Early Retruns

How bad is it in Harrisburg? Even the Majority Leader of the state House would rather be a backbencher in Congress (though, to be fair, Mike Turzai has long pined for the job).

Here’s the first version of our story from the main site, which will get updated through the day:

Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Mike Turzai apparently will run for Congress in the new 12th District, in a seat currently shared by Democrats Jason Altmire and Mark Critz.

Mr. Turzai could not be immediately reached for confirmation, but Allegheny County Republican chair Jim Roddey confirmed the move, saying the Bradford Woods Republican reached the decision after talks with Gov. Tom Corbett.

“The governor wants him to run,” Mr. Roddey said.

Edgeworth attorney Keith Rothfus also has been running for the GOP primary for the seat. He came within two points of ousting Mr. Altmire, D-McCandless, in their 2010 race. Mr. Rothfus is used to tough primaries, having beaten the better-known Mary Beth Buchanan, the former U.S. Attorney, in their 2010 primary faceoff.

In the latest round of congressional redistricting — in which Pennsylvania lost one of its 19 seats — Mr. Altmire’s 4th District seat north of Pittsburgh was combined with the 12th District seat held by Mr. Critz of Johnstown.

UPDATE: Altmire responds, saying the move is all the more reason why Democrats should choose him in April:

Ross Township, PA – The entry of Majority Leader Mike Turzai, of the North Hills in Allegheny County, into the race for the new 12th Congressional District seat is further evidence of why the Democratic primary is so important. Democrats need to nominate the candidate who can run the strongest campaign in the general election against Rep. Turzai, in the Republican-leaning district that he drew for himself.

UPDATE: Rothfus says he’s “absolutely” staying in the GOP primary, has $250,000 in his warchest, and has traveled to the new parts of the district in Somerset and Cambria repeatedly. He had not been contacted by Turzai.

“I have an army of volunteers to help and tremendous grassroots support. People are clamoring for a private sector voice in D.C.,” he said.

UPDATE: Critz takes Altmire’s point on Turzai controlling the redrawing of the district’s lines and runs with it (while taking dig at Altmire’s support of the map):

“This announcement comes as no surprise since Harrisburg insider Mike Turzai deliberately drew the new 12th Congressional District map, a map that Jason Altmire helped strong-arm support for, so that he could run for this seat,” said Critz spokesperson Mike Mikus.  “It is unfortunate that Turzai and Altmire manipulated the process and put their own personal political gain ahead of the interest of Pennsylvania voters.”

UPDATE: State Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa calls Turzai’s move “outrageous” and says Corbett should be ashamed for endorsing it.