Research Paper: Campaign Finance of Pa-08
Mike Elisio
Professor Larson
Political Science 223
10-17-12
Part 1: PA-08
POLITICAL SETTING AND STRATEGIC CONTEXT This summer, I was fortunate enough to get an internship on a local U.S. Congress campaign. I live in the Pennsylvania 8th district and worked on the campaign of Kathy Boockvar, Democratic challenger to Republican incumbent Mike Fitzpatrick. I was able to meet many interesting people and clarify my own political ideals, but most importantly I got to learn about campaigns and the election process. The 8th district of Pennsylvania is a suburban area just outside of Philadelphia. It is comprised of Bucks County (my home) and a small portion of Montgomery County (Legislative Reapportionment Commission 2012). Redistricting due to the 2010 census did not have a big impact on the makeup of the district. Prior to redistricting (which was controlled by a mostly Republican state government), the 8th contained a small part of Philadelphia. Philadelphia is a mostly Democratic city (as are most urban areas), so Republicans gerrymandered the Pennsylvania districts to contain almost all Philadelphia voters in one district (Legislative Reapportionment Commission 2012). They did this because they could cut the amount of Democratic support in other districts while not losing a seat in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is a district that would vote Democratic anyway, so placing more Democratic support in that district does no harm to the Republican Party. Furthermore, it wastes votes for the Democratic Party. Philadelphia, like many other large cities, votes consistently for the Democrats. So by moving Democratic support from the suburbs to Philadelphia, the Republicans lose a district that they always do, but in doing so increase their chances at the surrounding districts. PA-08 has a population of 705,688. Of that number 628,164, or 89%, are Caucasian. Hispanics make up the next largest group with just under 30,000 citizens or 4.3%, just a few hundred more than the
Professor Larson
Political Science 223
10-17-12
Part 1: PA-08
POLITICAL SETTING AND STRATEGIC CONTEXT This summer, I was fortunate enough to get an internship on a local U.S. Congress campaign. I live in the Pennsylvania 8th district and worked on the campaign of Kathy Boockvar, Democratic challenger to Republican incumbent Mike Fitzpatrick. I was able to meet many interesting people and clarify my own political ideals, but most importantly I got to learn about campaigns and the election process. The 8th district of Pennsylvania is a suburban area just outside of Philadelphia. It is comprised of Bucks County (my home) and a small portion of Montgomery County (Legislative Reapportionment Commission 2012). Redistricting due to the 2010 census did not have a big impact on the makeup of the district. Prior to redistricting (which was controlled by a mostly Republican state government), the 8th contained a small part of Philadelphia. Philadelphia is a mostly Democratic city (as are most urban areas), so Republicans gerrymandered the Pennsylvania districts to contain almost all Philadelphia voters in one district (Legislative Reapportionment Commission 2012). They did this because they could cut the amount of Democratic support in other districts while not losing a seat in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is a district that would vote Democratic anyway, so placing more Democratic support in that district does no harm to the Republican Party. Furthermore, it wastes votes for the Democratic Party. Philadelphia, like many other large cities, votes consistently for the Democrats. So by moving Democratic support from the suburbs to Philadelphia, the Republicans lose a district that they always do, but in doing so increase their chances at the surrounding districts. PA-08 has a population of 705,688. Of that number 628,164, or 89%, are Caucasian. Hispanics make up the next largest group with just under 30,000 citizens or 4.3%, just a few hundred more than the
Cited: Legislative Reapportionment Commission. 2012. “Population Data.” June 8. http://www.redistricting.state.pa.us/CensusDisplay.cfm?Plan=2011Final&District=8&DistBody=C (September 18, 2012). National Journal http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2010/area/pa/08 (September 18, 2012). My Time to Vote. 2010. “Pennsylvania Census: District Maps & Population.” http://elections.mytimetovote.com/census/pennsylvania.html (September 19, 2012). Boockvar for Congress. 2012. “On the Issues.” http://www.boockvar.com/issues (September 21, 2012). Online Office for Congressman Fitzpatrick. 2012. “Full Biography.” http://fitzpatrick.house.gov/about-me/full-biography (September 21, 2012). Weiner, Rachel. 2012. “House Democrats’ plan to win back the majority.” January 18. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/house-democrats-plan-to-win-back-the-majority/2012/01/18/gIQAjPC38P_blog.html (September 21, 2012). Open Congress. 2012. “Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick.” September 21. http://www.opencongress.org/people/voting_history/400646_Michael_Fitzpatrick (September 25, 2012). Gibson, Keegan. 2012. “Fitzpatrick Goes Negative (Watch Video).” September 28. http://www.politicspa.com/fitzpatrick-goes-negative-watch-video/41874/ (October 1, 2012) Gleason, Daniel http://www.politicspa.com/nrcc-launches-website-against-radical-kathy-boockvar/39445/ (October 10, 2012) Gibson, Keegan http://www.politicspa.com/no-spending-cap-in-pa-8/40502/ (October 10, 2012) Weckselblatt, Gary http://www.phillyburbs.com/blogs/local-politics/fitzpatrick-boockvar-clash-in-radio-debate/article_d1df947f-f575-529e-8164-1dd6b5ac1c58.html (October 22, 2012) Open Secrets http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=PA08&cycle=2012 (November 13, 2012) Herrnson, Paul S Los Angeles: CQ Press (November 13, 2012)