Stakes grow for state Senate seat 'The stakes are very high in this race. It would be a significant defeat for the Democrats if they can't hold onto Wagner's seat,' said pollster G. Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster.
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Stakes grow for state Senate seat
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Rauterkus is not mentioned in this PG article:
Stakes grow for state Senate seat
Thursday, April 07, 2005
By Tom Barnes, Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau
HARRISBURG -- With Democrats losing another state Senate race Tuesday, the current battle over a Pittsburgh-based seat is becoming crucial for the party, which is already in the minority in the Legislature.
In the Lehigh Valley of Eastern Pennsylvania, the Democratic candidate in a special Senate election, state Rep. Jennifer Mann, lost to her Republican opponent, state Rep. Patrick Browne. The swing district had been represented by Republican Sen. Charlie Dent until he was elected to Congress last year.
Browne's victory gives the GOP a 30-18 advantage in the Senate, with two open seats to be filled in special elections in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on May 17.
Just six months ago there were 29 Republicans in the Senate with 21 Democrats. The GOP pulled a major upset in November by ousting two-term Democratic Sen. Allen Kukovich of Manor. Kukovich, who now runs Gov. Ed Rendell's Western Pennsylvania office, was defeated by Bob Regola.
The vacant Senate district in Philadelphia is heavily Democratic in registration, so Democrats are expected to retain that seat easily. It had been held by Sen. Allyson Schwartz, who also was elected to Congress last year.
The open Senate seat from the Pittsburgh area was held by Democrat Jack Wagner of Beechview, who is now state auditor general.
The district, which includes neighborhoods in the southern and western parts of Pittsburgh plus areas in the western suburbs, is 2-to-1 Democratic in registration but Republicans are making a strong effort for another upset.
State Rep. Michael Diven, R-Brookline, is a well-known former Democrat who recently switched parties after feuding for several years with House Democratic leaders. Diven is opposed for the Senate by Democrat Wayne Fontana of Brookline, who just resigned from Allegheny County Council.
"The stakes are very high in this race. It would be a significant defeat for the Democrats if they can't hold onto Wagner's seat," said pollster G. Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster.
"Democrats face a big challenge in what historically has been one of their seats," he said. Referring to Kukovich's loss, he added, "Democrats don't want to lose two seats within six months in their traditional back yard."
Rendell, who stumped for and contributed to Mann's campaign, said yesterday he's disappointed by her loss but said he's confident Fontana will hold onto the Wagner seat for Democrats.
Andrew Crompton, an aide to Senate President Pro Tem Robert Jubelirer, R-Altoona, said a lot of voters know Diven from his years on Pittsburgh City Council and in Harrisburg. "We like our chances" he said.
If Diven wins, the GOP would control the Senate 31-19, which would be a complete turnaround from the mid-1970s, when Democrats held a 31-19 advantage. Republicans also control the state House by 110 to 93.
(Harrisburg Bureau Chief Tom Barnes can be reached at tbarnes@post-gazette.com or 1-717-787-4254.)
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