No surprises in midstate congressional races

(Lancaster) — After all the votes are tallied on election night, not much has changed in the midstate’s congressional delegation.

There is only one new face — Republican Ryan Costello, a Chester County commissioner, who beat physician Manan Trivedi in the open seat race for the 6th Congressional District. Costello will replace Republican Jim Gerlach, who is retiring after six terms.

Elsewhere across the midstate delegation, incumbents held on to their seats.

Longtime Republican Congressman Joe Pitts will be heading to Washington for a 10th term. The 75-year-old successfully fought off a little-known Democratic challenger, Tom Houghton to earn the 16th District House seat, which includes Lancaster county and parts of Berks and Chester Counties.

Houghton didn’t have the money or name recognition to compete with his GOP opponent. His political resume was also a lot shorter, having served only one two-year term as a state representative.

He was successful, however in making the campaign all about one topic: a controversial natural gas pipeline. If built, it would cut through parts of western Lancaster County.

Houghton opposed it. Pitts hasn’t taken a position, but he says he will share his constituents concerns with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) — the agency that will decide whether the project moves forward.

“They can only make the decision based on facts. So the engineers at FERC—not the politicians—will make the decisions,” he says. “So I think I’m most affective in advocating for them that way.”

Pitts says the pipeline was not a top priority for voters, noting hey were more concerned about other issues, like the economy and Obamacare.

The midstate’s congressional delegation will continue to be solidly red.

Democrat Matt Cartwright is the exception. Voters gave the Democrat a second term in the 17th Congressional District, which includes parts of Berks, Dauphin, Lebanon, Perry and Schuylkill counties.

The incumbents are headed back to Washington in the following races:

· Patrick Meehan (R) 7th congressional district: portions of Berks and Lancaster County

· Lou Barletta (R) 11th congressional district: All of Columbia County and parts of Cumberland, Dauphin, Northumberland and Perry counties.

· Glenn Thompson (R) 5th congressional district: portions of Juniata and Mifflin counties

· Scott Perry (R) 4th congressional district: Adams County and portions of York, Dauphin and Cumberland counties. He defeated Democrat and former Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson.

· Tom Marino (R) 10th congressional district: portions of Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties

· Charlie Dent (R) 15th congressional district: portions of Berks, Dauphin and Lebanon counties.

· Joe Pitts (R) 16th congressional district: portions of Lancaster and Berks counties