WASHINGTON — Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.), one of Congress' biggest supporters of credit unions, dodged an electoral bullet yesterday by narrowly defeating Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta 51.7%-47.3%.
National and state credit union groups expended money and manpower to help the 12-term lawmaker, who has been a key sponsor of all key credit union initiatives in recent years. Kanjorski is the #2 Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee.
Other credit union friends who won closely watched races yesterday include: Sens. Norman Coleman (R-Minn.) Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sentor-elect Mark Udall (D-Colo.).
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Credit union backers Sens. John Sununu (R-N.H.) and Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) both lost.
CUNA's political action committee won one and lost the other of the two House seats in which they spent considerable money on independent expenditures.
In Kansas' 2nd District, Treasurer Leslie Jenkins, a longtime credit union supporter, defeated freshman U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda (D) 50.8% to 46%. CUNA's PAC spent $114,720 to produce and air advertisements on behalf of Jenkins.
In Missouri's 9th District, the PAC spent $184,021 on advertisements and brochures on behalf of state Rep. Judith W. Baker, a Democrat who has been supportive of credit unions during her tenure as a legislator. She lost 50%-47.5% to former state House Financial Services Committee Chairman Blaine Luetkemeyer.
Several credit union supporters in the House were defeated in yesterday's balloting, including: Reps. Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.), Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.), Jon Porter (R-Nev.) and Tim Walberg (R-Mich.).
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