1982 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania explained

Election Name:1982 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
Country:Pennsylvania
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1976 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
Previous Year:1976
Next Election:1988 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
Next Year:1988
Election Date:November 2, 1982
Image1:File:John Heinz.jpg
Nominee1:John Heinz
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:2,136,418
Percentage1:59.28%
Nominee2:Cyril Wecht
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:1,412,965
Percentage2:39.20%
Map Size:260px
U.S. Senator
Before Election:John Heinz
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:John Heinz
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

The 1982 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John Heinz successfully sought re-election to another term, defeating Democratic nominee Cyril Wecht.

General election

Candidates

Campaign

John Heinz's Democratic opponent in the 1982 election was Allegheny County commissioner and former coroner Cyril Wecht, who lacked significant name recognition outside of Pittsburgh, his home town. Although the 1982 elections were a setback nationally for incumbent President Ronald Reagan and the Republican Party, neither Heinz nor incumbent Republican governor Dick Thornburgh, who was also up for re-election in 1982, were challenged by Democrats with statewide prominence.

Wecht ran a low-budget campaign, lacking the assets to boost his name recognition; The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a headline dubbing the contest, "The Race for Senator No One Seemed to Notice."[1]

Despite this, Heinz ran a cautious campaign, running as a moderate due to Pennsylvania's unemployment, 11%, one of the highest in the nation at the time, as well as the declining health of Pennsylvania's coal mining, manufacturing and steel industries. In the end, Heinz won the election by a wide margin, winning 59.3% of the popular vote. Wecht won 39.2% of the popular vote.[1]

Results

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Lamis, Renée M.. Foreward by James L. Sundquist. The realignment of Pennsylvania politics since 1960 : two-party competition in a battleground state. 2009. Pennsylvania State University Press. University Park, Pa.. 978-0271034195. 109.