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Keith Rothfus

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Keith James Rothfus /ˈrɒθfəs/ (born April 25, 1962)[1] is an American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. representative for Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district from 2013 to 2019. He succeeded Democratic Representative Mark Critz, whom he defeated in the 2012 election.[2][3] Prior to serving in Congress, he worked as an attorney. After new congressional district maps were released by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in February 2018, Rothfus became a candidate in Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district, where he was defeated for re-election by the incumbent from the 18th district, Democrat Conor Lamb.

Keith Rothfus
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 12th district
In office
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2019
Preceded byMark Critz
Succeeded byConor Lamb (Redistricting)
Personal details
Born
Keith James Rothfus

(1962-04-25) April 25, 1962 (age 62)
Endicott, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseElsie Rothfus
Children6
EducationBuffalo State College (BS)
University of Notre Dame (JD)

Early life and education

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Rothfus was born in 1962 in Endicott, New York. He graduated from West Seneca West Senior High School in 1980. He graduated from the State University of New York College at Buffalo with a bachelor's degree in information systems. He later earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1994.[4]

Law career

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For most of his adult life, Rothfus has been a corporate attorney. He was employed by the United States Department of Homeland Security from 2006 to 2007. He has also been a member of the Edgeworth, Pennsylvania zoning board. He serves on the board of directors of the Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania.[1][5]

U.S. House of Representatives

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Rothfus during the 113th Congress

Elections

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2010

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See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 4

Rothfus decided to run for Congress in Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district. In the Republican primary, he defeated U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan 65%–35%.[6] Rothfus challenged Democratic U.S. Congressman Jason Altmire, losing 51%–49%.[7][8]

2012

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See also: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 12

After redistricting, most of the 4th District was merged with the Johnstown-based Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district. Rothfus won the Republican primary unopposed. In the general election, he faced incumbent Democrat Mark Critz, who had defeated incumbent Jason Altmire in the Democratic primary. Rothfus led Critz in fundraising for the second half of 2012. It was a highly competitive election, with outside groups spending nearly $10 million.[9]

Rothfus defeated Critz 52%–48%.[8][10][11] Although Critz had retained the bulk of his former territory, he could not overcome the significantly redder hue of the redrawn district.[12] Rothfus took office when the 113th Congress convened on January 3, 2013.

2014

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See also: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 12

Rothfus sought a second term in the U.S. House in 2014. He was re-nominated in the May 20 Republican primary and faced Democratic nominee Erin McClelland in the general election. He defeated McClelland 59%–41%, winning a second term.[13]

2016

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See also: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 12

Rothfus sought a third term in the U.S. House in 2016. He again faced Democratic candidate Erin McClelland in the general election. He defeated McClelland 62%–38%, winning a third term.[14]

2018

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See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 17

For his first three terms, Rothfus represented a district stretching from the northwestern suburbs of Pittsburgh to Johnstown. After the Pennsylvania Supreme Court threw out the old congressional map as unconstitutional and replaced it with a map of its own, Rothfus' district was renumbered as the 17th District. It lost its eastern portion, including the area around Johnstown, and reconfigured as a more compact district in the northern and western suburbs of Pittsburgh.[15] In the process, it lost its last connection to John Murtha, who had represented the 12th from 1972 until his death in 2010.

Democrat Conor Lamb, who won a special election for the neighboring 18th District, had his home drawn into the new 17th and filed to run for a full term there on March 20.[16] On paper, the new 17th is far less Republican than its predecessor; President Trump carried the old 12th by 20 points, but would have carried the new 17th by just 2.5 points.[17] In the November 2018 general election, Rothfus was defeated by Lamb. Lamb won 56% of the vote to Rothfus's 44%.[18][19]

The political action committee America First Policies bought advertisements in support of Rothfus's campaign.[20]

Committee assignments

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Caucus memberships

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Political positions

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Rothfus, a conservative, was a member of the Republican Study Committee.[21]

Finance

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On July 20, 2017, Rothfus introduced H.J.Res.111, which nullifies a rule submitted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.[22]

