Rothfus

STATE COLLEGE — Republican Keith Rothfus has unseated Democratic incumbent Rep. Mark Critz in a Western Pennsylvania race that helped the GOP solidify its grip on the U.S. House.

Rothfus is a suburban Pittsburgh attorney who won a narrow victory in a 12th Congressional District redrawn by the Republican-controlled Legislature to push its boundaries toward the outskirts of Pittsburgh.

Critz has been fighting to keep his seat since winning the special election in 2010 after his former boss, longtime Democratic Rep. John Murtha, died in office.

Rothfus was able to flip the seat in one of the most closely-watched races in the country. The campaign has been flooded with $9.9 million in spending by outside groups, more than any other House race in the nation.

Rothfus’ win helped Republicans pick up a seat in Pennsylvania, meaning the GOP will have 13 of the state’s 18 U.S. House seats in January.

In eastern Pennsylvania, Republican Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick fended off a strong challenge from Democratic attorney Kathy Boockvar.

Most incumbents on the ballot otherwise easily won re-election. Republican Reps. Tom Marino, Bill Shuster and Tim Murphy were among those securing another term in Washington, joining victorious Democrats including Reps. Bob Brady, Chaka Fattah and Allyson Schwartz.

Also in eastern Pennsylvania, the seat once held by longtime U.S. Rep. Tim Holden is staying in Democratic hands after attorney Matt Cartwright defeated Republican Laureen Cummings, a nurse and small business owner.

Cartwright defeated Holden in the Democratic primary in April in the 17th Congressional District. Holden was first elected to Congress in 1992 as a conservative, so-called Blue Dog Democrat.

The 4th District in central Pennsylvania will stay in Republican control after Scott Perry, a GOP state representative defeated Democrat Harry Perkinson, an engineer.