Joe Sestak (D-Pa.)

2006 Congressional Campaign

After retiring from the Navy, Sestak decided to run for Congress but faced an uphill climb. Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District was represented by 10-term Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), who had been re-elected in 2004 with 59 percent of the vote, even as the district favored 2004 Democratic presidential contender John Kerry. 

When Sestak entered the race for the Democratic nomination, he was slated to face two opponents.  One, 2004 Democratic nominee Paul Scoles, who had the backing of the Delaware County Democratic Party, withdrew from the race after Sestak announced he wanted to run.Joe Sestak interview on CNN, via Talking Points Memo, May 27, 2009 

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell later brokered a deal with the other candidate, Bryan Lentz, where Lentz would serve in the state legislature and Sestak would run for Congress.  Pennsylvania Democrats had pushed the compromise to avoid a bloody primary, which they feared would weaken their candidate against Weldon.Sestak profile on OpenSecrets.org 

Once in the general election, Sestak proved to be a formidable opponent and good fundraiser.  For months, Weldon and Sestak seemed evenly matched.  Then, in October 2006, FBI agents raided the homes of Weldon’s daughter, Karen, and Springfield GOP Chairman Charlie Sexton, a close ally of Weldon’s, as part of an investigation of lobbying contracts from foreign clients won by a firm headed by Sexton and Karen Weldon.Bender, William, “Scoles pulls out to make room for Sestak as county Dems take dead aim at Weldon’s seat,” The Delaware County Daily Times, February 2, 2006.    The investigation also tried to determine whether Curt Weldon had used his influence as vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee to help his daughter and friend receive those contracts. 

Although Weldon denied any wrongdoing, the campaign suffered a serious blow, allowing Sestak to gain the upper hand.  Sestak defeated Weldon on Election Day by a 56 to 44 percent margin.Bender, William, “Dems revamp lineup card: It’s Sestak vs. Weldon; Lentz vs. Gannon,” The Delaware County Daily Times, February 10, 2006.  

2008 Congressional Campaign

In 2008, the freshman Sestak was challenged by Republican Craig Williams of Concord, Pa., an attorney and 21-year Marine Corps veteran who had served as deputy legal counsel to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Navy Adm. Michael Mullen and had also advised former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Peter Pace of the U.S. Marine Corps and Gen. Richard Myers of the U.S. Air Force.  Williams was also the only candidate to receive an endorsement from vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin (R) of Alaska.Bender, William, “Weldon Probe: Feds raid homes of Sexton and Curt’s daughter,” The Delaware County Daily Times, October 17, 2006.Palin endorsed Williams because she had already met him through his brother, who served as her speechwriter during her 2006 campaign for governor.Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of State, “2006 General Election – Representative in Congress.”

Despite Williams’ strong qualifications, Sestak’s military credentials, reputation for hard work and moderate image helped him win easily.  On Election Day, Sestak defeated Williams by a margin of 59.6 percent to 40.4 percent.Rose, Alex, “Sestak, Williams make case for District 7,” The Delaware County Daily Times, October 18, 2008.  

2010 Senate Run

After Pennsylvania Sen. Specter's April 2009 defection from the Republican party, Sestak dropped hints about possibly challenging Specter in the 2010 Democratic primary. 

Sestak expressed disappointment that the White House, Washington, D.C. Democrats and Gov. Rendell reached out to a longtime member of the Republican establishment and  attempted to clear the field for Specter to win the Democratic nomination. Sestak said he believes this will backfire among Pennsylvania Democrats.

“There’s no kings, certainly, in America, but there’s no kingmakers, either,” he said.“Williams Debuts Radio Ad Featuring Sarah Palin's Personal Endorsement,” Craig Williams for Congress, 

After Specter’s defection, Sestak was interviewed on multiple television networks and questioned whether Specter would be embraced or rejected by Democrats.  During an April 30, 2009 appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program, Sestak said: “I don’t know if it’s a good thing, I know what the Washington political establishment has said.  But if you know Pennsylvanians, we are really independent…This is not Washington’s decision.”Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of State, “2008 General Election – Representative in Congress.”

By May 2009, some netroots support had fomented for a Sestak candidacy. In addition, an online straw poll circulated by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee catalysed a “Draft Sestak” movement urging the congressman to enter the race.  The poll, which appeared on a number of prominent left-wing blogs, found that 8 out of 10 respondents said they would back Sestak over Specter in a Democratic primary.Joe Sestak, WhoRunsGov.com interview, May 21, 2009.

