2012 Election Wrap Up What does it mean for our industry? Elections always result in winners and losers and, in the aftermath, a plethora of political pundits and analysts try to assess what the results mean for certain groups. Therefore, the APC staff has put together this summary for your information. Overall, the PA Department of State reported that voter turnout was approximately 65%, which was slightly lower than during the 2008 Presidential Election (68%). While the voter turnout was less than in 2008, Pennsylvania still produced a passionate voting public, but with mixed political ideologies. While Pennsylvania continued to show its “blue-state stripes,” there were some glimmers where the Republicans made gains, noticeably by increasing its GOP-heavy congressional delegation by one and defending its solid majorities in the General Assembly. What does the election mean for transportation funding and for APC members? There is no doubt that it was the democrats’ day in the past election cycle. Governor Corbett and U.S. Senator Pat Toomey are now the only statewide elected officeholders in the state. Corbett faces re-election in 2014 but Toomey not until 2016. Both Corbett and Toomey will undoubtedly be searching for answers on how to avoid the same democratic wave from costing them their political offices should they decide to stand re-election. Additionally, GOP party leaders are analyzing how to reverse an increasingly democratic voting presence in future election campaigns. While transportation funding wasn’t a major component of any of the state and national races in Pennsylvania, APC’s analysis of the results are actually quite favorable for transportation funding. Many of the candidates that support transportation funding, and those receiving support from the TCI-PAC, were either elected or re-elected to the General Assembly. That listing is provided to you at the end of this report. Additionally, the apparent mood of the Pennsylvania electorate is that it wants leadership and results from its elected government. A strong “bipartisan sentiment” was noticed at the polls as evidenced by both parties claiming victories in a largely pro-incumbent and status quo election. APC believes this environment will present a unique opportunity to place transportation funding at the top of the legislative agenda, as it represents the 2 single, best bipartisan legislative package before the General Assembly at this time. Support from transportation funding has been seen in both chambers and across both sides of the political aisle. With an economy still in a state of flux and an anticipated PennDOT 2013 letting program dipping to a $1.5 billion level, transportation funding may be looked to by the General Assembly as a way to stimulate the economy, and create jobs in a truly bipartisan fashion. The highway construction industry must be ready to take advantage of this evolving political environment as the beginning of 2013 unfolds. Below is an overview of state races at this point and the expected makeup of the PA General Assembly. Please note that the Department of State reports that, while 99.5% of the vote has been counted, there are some very closely contested PA State House races where recounts are underway to determine the final results. These are noted below as well. President of the United States: Incumbent Barack Obama (D) defeated Mitt Romney (R) 52% to 46.8% (290,943 vote margin) U.S. Senate Incumbent Bob Casey, Jr. (D) defeated Tom Smith (R) 53.6% to 43.6% (489,772 vote margin) Attorney General Kathleen Kane (D) defeated David Freed (R) 56.1% to 41.6% (785,001 vote margin and the largest margin of victory by any candidate in the election) Auditor General Eugene DePasquale (D) defeated John Maher (R) 49.7% to 46.5% (172,308 vote margin) State Treasurer Incumbent Rob McCord (D) defeated Diana Irey Vaughan 52.5% to 44% (451,821 vote margin) U.S. Congress (seats changing hands—GOP plus 1) Currently, the GOP had retained its control of the U.S. House, with at least a 235 to 200- seat margin. The Democrats retain control of the U.S. Senate 55 to 45. Pennsylvania contributed in helping the GOP retain its control by turning one seat from Democrat to Republican control. It was as follows: • Keith Rothfus (R) defeated incumbent Mark Critz (D) 51.5% to 48.5% in the seat encompassing the Cambria County area. U.S. Congress (open seat races) • Scott Perry (R) defeated Harry Perkinson (D) 59.7% to 34.4% (4th district representing much of York and Cumberland Counties) 3 • Matthew Cartwright (D) defeated Lauren Cummings (R) 60.5% to 39.5% (17th district representing the Lackawanna, Luzerne, Schuylkill County area) GOP Congressmen Kelly, Thompson, Gerlach, Meehan, Fitzpatrick, Shuster, Marino, Barletta, Dent, Pitts, and