Pennsylvania: Phil English

Of the 19 U.S. representatives from Pennsylvania sworn-in Tuesday in Washington, Kathy Dahlkemper stood out. The Democrat was the only one who defeated an incumbent, former Congressman Phil English, this fall and only one of two new members of the state's delegation.

During an interview Tuesday evening with PolitickerPA.com, she acknowledged that if she wants to survive her freshman term, she must make sure she doesn't stray too far to the left in the moderate 3rd Congressional District.

Tina Mengine ran Democrat Kathy Dahlkemper's successful campaign this fall against Republican incumbent Phil English.

On Friday, the congresswoman-elect announced Megine would also run her congressional office as chief of staff.

Mengine and an array of other newly anointed staffers were unveiled Friday at a press conference in Erie as Dahlkemper inches closer to formally becoming the 3rd Congressional District's representative.

U.S. Rep. John Peterson (R-Pleasantville) isn't entering private life quietly.

The congressman, who is retiring after this year, has embarked on an aggressive schedule in the final days of his term, using his bully pulpit to talk about energy independence, rural health care and the danger tolling Interstate 80 poses for the Pennsylvania economy. While some lawmakers who won't be in office next year have all but disappeared from the public eye, Peterson has remained constant.

Former President Bill Clinton formally endorsed Democratic congressional candidate Kathy Dahlkemper on Monday.

Dahlkemper, who faces U.S. Rep. Phil English (R-Erie) in the 3rd Congressional District, gives Pennsylvania Democrats by far their best chance to gain an additional seat in Congress.