Dow-Ford says Holden ‘has been a follower, not a leader’

For Sheila Dow-Ford, voting against health care reform was the last straw.

So when Congressman Tim Holden (D-17) became one of only two House Democrats in Pennsylvania to oppose the health care legislation that passed late last year, Dow-Ford, an education policy expert, decided to challenge the incumbent of her own party.

“His evasive, avoidance and cowardly manner on health care … was my determination to run,” Dow-Ford told pa2010.com in an interview this week. …

January 29, 2010 at 6:40 pm | Comments (2)

Holden gets a primary opponent

Congressman Tim Holden (D-17) is now being challenged on both flanks.

Sheila Dow-Ford, a public policy advocate, says she’ll soon declare he candidacy in the Democratic primary against Holden, who she says needs to be challenged on his “credentials as a Democrat.”

“I’ve thought long and hard about this,” Dow-Ford …

January 26, 2010 at 11:30 pm | Comments (2)

Holden may get challenge from his own party, too

For Republicans, the time is right to mount a challenge against incumbent Congressman Tim Holden (R-17), who they charge is “too liberal” to represent a district that went for John McCain in the 2008 presidential election.

Maybe. Or maybe not, considering that Democratic strategists hardly put Holden’s seat on the endangered list this fall.

But there could be a new twist for Holden. There’s been some serious grumbling that Holden, the Blue Dog Democrat who …

January 11, 2010 at 4:15 pm | Comments (0)

Dems hit Argall over 2005 pay raise

Democrats wasted little time Monday in attacking their latest congressional opponent, decrying state Senator Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill) as an “architect” of the 2005 legislative pay raise that infuriated voters and cost numerous lawmakers their jobs.

“Dave Argall’s role as an architect of the 2005 pay-raise scandal proves that he represents all that’s wrong with Harrisburg politics,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Shripal Shah said in a statement. “State Senator Argall is grossly mistaken if he …

January 11, 2010 at 1:51 pm | Comments (0)

Argall gets into 17th District race

State Senator Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill) formally announced his candidacy in the 17th District Monday, saying that the central Pennsylvania district is ready for a change.

Argall, who immediately becomes the front-runner for the GOP nomination to take on longtime Congressman Tim Holden (D-17), made his announcement at events throughout the district. Holden has proven difficult for Republicans to defeat in past elections, but GOP leaders at the local and national levels see Argall as their …

January 11, 2010 at 1:42 pm | Comments (3)

Report: Argall to challenge Holden in 17th

After weeks of deliberation, state Senator Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill) is apparently ready to take on Congressman Tim Holden (D-17).

Argall will announce his candidacy next Monday evening, PoliticsPA …

January 4, 2010 at 9:24 pm | Comments (0)

CHRISTMAS LEFTOVERS: Rendell’s role, Corbett’s Nebrasaka investigation, another opponent eyes Holden

Here’s a few items we missed in the days leading up to and after Christmas last week.

Gov. Ed Rendell says he’s looking forward to playing a significant role in the race to succeed him. The two-term incumbent Democrat p“I hope they’ll avail themselves of it,” Rendell said. If they make factual errors about the administration on the campaign trail, “I will correct them, Democrats and Republicans alike.” And he also kept alive the possibility that he will endorse a candidate in the primary, something he’s previously a href="http://www.politicker.com/pennsylvania/21473/rendell-looks-stay-neutral-democratic-primary-replace-him" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.politicker.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicker.com%2Fpennsylvania%2F21473%2Frendell-looks-stay-neutral-democratic-primary-replace-him','said+he+wouldn%22t+do')" target="_blank"said he wouldn’t do/a./p
pMeanwhile, a Republican who’d like to replace Rendell made a little splash in the health care fight. a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30949.html" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.politico.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Fnews%2Fstories%2F1209%2F30949.html','Attorney+General+Tom+Corbett+joined+a+number+of+GOP+state+attorneys+general')" target="_blank">Attorney General Tom Corbett joined a number of GOP state attorneys general is saying he’d investigate the legality of a compromise between Democratic leaders and Senator Ben Nelson, which exempted Nebraska from footing the bill for …

December 27, 2009 at 8:00 pm | Comments (0)

Ryan mulling another run for PA-17

Five years after losing in a crowded Republican primary, Lebanon businessman Frank Ryan is once again considering a run for Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District.

In an interview Wednesday with pa2010.com, Ryan said he was still a few months away from making a decision. But he has reached out to close friends and supporters in an effort to gauge support and commission a poll examining the potential viability of his candidacy, he said.

“I’ve made no decisions, but I’m definitely thinking of it,” Ryan said.

April 22, 2009 at 4:34 pm | Comments (9)