Murphy all won re-election. DEM Congressmen Brady, Doyle, Fattah, and Schwartz all won re-election. Congressional Delegation count: GOP—13, DEM—5 PA General Assembly The State Senate remains in GOP control but lost 3 seats to the Democrats in this election. The GOP margin is now a 27 to 23. The Democrats were able to hold off a competitive challenge to Minority Transportation Chairman John Wozniak in the Cambria County area. The three gains by the Senate Democrats were as follows: • Rob Teplitz (D) defeated John McNally (R) 51.6% to 48.4% (15th district in the Dauphin County area) • Matt Smith (D) defeated D. Raja (R) 52.7% to 47.3% (37th district in Allegheny County) • Sean Wiley (D) defeated Janet Anderson (R) 60.5% to 39.5% (49th district in the Erie County area) The State House Republicans had a good night defending its seats from the Democratic wave by holding onto its apparent 112 to 91 margin. A few races remain too close to call and are in the process of a recount to determine the final winner. Regardless of those results, however, the GOP will retain solid control of the PA House. Republicans gains were made in the following seats: • Thomas Sankey (R) defeated Mark McCracken (D) 60.9% to 39.1% to take the seat previously held by Rep. Bud George in Clearfield County. Democrats were able to pick up the following two seats: • Mark Painter (D) defeated incumbent Rep. Thomas Quigley (R) 50.4% to 49.6%. This seat was in Montgomery County. The one contested seat that has not been called is: • The 39th District seat held by Representative Rick Saccone (R-Allegheny), who trails Democrat and former state representative David Levdansky by just 36 votes. This race will be determined by recount and provisional ballot determination. 4 There are two “close-election” results where recounts are possible: • The 131st District held by Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh), who leads Democrat Kevin Deely by 562 votes • The 163rd District seat held by Rep. Nick Micozzie (R-Delaware), who leads Democrat Sheamus Bonner by 354 votes.* *Rep. Micozzie is a possible replacement for House Transportation Committee Chairman Rick Geist who retired from the legislature this year. While not many seats changed hands in the Republican and Democrat makeup of the General Assembly, there were a total of 25 new legislators elected to the State House. You can view the new legislators at the PA state level by clicking here: http://www.pegweb.org/assets/2012%20guidebook%20to%20new%20lawmakers%20fin al.pdf 2012 TCI PAC Supported Candidates and Results PA Senate District Candidate Party Affiliation Result 5‐Philadelphia Mike Stack* Democrat Won 9‐Delaware Dominic Pileggi Republican Won 15‐Dauphin Rob Teplitz Democrat Won 25‐Jefferson Joe Scarnati* Republican Won 29‐Schuylkill David Argall Republican Won 31‐Cumberland Pat Vance* Republican Won 35‐Cambria John Wozniak Democrat Won 43‐Allegheny Jay Costa* Democrat Won 47‐Beaver Elder Vogel Republican Won 49‐Erie Janet Anderson Republican Lost PA House District Candidate Party Affiliation Result 5‐Erie Jason White* Democrat Lost 7‐Mercer Mark Longietti* Democrat Won 10‐Beaver Jaret Gibbons* Democrat Won 14‐Beaver Jim Marshall* Republican Won 16‐Beaver Robert Matzie* Democrat Won 23‐Allegheny Dan Frankel* Democrat Won 25‐Westmoreland Joe Markosek Democrat Won 31‐Bucks Steve Santarsiero Democrat Won 33‐Allegheny Frank Dermody* Democrat Won 5 38‐Allegheny Bill Kortz* Democrat Won 39‐Allegheny Eli Evankocich Republican Won 47‐York Keith Gillespie Republican Won 50‐Greene Pam Snyder Democrat Won 51‐Fayette Tim Mahoney* Democrat Won 56‐Westmoreland Raymond Bud Geissler Democrat Lost 57‐Westmoreland A. J. Gales Democrat Lost 66‐Jefferson Sam Smith* Republican Won 74‐Clearfield Tom Sankey Republican Won 76‐Cllinton Mike Hanna* Democrat Won 79‐Blair Richard Flarend Democrat Lost 82‐Mifflin Adam Harris* Republican Won 83‐Lycoming Harry Rogers Republican Lost 93‐York Ron Miller* Republican Won 96‐Lancaster Mike Sturla* Democrat Won 104‐Dauphin Sue Helm* Republican Won 105‐Dauphin Ron Marsico* Republican Won 106‐Dauphin John Payne* Republican Won 107‐Northumberland Kurt Masser* Republican Won 118‐Luzerne Mike Carroll* Democrat Won 122‐Carbon Doyle Heffley* Republican Won 126‐Berks Mark Rozzi Democrat Won 130‐Berks David Maloney* Republican Won 131‐Lehigh Kevin Deely Democrat Lost 132‐Lehigh Michael Schlossberg Democrat Won 141‐Bucks Tina Davis* Democrat Won 143‐Bucks Marguerite Quinn* Republican Won 144‐Bucks Kathy Watson* Republican Won 151‐Montgomery Todd Stephens* Republican Won 156‐Chester Bret Binder Democrat Lost 157‐Chester Paul Drucker Democrat Lost 161‐Delaware Joe Hackett* Republican Won 171‐Centre Kerry Benninghoff* Republican Won 189‐Monroe Rosemary Brown* Republican Won .