After 24-point loss in 2014, college professor tries again against congressman
(Harrisburg) — A three-term congressman in the midstate faces a familiar challenger in November.
Democrat Mary Ellen Balchunis is running against Congressman Patrick Meehan for the second straight time.
Photo by Balchunis campaign
Mary Ellen Balchunis.
Balchunis lost to Meehan by 24 points in 2014, but she says she knew she wouldn’t win her first try.
“If we could do it any year, this is the year to do it, with Hillary on the ballot, that will help us downballot. Not just me, but even the candidates further down the ballot, the state reps and the state senators,” says Balchunis.
Balchunis also says more people are registered as Democrats in the 7th district this year compared to two years ago. The district includes eastern Lancaster County and southeastern Berks County.
She adds: “So we know that I will do better than some of the other candidates, and also this used to be an R plus four district, but it’s now an R plus two district.”
As for policy, she emphasizes three points: preserving Medicare and Social Security, college affordability, and gun violence.
Photo by AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File
In this March 20, 2013, file photo, House Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies subcommittee Chairman Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Congressman Meehan’s campaign didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.
He’s more centrist than most Republicans in the House, according to the nonpartisan website GovTrack.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
