* Denotes incumbent

George W. Bush*
Republican

• Residence: Midland, Texas
• Date of birth: July 6, 1946
• Education: B.A., Yale University, 1968; M.B.A., Harvard University, 1975
• Occupation: U.S. president
• Qualifications: 43rd President of the United States, 2000 to present; governor of Texas; worked in the energy business; managing general partner of the Texas Rangers baseball team; fighter pilot in the Texas Air National Guard
• Key Issues: war on terrorism; homeland security; social security and Medicare reform; public school accountability

John Kerry
Democrat

• Residence: Boston, Mass.
• Date of birth: Dec. 11, 1943
• Education: B.A., Yale University, 1966; J.D., Boston College, 1976
• Occupation: U. S. senator
• Qualifications: U.S. senator, 1984 to present; lieutenant governor of Massachusetts; first assistant district attorney, Middlesex County, Mass., 1977 to 1982; Vietnam Veterans Against the War; co-founder, Vietnam Veterans of America; U.S. Navy, 1966-1970
• Key Issues: war of terrorism and coalition building; homeland security; create domestic jobs; reform health care; limit dependence on foreign oil

• Job description: Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government, is composed of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. A majority vote of both houses is required to pass a law. The Senate, which comprises two members from each of the 50 states, also has the power to approve treaties and confirm presidential appointments. Terms are staggered, with one-third of the membership up for election every two years.
• Term: six years
• Salary: $158,100

James Clymer
Constitutional

• Residence: Millersville
• Date of birth: May 4, 1948
• Education: B.A. Millersville University, 1972; J.D. Washburn University School of Law, 1978

• Occupation: Attorney
• Qualifications: Constitutional Party national chairman; worked with the American Center for Law and Justice, National Legal Foundation, Rutherford Institute, Home School Legal Defense Association and American Family Association Law Center.
• Key Issues: abortion rights opponent; same-sex marriage opponent; appoint conservative judges

Joseph M. Hoeffel
Democrat

• Residence: Abington
• Date of birth: Sept. 3, 1950
• Education: B.A., Boston University, 1972; J.D., Temple Law School, 1986
• Occupation: U.S. congressman representing Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District
• Qualifications: Pennsylvania House, 1976 to 1984; Montgomery County commissioner, 1992 to 1998; U.S. congressman for Pennsylvania's 13th District, 1998 to present
• Key Issues: protect Pennsylvania jobs; provide children with a first-rate education; provide families with high-quality health care

Arlen Specter *
Republican

• Residence: Philadelphia
• Date of birth: Feb. 12, 1930
• Education: B.A. in international relations, University of Pennsylvania, 1951; LL.B., Yale Law School, 1956
• Occupation: U.S. senator
• Qualifications: Former district attorney; chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee; former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee; former chairman of the Veterans Committee
• Key Issues: lower taxes; veterans' affairs; agriculture

Betsy Summers
Libertarian

• Residence: Wilkes-Barre
  
• Date of birth: 1957
  
• Education: Centenary College, 1976
  
• Occupation: Self-employed independent broker for Market American
  
• Qualifications: Experience in mutual fund and insurance sales as well as a sales representative.
  
• Key Issues: Lower federal spending; end Iraq war; support gun rights

• Job description: Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government, is made up of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. A majority vote of both houses is necessary to pass a law. Every law concerning taxation must originate in the House of Representatives.
• Term: two years
• Salary: $158,100

Thomas Martin
Libertarian

• Residence: State College
• Date of birth: 1957
• Education: B.S., Penn State, 1981
• Occupation: Computer engineer
• Qualifications: Ran for office during the last four elections, twice in Ohio and twice in Pennsylvania
• Key Issues: Private-property rights; the reduction or elimination of government regulations

John Peterson *
Republican

• Residence: Pleasantville
• Date of birth: Dec. 25, 1938
• Education: Public affairs training at Penn State; specialist, U.S. Army; three-year leadership program through Penn State.
• Occupation: U.S. congressman; owned a small retail food market for 26 years
• Qualifications: Seven years in the Pennsylvania General Assembly; 12 years in the state Senate; chaired Senate Health and Welfare Committee; elected to Congress, 1996; serving on Resources and Appropriations committees; co-chair, Congressional Rural Caucus
• Key Issues: Improve job outlook in Pennsylvania, improve rural health care, advance technical education for young people and adults

