Politics & Government

Altmire Endorses Critz, Rallies with Elected Officials Behind the Nominee

Elected officials and leaders stress the importance of sending Critz to Congress.

today endorsed at a rally in downtown Pittsburgh in front of the Allegheny County Courthouse.

Altmire, 44, of McCandless, was joined by Critz, 50, of Johnstown, Cambria County, at the rally that also included Democratic elected officials and leaders from Allegheny and Beaver counties, including Congressman Mike Doyle, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Nancy Mills. 

Others who attended the rally included Beaver County Commissioners Joe Spanik and Tony Amadio, among other elected officials and leaders, who endorsed Critz in the race for the 12th Congressional District seat.

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As a result of newly drawn district lines, Critz and Altmire had to face off in the primary election to represent the new 12th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Critz won in a tight race with 51 percent of the vote.

"When Mark Critz first ran for Congress in 2010, I supported him and worked for his election because I knew that his top priority would be to create jobs and fight for the middle class" Altmire said in a press release. "Through our work together in Congress since that time, I have seen firsthand Mark's continued commitment to western Pennsylvania's working families."

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Mills, Doyle and Fitzgerald also spoke to the need to return Critz to Congress because of his record on job creation and protecting vital programs like Social Security and Medicare.

“Allegheny County and western Pennsylvania need Mark Critz in Congress because he’s taking on China and fighting to end unfair trade deals that ship our jobs overseas,” Fitzgerald said. “I trust that Mark will continue to stand up for western Pennsylvania jobs which is why we need to send him back to Washington to fight for us.”
 
“It is vital that western Pennsylvania sends Mark Critz back to Congress so he can continue to fight to create jobs and stand up for seniors,” Doyle said. “Our party is unified behind Mark Critz because we know that we can count on him to fight for jobs while protecting Social Security and Medicare.”

Critz will face Republican challenger and lawyer Keith Rothfus of in the November general election.  He said that the unified support of western Pennsylvania’s Democratic elected officials and leaders puts his campaign on strong footing as it moves into the general election in November.

Critz praised Jason Altmire for his tireless work for the region and said that he will emulate his efforts to represent all of western Pennsylvania in Congress. 

“I am grateful for the unified support from western Pennsylvania’s Democrats,” Critz said. “As a result of the strong support from these elected officials and leaders, we are in a very strong position as we work toward victory in November.”

“I especially want to thank Congressman Jason Altmire for his support and his tireless work on behalf of the people of western Pennsylvania,” Critz said. “I want the people who are currently represented by Jason to know that I will do my best to emulate his efforts to work to create jobs for every township and borough, every city and every county in this district.”

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