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Running head: BECOMING AN INFORMED VOTER
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Becoming an Informed Voter
Stephanie Rogers
Liberty University GOVT 220
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Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District
7thth District of Pennsylvania U.S. Representative
After the early 2000’s Census, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania divided into 19
congressional decreasing from 21. After the 2010 Census, the number of districts decreased
again to 18. The congressional delegation consists of 18 members 9 of them are Republicans and
the other 9 are Democrats. Before 2018 House Elections there were a total of the Republicans
held a total of 12 seats leaving the Democrats a total of 6 seats and before that, the Republicans
held a total of 13 seats leaving the Democrats a total of 5 seats.
Mary Gay Scanlon made history last year as the first Congresswoman of Delaware County
despite the fact that she entered the race only a few months before the primary election she won
against Republican special prosecutor Pearl Kim. Unofficially Scanlon had received a total of
146,255 and Kim received a total of 90,271 in the 5th congressional race and in the 7th
congressional race, Scanlon had 94,119 votes and Kim 77,550 votes. Mary Scanlon was born in
Watertown, NY. She is the sister of two Elizabeth M. Scanlon and M. Kathleen Scanlon Her
father was an attorney and her grandfather Leo J. Yehle, was a family-court judge who assisted
in writing the first juvenile cole in New York back in the ’60s. Mary Gay Scanlon holds two
degrees. She received her bachelor’s degree from Colgate University in 1980 and then four years
later she received her Juris Doctor in 1984 at University of Pennsylvania. After school was
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completed Mary Scanlon worked for the Superior Court of Pennsylvania as a judicial clerk. In
185 Mary Scanlon decided to represent an 11-year-old sexually abused girl, this was the
dependency case that built the foundation for her interest to pursue a career in public interest
law. In 1994, Mary Scanlon received the Fidelity Award. Mary Scanlon served as an attorney
for the Education Law Center of Philadelphia. On February 25th, 2018 Mary Scanlon started her
campaign running for US Congress in Pennsylvania's 5th District. On November 6th, 2018
Mary beat Pearl Kim with ease in both the special and regular elections. Since Mary’s
swearing-in, Mary Scanlon has become the third Democrat to represent the Delaware
County-based district since 1939. Mary is involved in several political positions she has voiced
her opposing opinion on the National Rifle Association demanding that we have more strict gun
control. She has also spoken on fair elections, our desperate need for better access to health care
and public education, threats to our environment and earth and so much more. I would consider
U.S. Representative Mary Scanlon to be neo-liberal. Mary Scanlon currently resides in
Swarthmore, PA with her husband Mark Stewart and has three children.
Mary Scanlon’s Interest Group Rating
American Democratic Action
2017
90%
American Civil Liberties
2017-2018
57%
American Conservative
Union
2018
6%
Christian Coalition
2017-2018
13%
Family Research Council
2018
13%
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Political Background of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania was founded in 1681 by The Quaker Province - William Penn. William Penn was
born on October 14, 1644, and was born in London, England. It was one of the thirteen original
colonies. King Charles ll owed William Penn a total of $16,000. William Penn requested for the
land to be given to him to pay the King’s debt and when he did the King granted his request. The
King signed over the land to William Penn on March 4, 1681. Willliam Penn named the land
Pennsylvania. “Sylvania” means “woodland” when combining the word with “Penn”. William
Penn wanted Pennsylvania to be a place of peace, liberty, and freedom. William Penn hoped to
use the land to create a New World where people will have to the opportunity to practice religion
without prosecution. In 1775, The American Revolution created the United States of America,
the Revolution took place due to the British’s burden of total power to pursue any laws that
govern the American colonies and taxes. George Washington set the American victory over
Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War also known as the American War of
Independence. In 1776 on July 4th The United State was declared independence and was marked
the birth of what we know now to be the United States of America. On July 10th, 1778 France
declared war against Great Britain and formed an alliance with the American forces and on
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September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed by both the United States of America and
Britain (who lost the war against the British). On December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania was the 2nd
state to partake in the Union their state motto was “Virtue, Liberty and Independence”
Throughout the years of 1812 and 1815 The War of 1812 confirmed
the independence of America and in 1861 to 1865 The American Civil War occurred Abraham
Lincoln who was a known opposer of slavery was elected for presidency in 1861 the South
Secedes. During this time a secession took place for South Carolina and shortly after there was a
secession of Mississippi. Flordia, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Virginia, Texas. Tennessee,
North Carolina, Arkansas. Those eleven states later became known as the Confederate States of
America. In 1865 on December 6th was the official Abolishment of Slavery thus creating the
Thirteenth Amendment.
