Wikipedia:2010 Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district election

The 2010 Pennsylvania 7th congressional district election was an election held to determine who would represent Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives during the 112th Congress. The district was based in the western and northwestern suburbs of Philadelphia. It included the majority of Delaware County, and portions of Chester and Montgomery counties.

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Congressman Joe Sestak retired to run for the U.S. Senate, leaving an open seat. The district was Democratic-leaning as Obama carried the district with 56% of the vote and it had a PVI of D+3, but Republican Pat Meehan ended up winning the general election on Nov 2, 2010 by a 55% to 44% margin over Democrat Bryan Lentz.

Democratic

 * Bryan Lentz, State Representative

Republican

 * Pat Meehan, U.S. Attorney

U.S. Constitution Party

 * Jim Schneller, businessman

Campaign
Both major party nominees were unopposed in their primaries.

Meehan was a U.S. Attorney for eastern Pennsylvania. He is also a former District Attorney for Delaware County. Bryan Lentz is a State Representative, who represents District 161 (Delaware County). He is also a U.S. Army veteran, who served in the Iraq War. Jim Schneller is a former businessman.

Debates
Five debates were scheduled. The first four debates included only Bryan Lentz and Pat Meehan, the two major party candidates. The fifth debate included independent candidate Jim Schneller; Pat Meehan pulled out of the debate, however, citing Schneller's inclusion.


 * 1. August 19 - Larry Kane's "Voice of Reason," Comcast Network
 * 2. August 26 - "The Dom Giordano Show," The Big Talker 1210 AM WPHT
 * 3. September 21 - Suburban Jewish Community Center-Bnai Aaron
 * 4. October 1 - "@Issue," NBC 10 Philadelphia
 * 5. October 14 - League of Women Voters
 * 6. October 25 - Neumann University

Debates 2, 3 and 5 were broadcast on PCN-TV. They can be viewed on the PCN website's Election 2010 section.

Predictions
CQ Politics had the election as a toss up. Sabato's Crystal Ball had the election as a toss up. Stuart Rothenberg had the election as a toss up. The Cook Political Report had the election as a toss up. Real Clear Politics had the election as leaning Republican.