Though the late Representative, Murtha, the longest serving congressman in the history of Pennsylvania, was consistently re-elected to his seat by large margins, the special election was expected to be competitive.

[2][3][4] The 12th district is predominantly rural, and represents the coal and manufacturing industries, which have suffered in recent decades.

T.J. Rooney, chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, said "The members of the Executive Committee will certainly take these results under consideration this Monday when they decide our nominee.

"[35] On March 6, the Democratic committee of Washington County declared that it would hold its own separate straw poll.

"[39] On March 8, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party Executive Committee followed the recommendation of the district officials by nominating Mark Critz.

[42] Businessman Tim Burns began his campaign for the Republican nomination on March 3 at the Surf & Turf Inn in Johnstown, the site of his first job.

Burns said "We have to get Congress to focus on creating jobs, lowering taxes and fixing Washington for the future of our children.

[47] In a speech prior to the nomination vote, Burns referred to his support for the Tea Party movement, articulated his positions on the current plans for health care reform, United States energy independence and the national deficit,[47] and described his nomination as "an opportunity to put a common-sense conservative in a seat that has long been held by a political insider".

"[47] Demo Agoris, a businessman, former Houston borough councilman and unsuccessful candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, received the Libertarian Party nomination.

Michael Robertson, the chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, said Agoris "offers real change" for residents of the 12th district.

[64] The same day, Critz announced that Democratic Governor Joe Manchin of West Virginia would join him at a campaign event.

"[71] Critz later said he would not support repeal of the legislation, following which Burns accused him of "playing both sides of the issue" on health care.

[72] Burns was criticised for having served as an executive in a healthcare company which deferred taxes on income earned overseas.

[73] Critz was criticised for his record as John Murtha's director of economic development, in which unemployment rates rose in every county within the 12th district.

"[76] Burns's campaign website crashed on April 23, during a moneybomb focusing on Joe Biden's visit to the district.

[77] Spokesman Kent Gates initially cited "a problem with the hosting company",[77] but the Burns campaign later claimed in a fundraising email that the site was "attacked".

Critz was pro-life, pro-gun, and opposed the health care reform bill that many vulnerable Democratic incumbents supported."

Rothenberg still predicts that Republicans will make substantial gains,[88] which suggests that this could be a pyrrhic victory for Democrats comparable to the Republican win in 2006 special House election in California's 50th congressional district in which the ruling party managed to hold onto a district in a special election, but still lost control of Congress months later.