Mark Critz
| Mark Critz | ||
 | ||
| U.S. House, Pennsylvania, District 12 | ||
| Retired Representative | ||
| In office | ||
| 2010-2013 | ||
| Party | Democratic | |
| Elections and appointments | ||
| Last election | November 2, 2010 | |
| First elected | May 28, 2010 | |
| Term limits | N/A | |
| Education | ||
| Bachelor's | Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 1987 | |
| Personal | ||
| Birthday | January 5, 1962 | |
| Place of birth | Irwin, PA | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
| Personal website | ||
| Campaign website | ||
Contents |
In the 2012 primary, Critz defeated Jason Altmire for the Democratic nomination in a race rated by Politico as one of the year's 5 ugliest member vs. member battles.[2]
Biography
Critz is a native of Irwin, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1987 and then worked as an aide to the late Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) for more than ten years - first as Director of Economic Development, then as District director. After Murtha's death, Critz ran for, and won the seat in a special election in May 2010. He was elected later that year for a full two-year term.[3]
Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Critz is a "centrist Democratic follower".[4]
Career
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The information about this individual is current as of when his or her last campaign ended. See anything that needs updating? Send a correction to our editors |
- 1987: Graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pa.
- 1998-2010: Aide to United States Representative John Patrick Murtha, Jr.
- 2010-2013: U.S Representative from Pennsylvania
Committee assignments
U.S. House
2011-2012
- Armed Services
- Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces
- Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
Issues
Political positions
Voting Record
Since being elected in 2010, Critz has missed 0 percent of all roll call votes.[5]
A February 2012 analysis by National Journal found that out of the 435 members of the House of Representatives, Critz ranks number 169 in liberal rankings. The ranking means that out of the 192 Democrats in the House, Critz is the 169th most liberal member. [6]
Specific votes
Fiscal Cliff
Critz voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was one of 172 Democrats that voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257/167 vote on January 1, 2013.[7]
Health Care
Though he was not yet in Congress when the health care reform bill passed, Critz has stated that he would have voted against it.[8]
Jobs
Critz has made job creation and fixing the economy top priorities. He advocates improving schools and job training, providing tax credits to small businesses, ending tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, and cutting taxes for the middle class.[9]
Energy
Critz supports the coal industry, and a national energy strategy that includes domestic drilling. Critz also opposes Cap and Trade, though he he does support investing in alternative energy.[10]
2012 Election
Ballot challenge
Because of redistricting, Critz faced fellow incumbent Rep. Jason Altmire (D) in the April 24, 2012 Democratic primary. The race was one of the most competitive primary races of this cycle. Critz initially challenged Altmire's right to be on the primary ballot. Candidates are required to file 1,000 valid signatures for their petitions. Altmire filed only 1,651 signatures, while candidates usually file at least twice the required amount. The Critz team argued that one of Altmire's junior staffers lives outside the district where she collected signatures, thus violating Pennsylvania law.[11]
On March 5, however, a Pennsylvania judge ruled against Critz, allowing Altmire to stay on the ballot. After the ruling, Altmire accused Critz of lowering himself to the tactics of a "prom king."[12]
Endorsements
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- Rep. Robert Brady (D-PA)
- Pennsylvania AFL- CIO[15]
- American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)[16]
- The Beaver-Lawrence Central Labor Council [17]
- Allegheny County Labor Council
- Greater Westmoreland County Labor Council
- International Association of Fire Fighters
- Service Employees International Union
- United Steelworkers
- United Transportation Union
Ads
On March 22, 2012, it was reported that the Critz campaign had purchased a significant media buy of about $500,000 in the Pittsburgh market and $100,000 in the Johnstown market. Critz is expected to runs ads until the primary election, including some negative spots against Altmire. [18]
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|
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Ad controversy
Some House Democrats expressed frustration with an Altmire ad that attacked Critz for failing to "stand up to the Tea Party" on the conservative budget proposal. Some lawmakers viewed the ad as a distortion because in reality, Critz voted "present" with party leaders, instead of "no." House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and Reps. Robert Brady (D-PA) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) all publicly defended Critz against the ad. “Manipulating those issues is a disservice to our party and certainly inaccurate about Mark,” said Schakowsky.
