Republican John Chrin launched his opening argument in his campaign against Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright on Monday. Republicans are largely on defense this cycle, but the 8th District is one of the areas they view as a pickup opportunity. 

Republicans hoping to stave off potential losses in the House are looking to win districts like Pennsylvania’s 8th, which is one of a dozen held by a Democratic lawmaker that President Donald Trump won in 2016.  

In his first television ad of the general election, Chrin notes his roots in the area. 

“I made a lifetime of memories growing up here, learning about true Pennsylvania values, like perseverance, hard work and integrity,” Chrin says in the ad, shared first with Roll Call. “It’s  where I got the tools to succeed.” 

Chrin was born in Fountain Hill, which is in a neighboring district, and owns a home there. Chrin had been living in the affluent New Jersey town of Short Hills and recently purchased a home in Monroe County, which is in the 8th District.

Chrin said if elected he would focus on fighting for jobs and affordable health care, and work to ban so-called sanctuary cities, or local jurisdictions that do not comply with federal immigration law. 

“Together we’ll defend our families, our values, our Northeast Pennsylvania way of life,” Chrin says in the ad.

The ad is a $50,000 buy on broadcast networks that will run for two weeks. Chrin is expected to tap into his personal wealth in his race against Cartwright, amassed as a former banker at JP Morgan Chase and Merrill Lynch.

Republicans are confident that Chrin can defeat Cartwright in the district, which was redrawn in 2018. They point out that Cartwright did not face a serious challenger in 2016, with his opponent spending only $30,000 him. Cartwright won a third term by nearly 8 points, while Trump carried the district by 10 points. Trump still would have won by 10 points had the new congressional map been in place.  

“I made a lifetime of memories growing up here, learning about true Pennsylvania values, like perseverance, hard work and integrity,” Chrin says in the ad, shared first with Roll Call. “It’s  where I got the tools to succeed.” 

Chrin was born in Fountain Hill, which is in a neighboring district, and owns a home there. Chrin had been living in the affluent New Jersey town of Short Hills and recently purchased a home in Monroe County, which is in the 8th District.

Chrin said if elected he would focus on fighting for jobs and affordable health care, and work to ban so-called sanctuary cities, or local jurisdictions that do not comply with federal immigration law. 

“Together we’ll defend our families, our values, our Northeast Pennsylvania way of life,” Chrin says in the ad.

The ad is a $50,000 buy on broadcast networks that will run for two weeks. Chrin is expected to tap into his personal wealth in his race against Cartwright, amassed as a former banker at JP Morgan Chase and Merrill Lynch.

Republicans are confident that Chrin can defeat Cartwright in the district, which was redrawn in 2018. They point out that Cartwright did not face a serious challenger in 2016, with his opponent spending only $30,000 him. Cartwright won a third term by nearly 8 points, while Trump carried the district by 10 points. Trump still would have won by 10 points had the new congressional map been in place.  

Cartwright maintained a financial advantage at the end of the second fundraising quarter on June 30 with $1.8 million in cash on hand, according to Federal Election Commission documents. Chrin ended the quarter with $842,000 on hand. 

Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Leans Democratic. 

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