Pennsylvania: Mike Turzai

April 20, 2009 - 06:49 pm

More On Mike Turzai

I just wanted to fill out some background on the comments from this blog post.

From Roll Call:

By most accounts, Turzai’s 1998 bid for the seat against then-Rep. Ron Klink (D) was a less-than-stellar campaign. He lost to Klink, 36 percent to 64 percent, in a district that two years later gave 50 percent of the vote to Bush.

During that first campaign for the 4th district seat, Turzai was derailed by two major publicity mishaps. Two of his supporters got into an altercation with Klink on the sidewalks of Pittsburgh while trying to videotape him for a negative campaign advertisement. Klink also blasted Turzai for sending a helicopter to take aerial footage of his home as an invasion of his privacy.

April 20, 2009 - 06:14 am

Turzai Vs Altmire??

From The Trib's "Whispers" column:

Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, the House minority whip, reportedly is considering challenging U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, D-McCandless, for the 4th Congressional District seat next year.

The National Republican Congressional Committee has had discussions with Turzai about running against Altmire, the Washington, D.C., newspaper Roll Call reported.

Turzai, spotted at the NRCC annual dinner last month, thus far has declined to discuss the report.

So who's Mike Turzai?

He won State Senate Orie's House seat easily in 2001:
Republican Mike Turzai was the comfortable winner over Thomas Dancison in yesterday's special election to fill a vacant North Hills seat in the state House.

Mon, 01/05/2009 - 09:40

Santorum taps Turzai, Orie as possible Specter opponents

Former Senator Rick Santorum pointed to state Rep. Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny County) and state Sen. Jane Orie (R-Allegheny County) as the two front-runners to challenge U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter in a 2010 primary should Pat Toomey decline to run again.

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Wed, 12/31/2008 - 11:55

PolitickerPA.com’s Winners and Losers of 2008

This article is by Dan Hirschhorn in Philadelphia and Alex Roarty in Harrisburg

In politics, it's all about who's up and who's down. And between a historic presidential election, competitive down-ballot races and the corruption trial of a political icon, there was plenty of movement in Pennsylvania politics this year.

PolitickerPA.com looks back at the biggest winners and losers of 2008.

WINNERS

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Tue, 11/18/2008 - 17:46

Sturla beats out Gerber for Democratic policy chair

HARRISBURG -- State Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster County) has beat out state Rep. Mike Gerber (D-Montgomery County) for House Democratic policy chair.

If Tuesday's leadership elections are any indication, the policy chair position is prime ground to move on to higher positions. Each of this election cycle's two policy chairs, state reps. Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny County) and Todd Eachus (D-Luzerne County) moved up the leadership pecking order Tuesday. Turzai is now minority whip, Eachus was elected majority leader.

Tue, 11/18/2008 - 15:54

Civera staying as minority appropriations chair

State Rep. Mario Civera has been re-elected minority appropriations chairman.

He reportedly faced a challenge from state Rep. John Maher. 

The top three position in the House Republican Caucus appear to be set, with House Minority Leader Sam Smith and Civera retaining their positions and former Policy Chairman Mike Turzai becoming minority whip. 

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Wed, 11/12/2008 - 00:48

Turzai calls Perzel action 'disappointing,' declines comment on leadership races

HARRISBURG -- State Rep. Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny County) told PolitickerPA.com Tuesday during a brief interview that he disapproves of the action allegedly taken by state Rep. John Perzel (R-Philadelphia), who reportedly conducted opposition research on Turzai and other fellow Republicans.

"It's disappointing," he said. "I prefer a positive team approach."

He declined to comment further. 

Tue, 11/11/2008 - 12:57

Capitolwire: Perzel did opposition research on Republicans

Speaker of the House Emeritus John Perzel (R-Philadelphia) wants back into leadership, and he's allegedly ready to throw a few elbows to get there, Capitolwire reports Tuesday (subscription required).

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Mon, 11/10/2008 - 12:37

Turzai says local Republicans did well amid Obama landslide

A two-seat loss in the state House was good enough for Republicans, considering the overwhelming victory in Pennsylvania by President Elect Barack Obama, according to Mike Turzai, chairman of the House Republican Campaign Committee.

House Democrats now have a 104-99 advantage, giving them more breathing room on close votes and possibly allowing them to elect for a Democratic speaker of the House after failing to do so in 2006.

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Wed, 10/15/2008 - 18:17

Republicans seize on Murtha's remarks

U.S. Rep. John Murtha's (D-Johnstown) comments Wednesday that western Pennsylvania is a "racist area" drew swift criticism from his re-election opponent, Republican Bill Russell.

Murtha's own 12th Congressional District lies in western Pennsylvania, a fact Russell seized on.

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