In defending the ad, Altmire told The Hill newspaper, “It’s 100 percent accurate. My ad says he did not vote against the Tea Party budget, and he didn’t. ...No. It’s not technically correct. It’s 100 percent correct. My ad says he didn’t vote against the Tea Party budget. He didn’t. Thank you, good talking to you." Before, Critz had said that he would endorse Altmire if he won the primary. Now, that may change. "It’s this Medicare ad,” said Critz. “I’m very frustrated by that, because it’s very misleading. And for him to pick that issue and turn it into a negative ad upsets me because it really undermines what we’re trying to do as a party to protect Medicare. It angers me.”[21]
Polls
2012 General Election
| Mark Critz vs. Keith Rothfus | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response | PoliticsPA (June 13-15, 2012) | Benson Strategy Group Poll (July 9-11, 2012) | McLaughlin & Associates Poll (September 19-20, 2012) | Democratic Poll (September 23-25, 2012) | Average | |||||||||
| Mark Critz (D) | 46% | 44% | 38% | 52% | 45% | |||||||||
| Keith Rothfus (R) | 36% | 38% | 38% | 41% | 38.25% | |||||||||
| Undecided | 18% | 18% | 24% | 7% | 16.75% | |||||||||
| Number polled | 402 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400.5 | |||||||||
| Margin of error | +/-4.9 | +/-4.9% | +/-4.9% | +/-4.9% | 4.9% | |||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org | ||||||||||||||
2012 Democratic Primary Polls
| Jason Altmire vs. Mark Critz | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response | [1] (April 13-15, 2012) | [2] (March 22-25, 2012) | [3] (March 12-14, 2012) | [4] (February 2-5, 2012) | [5] (January 10-15, 2012) | Average | ||||||||
| Jason Altmire (D) | 43% | 45% | 55% | 47% | 50% | 48% | ||||||||
| Mark Critz (D) | 39% | 38% | 31% | 37% | 43% | 37.6% | ||||||||
| Number polled | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 503 | 420.6 | ||||||||
| Margin of error | +/-4.9 | +/-4.9% | +/-4.9% | +/-4.9% | +/-4.4% | 4.8% | ||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org | ||||||||||||||
Elections
2014
Critz is reportedly considering a 2014 bid to re-claim the U.S. House seat which he narrowly lost to Keith Rothfus in the 2012 elections.[22]
Race background
On February 26, 2013, PoliticsPA and The Hill previewed a combined three Pennsylvania races which are already showing promise, either for primary competitiveness or because the district may be vulnerable to partisan switch. Of the eighteen total House seats up for election in 2014, Republicans currently hold thirteen.
One of these seats is in the traditionally blue, though recently reddening, 12th district, where fallout from 2010 redistricting teamed up with a deep pocketed Republican challenger to spell narrow defeat for Democratic incumbent Rep. Mark Critz in Nov. 2012. Fresh off his successful challenge, Keith Rothfus (R) will likely have to face Critz for a re-match in 2014. Given that Critz lost by only four percentage points while Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney dominated the district vote in the general election, the Democrats are looking to Critz as their best hope to re-claim the seat.[23]
2012
Critz ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House, representing Pennsylvania's 12th District. He defeated Jason Altmire in the April 24 Democratic primary and lost to Republican Keith Rothfus in the November 6 general election.[24]
Politico rated the 12th district race between Critz and Jason Altmire one of the 5 ugliest member vs. member battles.[25]
The Washington Post listed the House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania in 2012 as one of the states that could determine whether Democrats would retake the House or Republicans would hold their majority in 2013.[26] Ohio tied with Pennsylvania for 9th on the list.[26] Critz was considered one the vulnerable incumbents.[27]
| U.S. House, Pennsylvania, District 12 General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Mark Critz Incumbent | 48.3% | 163,589 | |
| Republican |  Keith Rothfus |
51.7% | 175,352 | |
| Total Votes | 338,941 | |||
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
| U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania-District 12 Democratic Primary, 2012 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|
Mark Critz Incumbent |
51.2% | 32,384 |
| Jason Altmire Incumbent | 48.8% | 30,895 |