• Job description: Serves as the head of the Pennsylvania Department of Justice and is the chief legal counsel for the state
• Term: Four years
• Salary: $120,154

Tom Corbett
Republican

• Residence: Glenshaw
• Date of birth: June 17, 1949
• Education: Lebanon Valley College, 1971; J.D., St. Mary's University School of Law, 1975
• Occupation: Attorney
• Qualifications: Assistant U.S. attorney; U.S. attorney for western district of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania state attorney general 1995 to 1997
• Key issues: Would like to work to protect the elderly and youth; establishment of program called Project Brave, which would bring together experts to discuss child abuse and provide information to citizens on how to recognize abuse

Jim Eisenhower
Democrat

• Residence: Philadelphia
• Date of birth: Jan. 30, 1958
• Education: B.A., Temple University, 1979; J.D., Antioch University, 1982; M.Phil., Oxford University, 1984 (Marshall Scholar)
• Occupation: Attorney
• Qualification: Federal prosecutor for seven years; served under former President Bill Clinton as an aide to the National Security Adviser; served under Gov. Ed Rendell as chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency; in private practice for 10 years
• Key Issues: Prosecute large criminal drug organizations and those who commit fraud and abuse toward senior citizens; ensure Pennsylvania's safety from terrorism

Marakay Rogers
Green

• Residence: York
• Date of birth: March 1, 1962
• Education: B.A., Wilson College; J.D., Dickinson School of Law, 1984
• Occupation: Attorney
• Qualifications: Executive director, York City Human Relations Commission, enforcing local civil rights laws; director of Paralegal Education, Academy of Medical Arts and Business
• Key Issues: Opposes the death penalty; opposes mandatory sentencing; opposes the Patriot Act; supports same-sex marriage and the addition of a sexual orientation provision to Pennsylvania's civil rights laws

• Job description: The General Assembly, the legislative branch of state government, is composed of two houses. The upper house is the Senate; the lower house is the House of Representatives. A majority vote of both houses is necessary to pass a law. Every law concerning taxation must originate in the House of Representatives.
• Term: Two years
• Salary: $66,203.55

Jon Eich
Democrat

• Residence: State College
• Date of birth: July 12, 1955
• Education: B.A., Susquehanna University; M.S. in geography, Penn State, 1992
• Occupation: retired from Centre County government at end of 2003
• Qualifications: Twenty-four years of public service in Centre County; community planner; four years as county administrator
• Key Issues: Education as it is tied particularly to tax reform; dealing with tuition increase and salaries at Penn State and its ties to state funding

Lynn Herman *
Republican

• Residence: Philipsburg
• Date of birth: Oct. 30, 1956
• Education: B.A., University of Pittsburgh; M.A. in public administration
• Occupation: State representative
• Qualifications: Chairman, House Local Government Committee; chairman, Legislative Data Processing Committee; founder and co-chairman, Penn State Forum; Education Committee; Subcommittee on Higher Education; former administrator and analyst for the departments of Education and Transportation; Majority Policy Committee
• Key Issues: Increase availability of financial aid for college students; prevent further tuition increases at Penn State; greater utilization of park and open space; agricultural land preservation

Thomas Martin
Libertarian

• Residence: State College
• Date of birth: 1957
• Education: B.S., Penn State, 1981
• Occupation: Computer engineer
• Qualifications: Ran for office during the last four elections, twice in Ohio and twice in Pennsylvania
• Key Issues: Private-property rights; the reduction or elimination of government regulations

Kerry Benninghoff *
Republican

• Residence: Bellefonte
• Date of birth: Jan. 14, 1962
• Education: Attended Penn State 1980-81; many continuing education courses
• Occupation: State legislator
• Qualifications: Eight years service in Pennsylvania House of Representatives; appointed by speaker as subcommittee chairman on local property taxes; clinical and managerial experience from Centre Community Hospital and County Coroner's office; service on local civic organizations' boards of directors
• Key Issues: Drug and alcohol prevention education; health care; against additional government spending and tax increases

