99chambers
Joseph R. Pitts
Photo: Government Publishing Office, Public domain
RepublicanNot in office · last served 2017Last on a ballot: Nov 2014

Joseph R. Pitts

Last held office: U.S. House, PA-16 (1997–2017). Ran in 22 elections between 1972 and 2014, winning 22.

Last office: U.S. House, PA-16Born 1939

WikipediaCongress.govFEC filings

Last margin
+15.4
Won 2014
Elections
22
1972–2014

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:00 PM ET

Career

Offices held, and every time Pitts was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Every race Pitts has run

Margin: how far Pitts finished ahead of (+) or behind (−) the runner-up.

YearOfficeStageResultOpponentsShareMarginRaised
2014U.S. House, PA-16GeneralWonTom Houghton (D)57.7%R+15.4$1.3M
2012U.S. House, PA-16GeneralWonAryanna C. Strader (D), John A. Murphy (I), James F. Bednarski (I)54.8%R+15.8$1.3M
2010U.S. House, PA-16GeneralWonLois K. Herr (D)65.4%R+30.8$759.2K
2008U.S. House, PA-16GeneralWonBruce A. Slater (D), John A. Murphy (I), Daniel Frank (CST)55.8%R+16.4$625.3K
2006U.S. House, PA-16GeneralWonLois K. Herr (D), John A. Murphy (I)56.6%R+17.0$506.2K
2004U.S. House, PA-16GeneralWonLois K. Herr (D), William R. Hagen (G)64.4%R+29.9$542.4K
2002U.S. House, PA-16GeneralWonWill Todd (G), Kenneth Brenneman (CST)88.4%R+82.0$402.6K
2000U.S. House, PA-16GeneralWonRobert S. Yorczyk (D)66.9%R+33.9$374K
1998U.S. House, PA-16GeneralWonRobert S. Yorczyk (D)70.5%R+41.1$489.3K
1996U.S. House, PA-16GeneralWonJames G. Blaine (D), Robert S. Yorczyk (REF)59.4%R+21.9$632.9K
1994Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 158GeneralWonLibby Swingle (D)62.5%R+25.1—
1992Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 158GeneralWonMillie Gobe (D)65.8%R+31.6—
1990Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 158GeneralWonStephen Marvin (D)66.6%R+33.2—
1988Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 158GeneralWonUnopposed100%——
1986Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 158GeneralWonUnopposed100%——
1984Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 158GeneralWonUnopposed100%——
1982Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 158GeneralWonGreg Hytha (D), Raymond J. Bell (L)74.9%R+51.6—
1980Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 158GeneralWonThomas W. Tropia (D)77.5%R+54.9—
1978Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 158GeneralWonJohn J. Granito (D)79.5%R+59.0—
1976Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 158GeneralWonCharles F. Boughton (D)72%R+44.0—
1974Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 158GeneralWonRichard C. Winchester (D)64.6%R+29.3—
1972Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 158GeneralWonWilliam Lloyd Williams (D)68.5%R+37.1—

Source: 99chambers results archive

Campaign money, 2013–14

Raised
$1.3M
Spent
$1.3M
Cash
$136K

Source: FEC filings through Dec 31, 2014Updated Oct 8, 2026, 10:36 AM ET

Seats Pitts has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

Who Pitts has run against

Source: 99chambers results archive

In the polls

Included in 1 poll; Pitts’s best result was 41% (Pennsylvania's 16th District, 2010).

Pitts’s polls in the database →

Source: Polls: The New York Times and Wikipedia poll lists

How we know Pitts

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:00 PM ET