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Lack Of Lawn Signs This Campaign Means Fewer Choices On The Ballot

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- As you drive along major thoroughfares in the Pittsburgh region, have you noticed something different this election season?

One sure indication of an election are a lot of lawn signs, and this spot along Banksville Road is typically full of them.

But with just two weeks before election day, there's not a sign in sight.

There was an old sign for Mark Critz, left over from the spring primary -- and a lonely Corbett for Governor sign greets those merging onto the Parkway West.

But it's amazingly empty out there and it's not just the major roadways.

"They're not a lot in my neighborhood either," Dr. Pat Dunham told KDKA political editor Jon Delano.

Dunham chairs Duquesne University's political science department, and it turns out a lot of incumbents have no opponents this year.

In fact, here's a list of all the local congressmen, state senators, and state representatives who are on the ballot this November without any challengers at all:

U.S. Reps Mike Doyle (D) and Tim Murphy (R), PA Sens. Wayne Fontana (D) and Randy Vulakovich (R), along with PA Reps. Jaret Gibbons (D), Brian Ellis (R), Jim Marshall (R), Rob Matzie (D), Dom Costa (D), Dan Frankel (D), Ed Gainey (D), Dan Deasy (D), Mike Turzai (R), Hal English (R), Tony DeLuca (D), Paul Costa (D), Harry Readshaw (D), Bill Kortz (D), John Maher (R), Dan Miller (D), Mark Mustio (R), Pam Snyder (D), Tim Mahoney (D), George Dunbar (R), Mike Reese (R), and Jeff Pyle (R).

More than half of the candidates locally -- 26 out of 49 -- are unopposed -- so no wonder no lawn signs.

Prof. Dunham there lots of reasons incumbents are getting a free pass this year.

"Incumbents have a lot of advantages that make it difficult for challengers."

That includes name recognition, money from special interests, gerrymandered one-party districts, and public indifference during mid-term elections.

"The advantages that incumbents have are so strong that a lot of potential challengers will just say it's not worth the effort," Dunham said.

And while that means fewer lawn signs cluttering the roads, it also means fewer choices for voters at the ballot box.

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