Congressman Conor Lamb (PA)
“A stunning setback in a reliably Republican Pennsylvania congressional district has unnerved many GOP elected officials, who are bracing for a potential Democratic wave in the midterm elections without any proven strategy to fight back.” - The Washington Post, 03.14.18
In one of the most watched and talked about congressional races of the 2018 mid-terms, the March 2018 special election between Conor Lamb (D) and Rick Saccone (R) was a tough one. PA-18 was a deeply red district: it voted for President Trump by nearly 20 percentage points in 2016, and incumbent Congressman Tim Murphy (R) had held his seat with little contest since 2002.
But things came crashing down in October 2017, when a scandal broke out involving Murphy. After his resignation a few weeks later, all eyes turned to Pennsylvania. The race to fill his now-vacant seat would not only be the first major election of the 2018 midterms, but a test of Trump’s might and a bellwether for a potential blue wave in the House of Representatives.
Enter Conor Lamb, a former assistant U.S. attorney and marine veteran. Lamb had an uphill battle to climb: show voters that he was a representative who could serve everyone, and in the process convince reliably red constituents to cross over and vote for him. Through AKPD’s television ad campaign, Conor Lamb spoke clearly and plainly about the need for politicians to forgo party lines and petty division, and instead focus on the important issues facing everyday Americans.
In a major upset victory, Lamb defeated Saccone by less than 800 votes (49.9% to 49.5%) — and an integral part of that win were the ads that cut through the noise to speak directly to folks across party lines. This special election ended up being one of the signature moments of the 2018 midterms, and a major signal that conditions were right for the House to flip blue. Congressman Lamb would go onto win re-election later that year (this time in PA-17 after a redistricting).
Press
The New York Times, March 12, 2018: Conor Lamb’s Lesson for Democrats
The New York Times, March 14, 2018: Conor Lamb Roared. Republicans Should Quake.
The New York Times, March 14, 2018: In Pennsylvania Election Shaped by Trump, Candidates Still Mattered
The Washington Post, March 14, 2018: ‘Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt’: Republicans fret over Pennsylvania setback
CNN, March 14, 2018: Democrat poised to upset GOP in Pennsylvania special election
The New York Times, March 8, 2018: Why G.O.P. Is Spending Millions on a Soon-to-Vanish Seat in Trump Country
The New York Times, January 17, 2018: With Trump’s Visit to Pennsylvania, G.O.P. Scrambles to Save a House Seat
Credits
Firm: AKPD Message & Media
Director of Photography: Alan Thatcher
Role: Producer
Type: Union
Editors: Evan Smith, Jason Zenz
Year: 2018