(Pennsylvania) GOP U.S. Rep. Gerlach retiring

[Eugene]

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

GOP U.S. Rep. Gerlach retiring

Published by Karen Langley on Monday, 06 January 2014 5:01 pm.

U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, R-Chester, will not seek re-election in 2014.

"Nearing the end of my sixth term in the House and following 12 years of public service in the Pennsylvania House and Senate, it is simply time for me to move on to new challenges and to spend more time with my wife and family," Gerlach said, according to PoliticsPA, which reported the news.

Both PoliticsPA and the Associated Press cited aides who said Gerlach will not run for any office (say, the governor's) in 2014.

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Political scientist Terry Madonna said on Twitter: "Jim Gerlach's (R) retirement in PA 6 CD could make that seat somewhat competitive even though safe R at present. Need to see who emerges."

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Read more: http://earlyreturns.post-gazette.com/home/early-returns-posts/5968-gop-u-s-rep-gerlach-retiring

[Freddie]

1. That part of the burbs isn't as red as it used to be

Gerlach was well-liked locally despite his party. That's a seat we can pick up.

[yellowcanine]

3. A good candidate and a good campaign could do it - Mittens won by about 500 votes

in Chester County - not sure how that corresponds to the congressional district.

[Gothmog]

2. According to DCCC, this is another moderate bailing out on the GOP

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/house-dems-gerlach-becomes-12th-goper-to-jump-ship

The campaign arm for House Democrats hailed Rep. Jim Gerlach's (R-PA) decision to not seek another term as the latest sign that moderate Republicans are "jumping ship" within the Republican Party.

Gerlach announced Monday that he would not run for another term.

"John Boehner and the Tea Party put up the ‘No Moderates Allowed’ sign on their caucus and now the few remaining moderates are jumping ship from a Congress that is so broken that its leaders have already admitted they will do nothing this year to help hardworking families," Democratic Congressional Committee Chairman Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) said in a statement on Monday.

The moderate wing of the GOP is getting tired of the tea party controlling all of the decisions