Healthcare

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In early 2017, efforts were made to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Approximately 130 of Rothfus's constituents requested a town hall to discuss their concerns about removed/reduced health coverage. Frustrated citizens sponsored and invited Rothfus to a town hall; he declined.[23] Some of Rothfus's constituents reportedly started a PAC to motivate him to meet with them.[24] On June 3, activists and constituents purportedly frustrated with Rothfus's refusal to host a town hall interrupted a Chamber of Commerce meeting that Rothfus was attending.[25]

Human trafficking

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Along with Congressman Juan Vargas (D-CA), Rothfus introduced the "Fight Illicit Networks and Detect Trafficking Act" (or the FIND Trafficking Act), H.R. 6069. On July 17, 2018, the House passed the S.488, the JOBS and Investor Confidence Act of 2018, which contained the text of the FIND Trafficking Act. The FIND Trafficking Act directs the Comptroller of the Currency to study how virtual currencies can facilitate human trafficking.[26]

Insurance regulation

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On September 12, 2018, a bill that Rothfus had introduced, the State Insurance Regulation Preservation Act (H.R. 5059), passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation would tailor the supervision of the Federal Reserve over holding companies that own thrifts (savings and loans banks). The bill streamlines regulator's approach to insurance savings and loan holding companies (ISLHCs) by enacting several reforms.[27]

LGBT rights

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In 2015, he signed onto a resolution which would amend the U.S. Constitution so that only marriages between men and women are legal.[28] Rothfus has a 0 rating from the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT rights advocacy group.[29]

Natural disasters

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In 2013, Rothfus voted against a bill to provide disaster relief funding to victims of Hurricane Sandy. Referring to the bill's funding offsets for the National Flood Insurance Program, he said it was "irresponsible to raise an insolvent program's debt ceiling without making reforms."[30]

Refugee crisis

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In January 2017, Rothfus issued a statement in support of President Trump's executive order on refugees.[31]

In May 2017, Rothfus voted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act,[32][33][34] including provisions to defund Planned Parenthood.[35] The bill included an exemption for Congress that was later removed,[36] and the MacArthur amendment, which allowed states to opt out of covering preexisting conditions.[37]

Personal life

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Rothfus resided with his wife, Elsie, and their six children in Sewickley, Pennsylvania in 2012.[1] He is a survivor of appendix cancer.

He and his family attended St. James Catholic Church in Sewickley.[38]

