A big race in our area this election day is for the 16th Congressional District, which covers parts of Lancaster and Chester Counties.
Republican incumbent Joe Pitts has held the seat since 1997. He is being challenged this time around by Democrat Tom Houghton. Houghton is a practicing attorney and has political experience as a former state representative and township supervisor.
Houghton was out on Tuesday asking for last-minute support.
Incumbent Congressman Joe Pitts was also out at the polls in Lancaster County.
The long-time lawmaker is a Vietnam War veteran has served the 16th District for nearly two decades.
The hot button issue of this race is a proposed natural gas pipeline which, if approved and built, would run across much of the land in the district. Many people who live in the area have been very vocal, speaking out against the project.
Houghton says he will fight the pipeline. Pitts says it's not up to him, but he will take the concerns of constituents directly to the engineers.
"They are prohibited by law from any political influence, so I'm doing what I think is the most effective thing for them and that is advocating for those people who are really impacted by it," Congressman Pitts said.
"I guess it's up to the voters because they will have to make that decision, whether they want someone who will be an active representative, to be a strong U.S. congressman or someone who believes that the role of a congressman is to be a facilitator," said Houghton.
The candidates obviously have two very different stances and voters are certainly casting ballots based on this pipeline issue.
The pipeline, being proposed by Tulsa based Williams Partners, would run through 35-miles of Lancaster County, involving seven townships.
Proposed pipeline dominates congessional race in Lancaster County
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