Smucker wins fifth term in office over Democratic challenger

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker secured a fifth term in Congress Tuesday night, handily defeating a poorly funded political newcomer and recent transplant to Pennsylvania.

The West Lampeter Republican had 124,333 votes as of 10:40 p.m. Tuesday night in the 11th Congressional District. His Democratic opponent, airline pilot Jim Atkinson, had 96,400.

Throughout the night, expectations never faltered that Smucker would defeat Atkinson, a California native who moved to Lancaster city after living in Italy for 13 years.

Early results looked positive for Atkinson when mail ballots, which trend toward Democrats, accounted for the majority of counted votes. He performed well where expected — Lancaster and some of its surrounding suburbs.

But Smucker took the lead once Election Day voting results began coming in, and he overwhelmed Atkinson in most precincts outside of Lancaster city.

While stopping to greet voters at the Refton Fire Company polling place in Strasburg Township on Tuesday afternoon, a few hours before the polls closed, Smucker said he was confident.

"We've got strong support and an opponent who really didn't do much at all," Smucker said. "I'll be grateful if the citizens choose me to represent and be their voice in Washington once again."

As of Monday, Republicans accounted for 53% of registered voters in the 11th District, which covers all of Lancaster County and a southern portion of York County.

Much of Smucker's next term in Congress rests on whether House Republicans have successfully defended their majority once results are final in several key congressional races. Political observers have said that it may be weeks before the final U.S. House results are available.

Smucker has built a close relationship with House Speaker Mike Johnson, the Louisiana Republican whose role is key to determining House members' committee assignments. The pair were sworn in together as first-term legislators in the 115th Congress after the 2016 election, and last month they hosted a fundraiser in Lancaster County where Johnson praised Smucker's work.

Smucker already sits on the powerful tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, and the Budget and Education & the Workforce committees. With Smucker's prioritization of reversing the country's debt and deficit, it would be difficult for him to land a better position to steer those efforts.

Smucker, on Tuesday, stressed the need for the GOP to maintain its majority if the party hopes to accomplish its goals next year, like extending the expiring Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

He could seek the chairmanship of any of the numerous subcommittees involved with his assignments, though Ways and Means subcommittee chairs are chosen by seniority.

'A clear slant'

When the time came in January for Democrats to choose a candidate to oppose Smucker this year, no established party members put their names forward.

Despite being the only candidate to request the local party's endorsement, Atkinson failed to secure it. Another Democratic candidate, who later dropped out of the race , had successfully lobbied enough committee members to block any endorsement in the April primary.

Once it was clear Atkinson would be the Democratic nominee, Smucker's campaign hit him early for his failure to vote in the 2023 municipal election . Atkinson blamed work for his absence.

Then Atkinson's second-quarter fundraising reports were released, showing he had raised less than $8,000 , which he attributed to the fact he was still working a full-time job as a pilot while campaigning. Smucker's staff labeled Atkinson's a " flailing and ill-advised campaign. "

Atkinson likely didn't help his future fundraising efforts by publicly saying on several occasions that Smucker would probably defeat him come Election Day.

Smucker announced in August he would not debate his opponent, ruining any hopes Atkinson had of using the exposure to boost his candidacy. In the following weeks, Atkinson hosted several digital town halls. They attracted only a handful of participants.

Despite the blows, Atkinson continued his campaign. He took to Facebook to air grievances about Smucker's legislative record and closeness to former President Donald Trump, who Atkinson noted in several posts was convicted of felony charges.

Atkinson also targeted Smucker's backing of Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, particularly Smucker's opposition to certifying Pennsylvania's electoral votes hours after the deadly U.S. Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021.

In the final weeks leading up to the election, Atkinson said he participated in several speaking arrangements organized by the York County Democrats.

Meanwhile, Smucker largely looked past Atkinson this year and spent his campaign funds to help other Republican candidates in their races.

Tuesday night, about an hour before the polls closed, Atkinson told LNP | LancasterOnline he spent most of the day in York County to thank volunteers. He said he didn't stop at any polling locations in Lancaster County, but he felt pessimistic about his chance of winning.

"The numbers don't lie. I drove past a thousand Trump and Smucker yard signs today," Atkinson said. "There is a clear slant here."