Jason Altmire

HARRISBURG — A pair of veteran Democratic U.S. House representatives were passed over by voters Tuesday in Pennsylvania's primary, while newcomer Kathleen Kane won her party's nod to run for attorney general this fall.

Kane, a former Lackawanna County prosecutor running her first campaign for elective office, defeated former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, 53 percent to 47 percent with more than 90 percent of the vote in Tuesday's primary counted.

The two candidates waged a spirited campaign that was heavy on TV advertising.

The 45-year-old Kane touted her nearly 13 years' experience as a prosecutor while reminding voters that Murphy, a former Army lawyer who served in Iraq, had never tried a case in Pennsylvania courts.

The 38-year-old Murphy stressed his five years in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps and asserted that he was the true Democrat in the race.

Kane relied heavily on her family's wealth to finance her campaign, while Murphy received help from major labor unions.

Kane will take on Republican David Freed, the Cumberland County district attorney, in November.

Meanwhile, presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney won Pennsylvania and four others in Tuesday's primaries.

Under Pennsylvania Republican rules, the results do not necessarily mean the former Massachusetts governor will get the votes of the state's delegates to this August's national convention in Tampa, Fla. Those 72 delegates are free to support the candidate of their choice at the convention.

For two veteran Democrats in Congress, the primary results were vexing and signaled the end of their careers in Washington.

U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, a centrist Democrat and the state's longest-serving member of Congress, lost in a redrawn district to attorney Matt Cartwright.

Across the state in Western Pennsylvania, U.S. Rep. Mark Critz beat fellow Democratic U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire after the two had been drawn by redistricting into the same district.

GOP U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, however, beat back challenger Evan Feinberg.

Former coal company owner Tom Smith beat four other Republicans for their party's nomination to take on U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, the Democratic incumbent who easily overcame his lone primary challenger.

There were widespread reports of low turnout across the state, as the western region was still dealing with the remnants of a winter storm.

In another row-office contest, for the Republican nod for state auditor general, state Rep. John Maher of Allegheny County defeated banking lobbyist Frank Pinto.

In the state Legislature, only four incumbent senators, out of 25 districts open this cycle, have primary opponents, while in the House only 28 incumbents could be defeated Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, voters were filling six vacant state House seats in special elections concerning one district each in Allegheny, Lehigh and Montgomery counties, and three in Philadelphia.

While voters had few races to decide in Tuesday’s balloting, there will be more races in the general election on Nov. 6.Here is the lineup in the fall for offices below the presidential race:U.S. Representative 3rd DistrictMike Kelly, RMissa Eaton, DU.S. SenateRobert Casey, DTom Smith, RPa. Attorney GeneralDavid Freed, RKathleen Kane, DPa. Auditor GeneralJohn Maher, REugene DePasquale, DPa. TreasurerDiana Irey Vaughan, RRobert McCord, DState Senate 21st DistrictScott Hutchinson, RNo Democratic nominee41st DistrictDon White, RNo Democratic nomineeState House 8th DistrictDick Stevenson, RNo Democratic nominee10th DistrictJaret Gibbons, DMichael See, R11th DistrictBrian Ellis, RNo Democratic nominee12th DistrictDaryl Metcalfe, RNo Democratic nominee64th DistrictR. Lee James, RNo Democratic nominee