United States Senate election in Pennsylvania, 2018

2018 U.S. Senate Election in Pennsylvania

General Election Date November 6, 2018

Primary Date May 15, 2018 GOP primary • Democratic primary

November 6 Election Winner: Pending

Incumbent prior to election: Bob Casey, Jr.

Race Ratings Cook Political Report: Likely D Sabato's Crystal Ball: Likely D Inside Elections: Lean D

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2018 U.S. House Elections

Voters in Pennsylvania will elect one member to the U.S. Senate in the election on November 6, 2018.

Candidate Filing Deadline	Primary Election	General Election
March 6, 2018	May 15, 2018	November 6, 2018

Primary: A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Pennsylvania utilizes a closed primary process. Voters are required to register with a political party to vote in the primary election.

Incumbent: The election will fill the Class 1 Senate seat held by Bob Casey, Jr. (D). He was first elected in 2006.

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Candidates

Note: Prior to the signature filing deadline, candidates will be added when Ballotpedia writers come across declared candidates. If you notice a missing candidate, please email us the name and we will add it. As the election draws closer, more information will be added to this page. Incumbents are assumed to be running for re-election until they say otherwise.

Primary candidates

Democrats

• Bob Casey, Jr. - Incumbent
• Brian Kelly
• Ray Uhric

Republicans

• Paul Addis - Businessman
• Cynthia Ayers
• Lou Barletta - U.S. Rep.
• Jim Christiana - State Rep.
• Paul DeLong
• Bobby Lawrence
• Joseph Vodvarka

Withdrew

• Jeff Bartos - Real estate developer

Libertarians

• Dale Kerns

Key votes

Key votes cast by Casey

Rep. Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Pa.) cast the following key votes—votes that helps citizens understand where their legislators stand on major policy issues—during the first session of the 115th Congress, which convened on January 3, 2017, and will adjourn on December 15, 2017.

Click show to see key votes for Rep. Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Pa.) →

Key votes: 115th Congress, 2017-2018 For detailed information about each vote, click here. Votes on domestic policy An amendment to repeal the requirements for individuals to enroll in health insurance and for employers to offer it—"Skinny bill" (S.Amdt. 667 to S.Amdt. 267 to H.R. 1628 (American Health Care Act of 2017))  Amendment Rejected (49-51) on July 28, 2017 An amendment to repeal the ACA, including Paul amendment (No. 271) (S Amdt 271 to S Amdt 267 to HR 1628)  Amendment Rejected (45-55) on July 26, 2017 An amendment to repeal the ACA, including Paul amendment (No. 271) Motion to advance the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, including Cruz and Portman amendments (S Amdt 270 to S Amdt 267 to HR 1628)  Motion Rejected (43-57, 3/5 majority required) on July 25, 2017 A procedural vote to advance the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 (BCRA), including Cruz and Portman amendments Motion to begin debate on the American Health Care Act of 2017 (HR 1628)  Motion to Proceed Agreed to (50-50, Vice President voted Yea) on July 25, 2017 A bill to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2017. Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (PN55(4)—confirmation vote)  Nomination Confirmed (54-45) on April 7, 2017 Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States—confirmation vote. Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (PN55(3))  Cloture Motion Agreed to (55-45) on April 6, 2017 Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States—second vote to end debate and move to a vote on Gorsuch's nomination under the new precedent requiring only a simple majority to pass. Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (PN55(2))  Decision of Chair Not Sustained (48-52) on April 6, 2017 Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States—a vote to keep the Senate precedent of requiring 60 votes to close debate on Supreme Court nominations. Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (PN55)  Cloture Motion Rejected (55-45, 3/5 majority required) on April 6, 2017 Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States—initial vote to end debate and move to a vote on Gorsuch's nomination. Votes on economic affairs and regulations "A joint resolution making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes." (H.J.Res. 123)  Joint Resolution Passed (81-14) on December 7, 2017 Funded the government until December 22, 2017. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1)  Bill Passed (51-49) on December 2, 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce tax rates and modify policies, credits, and deductions for individuals and businesses. A concurrent resolution establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027. (H Con Res 71)  Concurrent Resolution Agreed to (51-49) on October 19, 2017 A concurrent resolution establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027. Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 (Included amendments to suspend the debt ceiling and fund the government) (HR 601)  Motion Agreed to (80-17) on September 7, 2017 A bill to suspend the debt ceiling and fund the government until December 8, 2017, and provide funding for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma relief efforts. Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 (HR 244)  Motion Agreed to (79-18) on May 4, 2017 The $1.2 trillion budget bill funded the government through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2017. Votes on foreign policy and national security National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 2810)  Bill Passed (89-8) on September 18, 2017 To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. *On November 15, 2017, the Senate passed the defense policy bill by voice vote. This bill was the result of compromises made in the conference report. For more information on the compromise bill, click here. Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (HR 3364)  Bill Passed (98-2) on July 27, 2017 A bill to provide congressional review and to counter aggression by the Governments of Iran, the Russian Federation, and North Korea, and for other purposes. Countering Iran's Destabilizing Activities Act of 2017 (S 722)  Bill Passed (98-2) on June 15, 2017 An Act to Provide Congressional Review and to Counter Iranian and Russian Governments' Aggression.

