CQ Risk Rating: Safe Democrat 
| GENERAL ELECTION: NOVEMBER 7, 2000 |
|
| Mike Doyle (D) | 156,131 | 69% |
| Craig C. Stephens (R) | 68,798 | 31% |
| PRIMARY ELECTION: APRIL 4, 2000 |
|
| | Votes | Percentage | | Democratic |
| Mike Doyle | 47,827 | 100% |
| | Republican |
| Craig C. Stephens | 15,311 | 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 18
:
Pittsburgh suburbs; Clairton; McKeesport
Home to "Steel Valley," the 18th is completely contained within western
Pennsylvania's densely populated Allegheny County. The district wraps around
the city of Pittsburgh, and two major rivers, the Allegheny and Monongahela,
weave through the 18th. Access to major waterways made the first half of the
century prosperous for the 18th - it was the most important and largest
producer of steel in the United States.
But the days when Pittsburgh suburbs were thriving communities have long
passed. While the city of Pittsburgh is making an economic comeback, the
suburbs are not experiencing the same prosperity. Few have recovered from
steel's decline. Monroeville and Penn Hills have seen commercial development
and some technology businesses move in, but towns such as West Mifflin and
Clairton find it difficult to break out of their "Steel Valley" stereotype.
Just as steel is king in the 18th, the Democrats rule politics. During
the 1980s, residents backed Democrats, allowing presidential underdogs
Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis to fare quite well. This trend continued
into the 1990s when former Republican governor and Allegheny County native
Dick Thornburgh lost in a special Senate election in 1991. Although small,
there are Republican sections, most notably in the affluent neighborhood of
Fox Chapel.
Major Industry
Health care, manufacturing, air cargo, steel
Population
565,771 (1990)
Cities
Penn Hills, 49,514; Monroeville, 29,169; McKeesport, 26,016 (1996)
People
98% urban; 19% age 65+ (ranks second of 21 in state; top third nationally);
55% married couples, 21% married couples with children; 21% college educated
(ranks seventh of 21 in state; middle third nationally); 66% white collar
(ranks third of 21 in state; top third nationally), 20% blue collar (ranks
17 of 21 in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)
Race
91% white, 8% black, 1% Asian; 0% Hispanic origin (1990)
Median Household Income
$29,003 (ranks ninth of 21 in state; middle third nationally) (1990)
Unusual Features
In the 1980s, a bad economy forced Clairton, setting for the movie, "The
Deer Hunter," to furlough its police and turn off street lights.
Source: Congressional Quarterly (Updated April 1999)
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District 18
