Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

Congressman Bill Shuster held off challenger Michael DelGrosso of Tipton in the race for the Ninth District in the U.S. Congress.
Shuster and DelGrosso were in a tight race throughout the evening as both candidates monitored the returns for several hours before the incumbent stepped forward to the podium set up at the Ramada Inn in Altoona to declare victory. At about 12:20 a.m. Wednesday, he held only a few hundred vote margin over DelGrosso, but indicated he would win the election by about two-thousand votes when all the votes were counted. The final unofficial figures did give Shuster the margin he announced during his victory speech.
Prior to an introduction by State Senator Robert Jubelirer, supporters shouted, “two more years,” repeatedly. Jubelirer touched on a close election he had been involved with and said Shuster’s battle with DelGrosso was a spirited campaign.
“This is a contact sport, folks. This is not an easy game to be in,” said Jubelirer. “If you don’t have thick skin you ought not be in it.”
Jubelirer then introduced the congressman after more cheers from the crowd and the victorious Shuster stepped to the podium.
“There were about 80,000 people who voted in this primary election. We anticipated about 50,000, so the people wanted their voice heard,” said Shuster.
He then wished the DelGrosso family the best and said his challenger had put on a spirited campaign.
“Those 80,000 came out to vote and they’ve spoken and they’ve said they want to elect Bill Shuster to serve in the United States Congress,” said Shuster.
Shuster also ticked off the themes of his campaign by mentioning leadership and results. Shuster then noted the accomplishments of his first three years in office which including cutting taxes, protecting the country from terrorism and bringing back tax dollars to his constituents in the district.
Shuster concluded his remarks by thanking several people including campaign aides and his family. Shuster also took time to thank his father, former Congressman Bud Shuster for his help and called his father, “a good guy,” and joked he always given him advice whether he had asked for it or not.
Shuster also indicated how important he felt the reelection of President George W. Bush in November.
Challenger DelGrosso set up election night headquarters at the family’s amusement park in Tipton and appeared upbeat when he first appeared before voters about 10 p.m. Tuesday night. He remained optimistic during a television interview in the 11 o’clock hour. However, shortly after Shuster’s victory speech DelGrosso again appeared before supporters around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday to concede the race he had fought to win for more than a year.
He spent several moments thanking numerous supporters and family and became somewhat emotional during that part of his speech.
“We began this campaign to accomplish a mission to take us in a new direction,” said DelGrosso. “I think we went a long way in helping achieve that goal.”
He then pointed out his take on the possible political reality of Shuster serving in Congress for many years in the future.
“Mr. Shuster is probably going to be our congressman for the next 20 to 25 years,” said DelGrosso. “I think we both learned a lot from this campaign. I think Mr. Shuster has learned a good respect for the voters of this district. I think he understands better what we want and what we need for the future.”
As for his own future, DelGrosso said he’d be looking for work in the coming days. He also scheduled a press conference this morning which was held at the DelGrosso Amusement Park. The event occurred after today’s press deadline at The Daily Herald.
DelGrosso polled 1,043 votes in the three Antis Township districts compared to 280 for Shuster including a margin of 331 to 58 votes in the Antis Township district which includes DelGrosso’s home base of Tipton.
DelGrosso also defeated Shuster in Blair County by a margin of more than 4,000 votes. DelGrosso received nearly 12,600 votes compared to a little more than 8,500 for Shuster. In northern Blair County, DelGrosso defeated Shuster by more than 1,800 votes. The latest figures indicated DelGrosso polled 2,657 to Shuster’s 842 votes in the wards or districts which comprised Tyrone Boro, Bellwood Borough, Snyder Township, Antis Township and Tyrone Township.
In the entire Ninth District which includes all or parts of 15 counties, Shuster had tallied 42,967 or 51 percent to DelGrosso’s 40,784 or 49 percent with 100 percent of the 508 precincts in the district reporting.

By Rick