U.S. House, Pennsylvania - 11th District
Northeast -- Scranton, Wilkes-Barre
Race Forecast: No Clear Favorite
2008: Rep.
2006: Kanjorski (D) 72.5 percent, Joseph F. Leonard (R) 27.5 percent
KPrior to 2008, the only one of Kanjorski’s 11 re-election campaigns that was remotely close was his 2002 effort against Republican Hazleton mayor Lou Barletta, who lost by 14 percentage points but is running again this year with more favorable prospects. A lot has changed in the intervening six years. Barletta has become well-known in conservative circles for his high-profile efforts to curb illegal immigration in his northeastern Pennsylvania city. Kanjorski has made some missteps, such as likening Barletta to David Duke and saying that Democrats, in their zeal to win a House majority in 2006, “sort of stretched the facts” on how quickly they could change U.S. policy in Iraq. The turmoil in the financial markets has allowed Republicans to call attention to Kanjorski’s large campaign contributions from the financial industry and his chairmanship of the subcommittee that includes the troubled Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae in its purview. Kanjorski said that his efforts to curb some of the abuses in the housing industry were blocked by Republicans when they were in the majority.
Race Information
- Incumbent: Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D
- First Elected: 1984 (12th term)
- Last Elected: 2006 (72.47%)
- Incumbent Status: Running for re-election
- Race Forecast: No Clear Favorite
District Information
Politics in America District Profile
In the 20th century, the health of northeastern Pennsylvania’s 11th was inextricably linked to the production, manufacturing and sale of coal. The industry virtually disappeared in the 1960s, and the loss significantly altered the economy of the Wyoming Valley.
Revitalization efforts are ongoing, including projects earlier this decade to build a new terminal at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport and complete a $48 million renovation of the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center. There also are long-term proposals to restore passenger and freight rail service from Scranton to New York City.
The Susquehanna River has been both a blessing and a curse to the 11th. The Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project still receives millions of dollars to repair levees originally damaged by Hurricane Agnes in 1972 and to prevent future damage. Despite the ongoing possibility of flooding, the river’s presence also has advantages: A portion of the levee funds were allocated for a riverfront project to create a new landing area, fishing and boating pier, performance amphitheater and walking trails.
The 11th has a decided but not absolute Democratic lean, the result of a large Irish population and a strong union tradition. Democrats do well in Scranton and Luzerne County, with strong showings in Wilkes-Barre and in smaller cities to the north and east. Democrat John Kerry won the 11th by 5 percentage points in the 2004 presidential election.
The decline of coal and an investment in technology-driven businesses have helped Republicans, who do well in Columbia County. George W. Bush won both Carbon and Monroe counties, fast-growing areas in the Poconos where many newcomers commute via Interstate 80 to their jobs in New Jersey and New York.
Major Industry
Manufacturing, retail trade, tourism
Military Bases
Tobyhanna Army Depot, 47 military, 4,300 civilian (2007)
Cities
Scranton, 76,415; Wilkes-Barre, 43,123; Hazleton, 23,329
Notable
Scranton’s Houdini Museum and Psychic Theater honors the magician’s legacy and explores elements of the paranormal, such as séances, in stage performances.
- Demographics (2000 census)
- Population: 646,209
- Under 18: 22%
- Over 65: 18%
- Married: 53.2%
- Non-Hispanic White: 93%
- Black: 2%
- Hispanic: 3%
- Asian: 1%
- Foreign Born: 2.8%
- Language other than English: 6.3%
- Median Household Income: 34,979
- Owner Occupied Housing: 70%
- Income above $200k: 0.9
- Workforce/Education (2000 census)
- White Collar: 54.0%
- Blue Collar: 30.1%
- Services: 15.9%
- Bachelor's Degree: 16%
- Graduate Education: 5.6%
- Civilian Veterans: 76,971
| Year | Election | Candidate | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | general | Paul Kanjorski (D) | 143,246 | 51.6% |
| Lou Barletta (R) | 134,077 | 48.3% | ||
| 2006 | general | Paul Kanjorski (D) | 134,340 | 72.5% |
| Joseph Leonardi (R) | 51,033 | 27.5% | ||
| 2004 | general | Paul Kanjorski (D) | 171,147 | 94.4% |
| Kenneth Brenneman (CNSTP) | 10,105 | 5.6% | ||
| 2002 | general | Paul Kanjorski (D) | 93,758 | 55.6% |
| Lou Barletta (R) | 71,543 | 42.4% | ||
| Thomas McLaughlin (REF) | 3,304 | 2% | ||
| Year | Democrat | Republican | Independent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | John Kerry: 52% | George W. Bush: 47% | |
| 2000 | Al Gore: 53% | George W. Bush: 43% |
Campaign Finance Details for the 2008 Race
| Filers | Through | Total Receipts | Total Disbursements | Total From PACs | Total From Individuals | Ending Cash | Debts Owed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KANJORSKI, PAUL E. (D) | November 24, 2008 | $2,454,025.00 | $3,116,801.00 | $64,500.00 | $852,881.00 | $312,969.00 | |
| LEONARDI, JOSEPH F (R) | July 26, 2007 | $2,422.00 | |||||
| BARLETTA, LOU (R) | November 24, 2008 | $1,263,007.00 | $1,253,935.00 | $103,750.00 | $979,192.00 | $9,496.00 | $264,106.00 |