Electoral history

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2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jason Altmire (Incumbent) 120,827 50.81%
Republican Keith Rothfus 116,958 49.19%
Democratic hold
Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district, 2012[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Keith Rothfus 175,352 51.7
Democratic Mark Critz (incumbent) 163,589 48.3
Total votes 338,941 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic
Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district, 2014[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Keith Rothfus (incumbent) 127,993 59.3
Democratic Erin McClelland 87,928 40.7
Total votes 215,921 100.0
Republican hold
Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district, 2016[42]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Keith Rothfus (incumbent) 221,851 61.8
Democratic Erin Mcclelland 137,353 38.2
Total votes 359,204 100.0
Republican hold
Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district, 2018[43]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Conor Lamb (incumbent) 183,162 56.3
Republican Keith Rothfus (incumbent) 142,417 43.7
Total votes 325,579 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Keith James Rothfus". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on January 10, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  2. ^ Cernetich, Kelly. "Critz Concedes Race to Rothfus". PoliticsPA. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
  3. ^ "Rothfus wins seat in Pa.'s redrawn 12th Congressional District". WPXI. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
  4. ^ "Keith Rothfus". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  5. ^ "The Keith You Know". keithrothfus.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  6. ^ "PA – District 04 – R Primary Race". Our Campaigns. May 18, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  7. ^ "PA – District 04 Race". Our Campaigns. November 2, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  8. ^ a b Schmitz, Jon and McNulty, Timothy (November 7, 2012). "Rothfus upsets Critz in bitter battle for U.S. House". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 8, 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "New Jersey Herald – GOP's Rothfus beats incumbent Critz in W. Pa. race". Njherald.com. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  10. ^ "Commonwealth of PA – Elections Information". Electionreturns.state.pa.us. November 6, 2012. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  11. ^ "2012 Election Results Map by State – Live Voting Updates". Politico.com. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  12. ^ "Rothfus wins seat in Pa.'s redrawn 12th Congressional District". WPXI. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
  13. ^ "2014 Pennsylvania House Election Results". Politico. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  14. ^ "Pennsylvania 2016 General Election – November 8, 2016 Official Results". Pennsylvania Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  15. ^ Cohn, Nate; Bloch, Matthew; Quealy, Kevin (February 19, 2018). "The New Pennsylvania Congressional Map, District by District". The New York Times. New York. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  16. ^ Eliza Collins (March 20, 2018). "Conor Lamb won Pennsylvania's 18th district. Tuesday he filed in the state's 17th District". USA Today.
  17. ^ Prose, J.D. (March 14, 2018). "U.S. Rep.-elect Conor Lamb in primary race to challenge Rep. Keith Rothfus". The Times. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  18. ^ Pramuk, Jacob (November 7, 2018). "Democratic Rep. Conor Lamb projected to knock off GOP Rep. Keith Rothfus in Pennsylvania House race: NBC News". CNBC. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  19. ^ "Pennsylvania Election Results: 17th House District". New York Times. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  20. ^ "The Daily 202: What does Trump have to hide? Secretive White House unapologetic about clawing back transparency". The Washington Post. April 17, 2017.
  21. ^ "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Archived from the original on January 1, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  22. ^ Keith, Rothfus (November 1, 2017). "H.J.Res.111 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Arbitration Agreements"". www.congress.gov. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  23. ^ Ryan Deto (February 22, 2017). "U.S. Congressman Keith Rothfus dodges 130 constituents in first week back in district". Pittsburgh City Paper. Pittsburgh City Paper.
  24. ^ "'Yinzers Against Jagoffs' PAC forms demanding more accessibility from U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus". Pittsburgh City Paper. Ryan Deto. March 20, 2017.
  25. ^ Emily Balser. "Protesters interrupt Rothfus meeting". TribLive. Trib Total Media. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  26. ^ "Rothfus Supports Economic Growth Package that Includes his Bipartisan Anti-Drug and Human Trafficking Bill". Congressman Keith Rothfus. July 17, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  27. ^ "House Passes Rothfus' Bipartisan Bill to Tailor the Supervision of Insurance-Focused Savings and Loan Holding Companies". Congressman Keith Rothfus. September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  28. ^ Marcos, Cristina (February 19, 2015). "GOP resolution proposes gay marriage ban". The Hill. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  29. ^ Andrew Breiner. "Republicans Who Didn't Say 'LGBT' in Their Orlando Statements". Roll Call. Roll Call. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  30. ^ Larissa Dudkiewicz (January 8, 2013). "Rothfus Votes Against Hurricane Sandy Relief". Patch. Patch. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  31. ^ "Rothfus statement on President Trump's executive order on refugees". WeAreCentralPa.com. Kevin Valentine. January 30, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  32. ^ "How Every Member Voted on the House Health Care Bill". New York Times. May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  33. ^ "The American Health Care Act Makes Unsustainable Cuts to Medicaid". AARP. May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  34. ^ "This is what Americans will really dislike about the House 'Trumpcare' bill". CNN. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  35. ^ Sandhya Somashekhar, Paige W. Cunningham. "Congressional health-care bill 'defunds' Planned Parenthood". Washington Post. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  36. ^ Linda Qiu. "Fact Check: Is Congress Exempt From the G.O.P. Health Bill?". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  37. ^ "The GOP's big lie: Healthcare bill 'protects people with preexisting conditions'". Los Angeles Times. May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  38. ^ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Keith Rothfus". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  39. ^ "2010 General Election: Representative in Congress". Pennsylvania Department of State. November 2, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  40. ^ "Statistics of Presidential and Congressional Election of November 6, 2012". Karen Haas, Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. February 28, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  41. ^ "Pennsylvania 2014 General Election – November 4, 2014 Official Results". Pennsylvania Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  42. ^ "Pennsylvania 2016 General Election – November 8, 2016 Official Results". Pennsylvania Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  43. ^ "2018 General Election: Representative in Congress". Pennsylvania Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district
2013–2019 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative 		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
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