-over, but that’s exactly what Art Halvorson and incumbent U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster face Nov. 8.
You could call it the “Battle of Bedford County” – where both candidates reside – except the 9th Congressional District, created in the wake of the 2010 U.S. Census, includes all or parts of a dozen counties, stretching from Mon Valley communities and places more than 150 miles east.
In April’s Republican primary, Shuster, with 50.63 percent of the vote, squeaked by Halvorson’s 49.37 percent.
Because no Democrat filed for the 9th Congressional District’s April primary, there was an opening for a write-in candidate. Halvorson, a Tea Party Republican, finished with the most write-in votes and, during the summer, he accepted the Democratic nomination to try to oust the incumbent again.
From a campaign finance aspect, it’s a David vs. Goliath race. With the election looming, Shuster has about 100 times more money than the Halvorson campaign.
According to filings made available through the Federal Elections Commission website, the Taxpayers for Art Halvorson Committee had $9,454 available at the end of September, the close of the most recent reporting period. Halvorson’s committee had total receipts of $21,844, including $815 from the candidate.
The same database showed the Bill Shuster for Congress committee had $969,992 cash on hand during the same period and listed no contributions from the candidate.
The challenger has not done any polling, which can be a expensive endeavor.
“While we don’t have money, we have the people behind us,” Halvorson said last week in a phone interview.
Shuster, 55, in an email, wrote, “This race isn’t about campaign donations, it’s about running on my record of fighting for people of all backgrounds and political affiliations, compared to my opponent who continues to say degrading things about our community and has lost twice as a Republican so is trying for a third time, but as a Democrat.”
Last year, in a Tweet, Halvorson referred to the Democratic Party as “godless.”
Anyone who votes a straight Democratic Party ticket in the 9th Congressional District will be voting for Halvorson, a Republican, which places him in the unusual position of riding on the coattails of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Most polls show Clinton leading Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, but Democratic strongholds in Philadelphia and Allegheny County have long held the key to unlocking Pennsylvania’s electoral votes. Predominantly rural areas, like those that make up the bulk of the 9th Congressional District, are heavily Republican.
Halvorson’s campaign has contracted with Aristotle political technology to provide information about the voter registration of the district, which he said shows 47 percent Republican, 42 percent Democratic and 11 percent other or independent.
In the Observer-Reporter’s circulation area, Trump has consistently out-polled Clinton in five, unscientific online surveys conducted between March and Oct. 20, receiving a nod from between 56 and 60 percent of the respondents. Clinton’s totals hovered between 26 and 33 percent. Shuster was part of the Pennsylvania delegation that nominated Trump as the GOP presidential candidate in Cleveland. Halvorson called his support of Trump “measured, which applies to the things that I agree with him on.”
According to the Cook Partisan Voting Index, in 2010, the 9th District was the most Republican district in Pennsylvania. After the state’s Republican-dominated legislature advanced a reapportionment plan, traditional Democratic strongholds in Washington, Greene and Fayette counties were taken out of the late Democrat John Murtha’s former 12th Congressional District. This diluted Democratic strength in what remained of the 12th District and added outnumbered Democrats to the 9th District.
“How we got on the ballot was totally unexpected,” Halvorson said. “In American politics, as far as we can tell, this is unprecedented. It is a a good metaphor for 2016. Both parties have something to learn here. They are losing their grip on power.”
Halvorson, 61, of Manns Choice, a decorated retiree from the U.S. Coast Guard who is a farmer and small-business owner, said while he has been door-knocking in the district, he has met many Reagan Democrats who voted for Republian presidential candidates, and called them, “pro-life, pro-energy, pro-gun. They’re pro-everything I’m for.”
Shuster, 55, of Everett, who succeeded his father, Bud Shuster, in Congress in 2001, also followed in his father’s footsteps as chairman of the House Transportation Committee. Halvorson claims Shuster is too closely aligned with the Republican establishment, and his website calls for an end to what it calls “the Shuster Dynasty” lasting 44 years.
“This region that has suffered under his quote-unquote rule. Through direct private investmemt, we need to rise from the ashes. In this so-called rustbelt, we need someone to lead us out of the rust. It’s crushing people. It’s a crushing weight,” Halvorson said.
Shuster responded, “I was born in the Mon Valley and my parents grew up in Glassport. Representing these communities is an honor, and while Halvorson tries to say this is about power, it’s not. This job is about service, and I’m working every day to make sure my constituents have a strong voice and that their views are being heard. This region’s best years are still to come, and I’ll keep doing everything I can to fight the war on coal and protect our jobs while also making sure our communities are safe by stopping the opioid epidemic that is hurting this region.
“Jobs remain the most important issue for the 9th Congressional District. I raised my family here and have spent my whole life in this region, and I know how hardworking and caring the people are. I’m continuing to support efforts to stop Obama’s War on Coal, and I also strongly oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal as it would send our region’s jobs overseas. We need to encourage our small businesses to grow and others to relocate here. We can do that by stopping unnecessary government regulations that increase costs and lowering the tax rate on our businesses so they can use that money to hire new workers and invest in new technologies instead of sending it to Washington.”
Both candidates hold master’s of business administration degrees.
What was already an unusual congressional contest made headlines earlier this 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 by District Judge Richard Kasunic II in Dunbar Township.
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.”
Halvorson has questioned if the incumbent has played a role in the case against him.
“This is an issue that is between Art Halvorson and our legal system,” Shuster wrote. “State police have charged him with harassment for aggressively grabbing the young woman (who) works for me. I support her and admire her strength in how she has handled this terrible situation and how strong she has been in recent days as Halvorson continues to harass her with remarks in the media and online.”
On the Democratic ballot in April, Halvorson received a few dozen more write-in votes than Adam Sedlock, a Uniontown psychologist. Sedlock is again a write-in candidate Nov. 8 and has a Facebook page, Adam Sedlock for Congress.
The website for Halvorson is www.rescueusa.org and the website for Shuster is www.billshusterforcongress.com.
In Washington County, the 9th Congressional District includes Monongahela, Carroll, East Bethlehem and parts of Fallowfield townships; plus Allenport, Bentleyville, California, Centerville, Charleroi, Coal Center, Donora, Dunlevy, Elco, Long Branch, New Eagle, North Charleroi, Roscoe, Speers, Stockdale, Twilight and West Brownsville.
In Greene County, the district includes Carmichaels, Clarksville, Greensboro, Jefferson and Rices Landing, plus Cumberland Dunkard, Greene, Jefferson and Monongahela townships and the Chartiers/Teagarden and Mather neighborhoods of Morgan Township.
In Westmoreland County, the district includes Monessen.
In the 18th Congressional District, which covers the rest of Washington and Greene counties and many communities in Westmoreland County, incumbent U.S. Rep Tim Murphy, a Republican, is running unopposed for an eighth, two-year term,