The U.S. Senators of Pennsylvania
Every state elects two senators to represent their state for a term of 6 years. Pennsylvania two
senators are Patrick Toomey who has been a Junior Senator since January 5, 201l and represents
the Republican party and Robert “Bob” Casey Jr. who is our Senior Senator for Pennsylvania
and has been since January 4, 2007, and represents the Democratic party. Bob Casey is the son of
Ellen Casey and Robert P. Casey Sr. who was a governor Bob Casey has four children, Elyse,
Caroline, Julia, and Mariana. He was born in Scranton, PA and was born on April 13, 1960.
Senator Casey attended The College of the Holy Cross from 1978-1982 and then decided to
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attend The Catholic University of America in 1988 Bob Casey had made such an impact to our
state since he was elected. He has worked on many projects like foster financial security,
creating family sustained jobs, investing in children's education and promoting honesty and
dignity in government. Senator Casey has been nationally recognized for being an advocate for
children, he has fought for the quality of early learning for young children he has also brought
awareness and legislation to make higher quality Pre-K’s which will be available to over three
million three to four-year-old kids all across the country. Senator Casey didn’t stop there is also,
is a proud supporter of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP serves over
800,000 children each year. Senator Casey believes in building a better economy, equal job
opportunities and expanding the incomes for the working middle class so they don’t live in a
“making ends meet” state. Bob Casey believes we should strengthen our national security and
protect it. Senator Bob voted for Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to cut Iran’s
pathway to nuclear weapons.
Bob Casey’s Interest Group Ratings
American Democratic Action
2017
90%
American Civil Liberties
2017-2018
57%
American Conservative
Union
2018
6%
Christian Coalition
2017-2018
13%
Family Research Council
13%
13%
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Bob Casey’s father showed liberalism while he was governor and Senior Senator Casey Jr. is
following in his father’s footsteps. Bob Casey campaigned as a Conservative Democrat and is
Catholic and is a firm believer of carrying out those values, but he brought everyone to shock
when he voted to continue to have taxpayers support abortions and supporting Planned
Parenthood even after they were accused of sex trafficking and completing false mammograms
on women.
Pennsylvania’s Most Recent Electoral Votes
2016
2012
2008
2004
2000
46.4%
50.6%
48.5%
51.0%
44.3%
54.7%
46.6%
52.0%
48.6%
47.9%
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Since 1996 Pennsylvania has supported every Democratic candidate running for president it
wasn't until 2016 when Donald Trump won the state of Pennsylvania. In 2006, when Barack
Obama was named President of the United States he won almost all of Philadelphia’s suburban
areas. Each election since 2000 has been relatively even, neither party has dominated one another
in an election since then.
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References
Bob Casey Jr. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ballotpedia.org/Bob_Casey_Jr.
Bob Casey, Jr. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.conservapedia.com/Bob_Casey,_Jr.
E., K., & E., K. (2018, November 07). Scanlon makes history as Delco's first congresswoman.
Retrieved from
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/local/scanlon-makes-history-as-delco-s-first-congresswoman/
article_c654205a-e211-11e8-84bb-6b17492a661a.html
Editors, H. (2009, November 09). Pennsylvania. Retrieved from
https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/pennsylvania
Home. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.casey.senate.gov/
Mary Gay Scanlon. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ballotpedia.org/Mary_Gay_Scanlon
McCarthy, E. (2018, November 07). Mary Gay Scanlon wins Pa.'s Fifth Congressional District.
Retrieved from
https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/politics/elections/mary-scanlon-pearl-kim-pa-5-congressio
nal-district-results-election-2018-20181106.html
Pennsylvania. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/PA
Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://ballotpedia.org/Pennsylvania's_7th_Congressional_District
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Pennsylvania's congressional districts. (2019, June 13). Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania's_congressional_districts
Powerresearch, P. (2018, April 25). Mary Gay Scanlon, Self-proclaimed Progressive PA-5 candidate
has deep connections to neo-liberal forces. Retrieved from
https://www.phillypowerresearch.org/news/2018/4/24/mary-gay-scanlon-pa5
Presidential election in Pennsylvania, 2016. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://ballotpedia.org/Presidential_election_in_Pennsylvania,_2016
Representative Mary Gay Scanlon. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://scanlon.house.gov/
