[1] Prior to the 2000 election, Democratic Congressman Ron Klink vacated Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district to challenge Republican Rick Santorum for the United States Senate.

Van Horne's victory was He defeated the state and national party's preferred candidate, Matthew Mangino, the Lawrence County, Pennsylvania district attorney.

[2] Shortly after Van Horne's victory, the National Republican Congressional Committee began re-circulating 1994 newspaper accounts alleging that he had been overheard using a racial slur in the halls of the Pennsylvania State Capitol to describe fellow State Representative Dwight E. Evans, who was opposing reduction in welfare.

[3][4] The race was expected to be a close one, with accusations of illegal phone calls, stolen signs, and misleading mailers sent to constituents.

[6] National dignitaries, including Republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy of Rhode Island visited the area to advocate for their party's candidates.