On August 4, 2009, Sestak announced he would challenge Specter in a Democratic primary.Seelye, Katharine Q., "Sestak Oficially Announces Challenge to Specter," The New York Times Caucus Blog, August, 4, 2009

The Economy

Sestak ran for Congress on the platform that national security begins at home, with economic security, health security, education security, environment/energy security and defense security.  Sestak argues that economic stability relies on an economic stimulus plan, the stabilization of the housing market, implementation of the Treasury Department’s Troubled Asset Relief Program to stabilize financial institutions and providing liquidity to markets through calls for Federal Reserve action. 

Sestak was a supporter of President Obama’s February 2009 economic stimulus plan and voted twice, in September and October 2008, for H.R. 1424, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, which helped bail out financial institutions.  Calling it one of his biggest legislative challenges, Sestak says he felt further inaction on the part of the federal government could result in a deep, protracted recession. He also argues that voting for the bank bailout has helped prevent the loss of jobs, the closing of small businesses, increased home foreclosures and a more severe budget deficit that would result from fewer government revenues.

Guantanamo Bay Detainees

Sestak supports President Obama’s decision to close Guantanamo Bay.  While the prison could technically stay open and habeas corpus be restored, Sestak argues that is better to close down the detention center entirely because of what it has come to represent to the international community, especially in the Muslim world.  Part of repairing America’s image around the world involves returning to core national values, Sestak says.  “Putting a man in a dark hole far from the rule of law does not support the best of American ideals,”Washington Post Votes Database.   he told WhoRunsGov.com. 

What’s more, Sestak says, is that only 4 percent of all Guantanamo detainees were captured by U.S. forces.Washington Post Votes Database.   The rest were turned over by security forces or local tribal leaders, who may have had grudges against those they captured and accused of being Al-Qaeda operatives, including one instance in particular where Sestak says he saw a detainee who had obvious mental health problems turned over by tribal leaders.Joe Sestak, WhoRunsGov.com interview, May 21, 2009.

Regarding the placement of ex-Guantanamo detainees, Sestak says, “Can we handle the detainees? You bet we can.”Joe Sestak, WhoRunsGov.com interview, May 21, 2009However, he is more concerned about restoring habeas corpus and the rule of law, regardless of where detainees are housed. 

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy

As the highest-ranking military veteran ever elected to Congress, Sestak has been a vocal critic of the military’s current “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that prohibits homosexuals from serving openly.  Sestak says he doesn’t want to see President Obama tackle the issue with an executive order because Congress has a responsibility to pass legislation that would permanently change the policy.

“Congress should assume its responsibility instead of ducking an issue which I see as a simple civil-rights issue,” Sestak said.Joe Sestak, WhoRunsGov.com interview, May 21, 2009 He is trying to get some former military House members, like Reps. Eric Massa (D-N.Y) and Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) to sign on as co-sponsors to a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, as well as seeking a Republican co-sponsor to replace defeated ex-Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn.). 

Veterans Issues

Sestak has also worked with House Veterans Affairs Chairman Bob Filner (D-Calif.) to reverse a 2003 policy that banned Priority 8, or high-income, veterans from enrolling in the Veterans Affairs health-care system.  Sestak worked with Filner to include the funding for these veterans in the 2009 military construction and veterans affairs appropriations bill and considers it among his top three legislative achievements.  He worked similarly with former Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) to ensure American prisoners of war from the first Gulf War got the court-approved rewards they were owed from the Iraqi government after President Bush vetoed legislation preventing it. 

The Employee Free Choice Act

Sestak strongly supports the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as “card check,” because he feels employees should be able to unionize if they so desire.  Citing a National Labor Relations Board study under former President George W. Bush, Sestak says statistics show that in 50 percent of cases where employees tried to form a union, employers threatened to close down their businesses, and in 32 percent of cases, employees were actually fired.Joe Sestak, WhoRunsGov.com interview, May 21, 2009  Because many employers seem to be intimidating their workers by breaking or bending the laws regarding unionization, the Employee Free Choice Act is aimed at fixing those abuses of power, Sestak contends. 

As previous versions of EFCA have died in the Senate, Sestak offered in March 2009 his own version of the bill, H.R. 1355, which would provide labor organizations with equal access to employees prior to forming a union, to fix timelines concerning the start of collective bargaining and penalize employers who attempt to intimidate their employees.Joe Sestak, WhoRunsGov.com interview, May 21, 2009.Sestak says said that he will still vote for card-check legislation as currently written, but introduced his bill as an alternative that might be more easily acceptable to the Senate.Joe Sestak, WhoRunsGov.com interview, May 21, 2009. Specter has said he doesn’t support EFCA as currently written.