Rich Rogers
Democrat

• Residence: Bellefonte
• Date of birth: Oct. 3, 1971
• Education: B.S., Juniata College
• Occupation: Finance
• Qualifications: Financial background; Bellefonte Area School Board (leadership roles), four-plus years service (president); initiated local school districts' cooperation to eliminate occupational assessment tax; facilitated long-range planning for budgeting and capital improvements; instituted community forums
• Key Issues: Reduce or eliminate property taxes; increase state funding to public schools; create new jobs; end the use of taxpayer money for campaign ads; keep families' food and clothing tax free

• Job description: Ensures that all money is properly deposited in the state treasury. Also performs audits on state departments, government agencies and other institutions receiving state aid.
• Term: Four years
• Salary: $120,154

Berlie Etzel
Libertarian

• Residence: Shippenville
• Date of birth: June 3,1931
• Education: B.S., Clarion State College; M.A. of education, Penn State.
• Occupation: Retired
• Qualifications: Politically active for 40 years; Keystone School Board for two years; Ashland Township auditor; college professor at Cheyney University for 17 years
• Key Issues: Not available

Joe Peters
Republican

• Residence: Scranton
• Date of birth: July 9, 1957
• Education: King's College, 1979; Dickinson School of Law, 1983
• Occupation: Pennsylvania deputy attorney general; liaison between the White House and Tom Ridge in the Office of Homeland Security
• Qualifications: Police officer in Scranton; deputy attorney general for Pennsylvania; federal prosecutor; White House official
• Key Issues: Audit money being invested in job creation programs; investigate ways to keep college graduates employed in Pennsylvania .

Ben Price
Green

• Residence: Carlisle
• Date of birth: Oct. 29, 1952
• Education: B.A., West Chester University
• Occupation: Transportation industry
• Qualifications: Township auditor for three years; former president, Pennsylvania Consumer Action Network; chair, Pennsylvania Clean Elections campaign
• Key Issues: Not available

Leonard Ritchey
Constitutional

• Residence: Mechanicsburg
• Date of birth: July 15, 1942
• Education: B.A.; M.B.A.
• Occupation: Retired Navy officer
• Qualifications: Auditing experience within the military; executive special assistant in former President Ronald Reagan's Executive Office
• Key Issues: Not available

Jack Wagner
Democrat

• Residence: Pittsburgh
• Date of birth: Jan. 4, 1948
• Education: Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 1974
• Occupation: State senator
• Qualifications: Pittsburgh city councilman; Marine Corps. combat veteran of Vietnam War
• Key Issues: Strengthen health and education programs; ensure safe working conditions; improve Pennsylvania's economy

• Job description: Head of treasury department. Ensures that all commonwealth money received from state agencies is properly deposited; payment of state funds to those authorized to receive them.
• Term: Four years
• Salary: $120,154

Bob Casey, Jr.
Democrat

• Residence: Scranton
• Date of birth: April 13, 1960
• Education: The College of the Holy Cross, 1982; J.D., Catholic University Columbus School of Law, 1988
• Occupation: Auditor general
• Qualifications: Two terms as auditor general
• Key Issues: Protect the retirement assets of Pennsylvania workers; develop initiatives that help families save for college, buy a home and plan for retirement

Max Lampenfeld
Constitutional

• Residence: Cherryville
• Date of birth: Sept. 21,1938
• Education: Military and professional technical schools
• Occupation: Retired, owns private business
• Qualifications: Business and military
• Key Issues: Not availalble

Jean Craige Pepper
Republican

• Residence: Erie
• Date of birth: Jan. 17, 1955
• Education: Hollins College, 1977
• Occupation: Financial analyst for Merrill Lynch
• Qualifications: Financial professional
• Key Issues: Prioritize the use of Pennsylvania's investment and banking companies; relieve tax burdens

-- Compiled by Matt Wachter