| Total Votes | 63,279 | |
2010
On November 2, 2010, Critz won re-election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Tim Burns in the general election.[29]
| U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Congressional District 12 Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Mark Critz Incumbent |
50.8% | 94,056 | |
| Republican | Tim Burns | 49.2% | 91,170 | |
| Total Votes | 185,226 | |||
2010 Special Election
On May 18, 2010, Critz won election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Tim Burns and Demo Agoris in the general election.[30]
| U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Congressional District 12 Special Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Mark Critz Incumbent |
52.6% | 70,915 | |
| Republican | Tim Burns | 45.1% | 60,740 | |
| Libertarian | Demo Agoris | 2.3% | 3,158 | |
| Total Votes | 134,813 | |||
Campaign donors
2012
Critz lost re-election to Republican challenger Keith Rothfus in 2012. During that election cycle, his campaign committee raised a total of $2,600,190 and spent $2,605,184.[31]
| U.S. House, Pennsylvania, District 12, 2012 - Mark Critz Campaign Contributions | |
|---|---|
| Total Raised | $2,600,190 |
| Total Spent | $2,605,184 |
| Total Raised by Election Winner | $1,987,085 |
| Total Spent by Election Winner | $1,993,454 |
| Top contributors to Mark Critz's campaign committee | |
| Concurrent Technologies | $28,650 |
| Finmeccanica SpA | $20,500 |
| Boeing Co | $19,400 |
| Northrop Grumman | $19,000 |
| BAE systems | $16,800 |
| Top 5 industries that contributed to campaign committee | |
| Leadership PACs | $181,250 |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $132,339 |
| Mining | $96,804 |
| Candidate Committees | $92,500 |
| Public Sector Unions | $90,250 |
2010
Critz won re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010. During that re-election cycle, Critz's campaign committee raised a total of $2,437,268 and spent $2,428,378.[32]
His top 5 contributors between 2009-2010 were:
| U.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania Congressional District 12 Election, 2010 - Mark Critz Campaign Contributions | |
|---|---|
| Total Raised | $2,437,268 |
| Total Spent | $2,428,378 |
| Total Raised by General Election Opponent | $2,159,253 |
| Total Spent by General Election Opponent | $2,148,147 |
| Top contributors to Mark Critz's campaign committee | |
| Progeny Systems | $34,200 |
| Mepco LLC | $31,600 |
| Concurrent Technologies | $30,600 |
| JWF Industries | $26,900 |
| Finmeccanica SpA | $20,550 |
| Top 5 industries that contributed to campaign committee | |
| Leadership PACs | $235,300 |
| Candidate Committees | $119,750 |
| Public Sector Unions | $108,000 |
| Industrial Unions | $105,000 |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $89,950 |
Analysis
Congressional staff salaries
The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Critz paid his congressional staff a total of $917,219 in 2011. Overall, Pennsylvania ranked 34th in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.[33]
Staff bonuses
According to an analysis by CNN, Critz is one of nearly 25% of House members who gave their staff bonuses in 2012. Critz's staff was given an apparent $25,166.52 in bonus money.[34]
Net worth
Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org - The Center for Responsive Politics, Critz's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $235,017 to $750,000. That averages to $429,508.50 which was lower than the average net worth of Democratic Representatives in 2010 of $4,465,875.[35]
National Journal vote rankings
- See also: National Journal vote ratings
2012
Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of congress voted in the previous year. In 2012, Critz ranked 166th among Democratic Representatives in the liberal rankings.[36][37]
2011
Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of congress voted in the previous year. In 2011, Critz ranked 169th among Democratic members of the U.S. House in the liberal rankings.[38]
Percentage voting with party
The website Open Congress tracks how often members of Congress vote with the majority of the chamber caucus. According to the website, Mark Critz voted with the Democratic Party 73.8% of the time, which ranked 177 among the 192 House Democratic members in December 2011.[39]
Personal
Mark Critz is married to Nancy. They have 2 children.
