Decision 2020

Longest-serving Pa. congressman loses in primary

PITTSBURGH (AP) — U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, the longest-serving member of Pennsylvania's congressional delegation, has lost his re-election bid in a Democratic primary race in a newly redrawn district.

Personal injury attorney Matt Cartwright spent nearly $400,000 in the race against Holden, who was elected to Congress in 1992 and was one of its conservative, so-called Blue Dog Democrats.

Cartwright's campaign hit Holden with allegations that he was too conservative for the district's voters, citing his vote against President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

Cartwright will face Scranton tea party activist Laureen Cummings in the fall.

Cummings, a nurse and small business owner from Old Forge, was the only Republican on the primary ballot.