Joe Pitts (R- PA 16) is retiring from Congress.

[femmocrat]

Rep. Pitts Will Not Seek Re-Election

Nov 6, 2015
WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA) announced that he will not seek re-election to the U.S. Congress in 2016.

A leading defender of human rights, Rep. Pitts has represented the Sixteenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania since 1997. He served on the Budget Committee from 1997-2000, when the federal budget was balanced for the first time since 1969. A former Electronic Warfare Officer in the Air Force, Pitts founded the bipartisan Congressional Electronic Warfare Working Group. At the request of Speaker Gingrich, Pitts founded and chaired the Values Action Team for 18 years of his service in Congress.

More at link: http://pitts.house.gov/press-release/rep-pitts-will-not-seek-re-election

Is there any chance the democrats can win this seat? PA-16 is in SE PA and includes Lancaster and Reading.

[brucefan]

1. Good Riddance!

[enough]

2. +1 (nt)

[MadrasT]

3. I wouldn't hold out high hopes on that... that area is still mighty red.

I wish we could get rid of the crazy gerrymandering in this state. I am right next door in district 7, and the map makes me want to blow my head off every time I see it.

[Divernan]

4. With a Dem majority on state sup. ct. at next census, the court can throw

an outrageously gerrymandered map back in the GOP legislature's face! Because, sadly, with the current gerrymandering and the ineptness of the state's Democratic Committee at getting candidates to run for office, let alone getting the Democratic voters to the polls, the state Senate and House will most likely still be GOP majority in 2020.