2016 Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties and Congressional districts intersecting with Pivot Counties

Pennsylvania features five congressional districts that intersect with one or more Pivot Counties. These 206 Pivot Counties voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012.

The 206 Pivot Counties are located in 34 states. Iowa, with 31, had the most such counties. The partisan makeup of the 108 congressional districts intersecting with Pivot Counties is more Republican than the partisan breakdown of the U.S. House. Of the 108 congressional districts that have at least one Pivot County, 63 percent are held by a Republican incumbent, while 55.4 percent of U.S. House seats were won by a Republican in the 2016 elections.

Campaign contributions

Democrats

The table below contains data from the FEC Quarterly October 2017 filing. It includes only candidates who have reported campaign contributions as of October 15, 2017.

Republicans

The table below contains data from the FEC Quarterly October 2017 filing. It includes only candidates who have reported campaign contributions as of October 15, 2017.

Libertarians

The table below contains data from the FEC Quarterly October 2017 filing. It includes only candidates who have reported campaign contributions as of October 15, 2017.

Election history

2016

See also: United States Senate election in Pennsylvania, 2016

The race for Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate seat was one of nine competitive battleground races in 2016 that helped Republicans keep control of the upper chamber after the November 8 general election. Incumbent Pat Toomey (R), who began serving in the Senate in 2011, defeated Katie McGinty (D), Edward Clifford III (L), and write-in candidate Everett Stern (I) in the general election.

Toomey managed to keep his race with McGinty close by running his campaign separately from President-elect Donald Trump and by withholding whom he would vote for on Election Day. Toomey told reporters, “You know, I’m not campaigning with Donald Trump. He’s running his campaign. I’m running mine.”

Hillary Clinton, who campaigned with McGinty in October, criticized Toomey for not rejecting Trump as his party’s nominee. She said to a crowd of supporters, “How much does he have to hear or to see? If he doesn’t have the courage to stand up against Donald Trump after all of this, then how will he stand up to special interests and powerful forces that are going to be trying to have their way in Washington?”

McGinty repeated the criticism, saying to supporters, "What more does Pat Toomey need to hear? You're fired, that's a good one!"

Toomey was confident that his strategy to keep his re-election bid separate from the presidential race would be successful. He said, “I am convinced that Pennsylvania voters are going to make a complete separation in their minds. … There’s a presidential race going on, quite obviously, lots of attention, lots of focus, everybody’s got their opinion about it, and then there’s a totally separate thing happening in the Senate race — an incumbent senator most people know and an opponent. Totally separate campaign and totally separate judgment.”

Ultimately, Toomey revealed on Election Day that he voted for Trump.

U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Pat Toomey Incumbent	48.8%	2,951,702
	Democratic	Katie McGinty	47.3%	2,865,012
	Libertarian	Edward Clifford	3.9%	235,142
Total Votes				6,051,856
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State

U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania Democratic Primary, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Katie McGinty	42.5%	669,774
Joe Sestak	32.6%	513,221
John Fetterman	19.5%	307,090
Joseph Vodvarka	5.4%	85,837
Total Votes		1,575,922
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State

2012

See also: United States Senate elections in Pennsylvania, 2012

Bob Casey Jr. won re-election to the United States Senate in 2012.

U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Bob Casey Jr. Incumbent	53.7%	3,021,364
	Republican	Tom Smith	44.6%	2,509,132
	Libertarian	Rayburn Douglas Smith	1.7%	96,926
Total Votes				5,627,422
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State

See also

• United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2018
• United States Senate elections, 2018
• Bob Casey, Jr.