CQ Risk Rating: Safe Democrat 
| GENERAL ELECTION: NOVEMBER 7, 2000 |
|
| John P. Murtha (D) | 145,538 | 71% |
| Bill Choby (R) | 56,575 | 28% |
| James N. O'Neil (REF) | 3,324 | 2% |
| PRIMARY ELECTION: APRIL 4, 2000 |
|
| | Votes | Percentage | | Democratic |
| John P. Murtha | 40,484 | 100% |
| | Republican |
| Bill Choby | 23,630 | 100% |
Source: Congressional Quarterly. To suggest updates and corrections: politics.feedback@cq.com
Major Industry | Population | Cities | People | Race | Median Household Income | Unusual Features
PENNSYLVANIA 12
:
Southwest - Johnstown
Some 100 miles east of Pittsburgh, the 12th includes most of the six
counties between Mt. Davis and the Allegheny River. This once-booming center
of coal, steel and iron production is diversifying its economy to escape
economic distress and industrial loss.
The 12th has been the unfortunate victim of floods that devastated
Johnstown, the district's largest city, three times in modern history. The
Great Flood of 1889, the most severe, destroyed the town and killed 2,200
people. Again in 1936 and 1977, floods took additional lives and caused
significant damage. The 1980s recession had a similar devastating effect on
the economy. Coal and steel industries fell and the unemployment rate
skyrocketed to more than 27 percent.
More recently, the district has bounced back, and the unemployment rate
has dropped to one of the lowest in the state. This revitalization can be
attributed to high-tech industries moving to the area, including a Sony
plant in Westmoreland. Capitalizing on its past hardships, the Johnstown
Flood Museum also draws tourists to the area. The city's large health care
base - there are 11 hospitals in the district - has remained stable, and a
growing home health care industry is on the horizon.
This working-class district has been a Democratic stronghold from the
township to the presidency since the dawn of the New Deal. Reliably
Democratic areas include Fayette, the eastern parts of Westmoreland and
Kittanning, a commercial center in Armstrong County. Republicans have an
edge in rural Somerset, and the Armstrong area also has become more
competitive.
Major Industry
Manufacturing, service, health care
Population
565,760 (1990)
Cities
Johnstown, 26,149; Indiana, 14,739 (1996)
People
70% rural; 17% age 65+ (ranks fifth of 21 in state; top third nationally);
61% married couples, 27% married couples with children; 11% college educated
(ranks 19 of 21 in state; bottom third nationally); 47% white collar (ranks
20 of 21 in state, bottom third nationally), 35% blue collar (ranks third of
21 in state; top third nationally) (1990)
Race
98% white, 1% black, 0% Asian; 0% Hispanic origin (1990)
Median Household Income
$22,024 (ranks 20 of 21 in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)
Unusual Features
Ligonier, home to multimillionaire and conservative political financier
Richard Mellon Scaife; Architect Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater house.
Source: Congressional Quarterly (Updated April 1999)
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District 12