External links
- Biographies:
- Political profiles:
- Financial:
- Interest group ratings:
- Issue positions:
- Public statements:
- Voting record:
- Media appearances:
- Media coverage:
References
- ↑ Politico "2012 House Race Results"
- ↑ Politico "Congress 2012: The 5 ugliest member vs. member battles" Accessed April 18, 2012
- ↑ Official campaign website "About Mark" Accessed March 22, 2012
- ↑ Gov Track "Critz" Accessed May 23, 2012
- ↑ govtrack.us "Rep. Mark Critz" Accessed April 7, 2012
- ↑ National Journal "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: House" Accessed February 24, 2012
- ↑ U.S. House "Roll Call Vote on the Fiscal Cliff" Accessed January 4, 2013.
- ↑ Politico "Dem Critz holds Murtha's Pa. seat" Accessed April 7, 2012
- ↑ Campaign website "Creating Jobs" Accessed April 7, 2012
- ↑ Campaign website "Protecting and Creating Western Pennsylvania Energy Jobs" Accessed April 7, 2012
- ↑ Roll Call "Pennsylvania: Court Hearing Friday on Mark Critz’s Ballot Challenge" Accessed March 22, 2012
- ↑ Politico "Jason Altmire wins, calls Mark Critz tactics like ‘prom king’" Accessed March 22, 2012
- ↑ PoliticsPA, "NRA Backs Critz," October 8, 2012
- ↑ PoliticsPA "Breaking: Clinton Backs Critz" Accessed April 12, 2012
- ↑ Keystone Politics "AFL-CIO Joins Chorus Attacking Altmire’s Attack Ad" Accessed March 29, 2012
- ↑ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Early Returns" Accessed March 22, 2012
- ↑ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Early Returns" Accessed March 22, 2012
- ↑ PoliticsPA "Critz Goes All In" Accessed March 22, 2012
- ↑ PoliticsPA "Critz TV Ad Goes Negative a Teensy Bit (With Video)" Accessed March 28, 2012
- ↑ PoliticsPA "New Critz Ad Hits Back Against Altmire" Accessed April 3, 2012
- ↑ The Hill "Altmire ads unfair, say Dem colleagues" Accessed Apirl 20, 2012
- ↑ The Hill, "Source: Former Rep. Mark Critz wants to run again," February 26, 2013
- ↑ The Hill, "Source: Former Rep. Mark Critz wants to run again," February 26, 2013
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State "2012 General Primary Unofficial Returns," April 24, 2012
- ↑ Politico "Congress 2012: The 5 ugliest member vs. member battles" Accessed April 18, 2012
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Washington Post "The 10 states that will determine control of the House in 2012" Accessed April 25, 2012
- ↑ New York Times"House Race Ratings" Accessed October 3
- ↑ Pennsylvania Secretary of State 2012 Official Primary Results
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010"
- ↑ North Carolina Secretary of State "Official Returns" Accessed March 22, 2012
- ↑ Open Secrets "Mark Critz's 2012 Election Cycle," Accessed March 19, 2013
- ↑ Open Secrets "Mark Critz 2010 Election Cycle," Accessed November 16, 2011
- ↑ LegiStorm, "Mark Critz," Accessed September 24, 2012
- ↑ CNN Politics, "Congressional bonuses in a time of cuts," March 8, 2013
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Mark Critz (D-Pa), 2010," Accessed September 24, 2012
- ↑ National Journal, "TABLE: House Liberal Scores by Issue Area," February 21, 2013
- ↑ National Journal, "TABLE: House Conservative Scores by Issue Area," February 21, 2013
- ↑ National Journal, "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: House," February 23, 2012
- ↑ Open Congress "Voting With Party"
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by John Murtha |
U.S. House of Representatives - Pennsylvania District 12 2010–2013 |
Succeeded by Keith Rothfus (R) |
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