WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, the longest-serving member of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation, has lost his re-election bid in a Democratic primary race in a newly redrawn district.
Personal injury attorney Matt Cartwright spent nearly $400,000 in the race against Holden, who was elected to Congress in 1992 and was one of its conservative, so-called Blue Dog Democrats.
Cartwright’s campaign hit Holden with allegations that he was too conservative for the district’s voters, citing his vote against President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.
Cartwright will face Scranton tea party activist Laureen Cummings in the fall.
Cummings, a nurse and small business owner from Old Forge, was the only Republican on the primary ballot.
Election 2012
April 24, 2012
Matt Cartwright defeats Tim Holden in 17th U.S. House race
- Election 2012
-
- Ryan can play key role in budget negotiations
- House GOP keeps focused on Susan Rice
- Latinos eye Cabinet slots
- Democrats push to redeploy Obama’s voter database
- Democrats cheer House gains
- Union ads take new tack: praising GOP members
- Obama campaign exploring post-election reboot
- Unions flexed muscles in state campaigns
- 7 rules for wannabe Cabinet members
- 3 things GOP should avoid
- More Election 2012 Headlines
