Matt Connolly For Congress 2014 & 2016


 

In both 2014 and 2016 Matt Connolly was running as the Republican candidate to represent Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District against the Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright.
This was his campaign website for both attempts.
In 2014 he lost in a three-way Republican primary to Dr. David Moylan, a 62-year-old cardiologist and Schuylkill County coroner. However in 2016 he became the Republican candidate after defeating Glenn Geissinger in the primary. Much of Matt Connolly's 2016 platform mirrored that of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, including lowering the corporate tax, repealing Obamacare and cutting environmental regulations. Connolly had Scott Uehlinger, a former CIA operative specializing in the Middle East, speak at the town hall meeting. Also endorsing was Bill Righter who is known throughout the county for his successful specialty shops, which include the new Batman hoodies online store, Moon At Midnight. Righter spoke wearing a Batman hoodie and provided the "Batman for Connolly" T shirt prizes for an impromptu sweepstakes held a the rally. He lost to Matt Cartwright who won a third two-year term in the House of Representatives.

Content is from the site's 2014 - 2016 archived pages.

 



Why Am I Running?

American Politics Today

Hello All,
I would like to introduce myself and explain why I've chosen to run for Congress in 2016.  

My name is Matt Connolly, and since I was very young and first learned about the history of the USA in grade school, I have always felt blessed and lucky to be an American.  I remember thinking that I could have been born in any country, but the fact that I was born here made me feel like a winner from the start.  I knew it was possible to do anything I chose, that the American Dream was there for the taking if I would work at it.  The only one who could stop me was me.  I learned that the government was there to work in the background, that there were checks and balances to keep things in line, and that because of them, the people would never fear any oppression from the government.  

I have been fortunate to live the American Dream.  I wanted to be a professional race car driver since the age of 6, and I have achieved that goal.  I have exceeded it, in fact - I also own the team and have won many races and championships.  Only in America - right?

I have also been able to invest in real estate and attain a degree of security in life - something many people don't have. That began to change after the 2008 election.  I had long-time sponsors who wouldn't renew because they had no idea what the Obama administration would do to their business. They only said they had to reserve cash for all of the unknowns.  I chose to liquidate part of my team and raced a limited schedule the next four years.  I had a private health insurance plan that suited my family's needs. Over time, I had to let my workers go and turned my race shop into an auto repair shop with me as the sole mechanic.  Like you, I watched America's place in the world diminish while the incompetence of the president and his cabinet proceeded to "Fundamentally transform America." 

I ran for State Senate in 2010 since I was tired of complaining about things as they were.  I lost but got more votes against the incumbent than anyone else had in previous attempts against her.  I learned a lot and stayed active with the Party.  In 2012 I worked for the Romney campaign and hoped we could end the assault on our values and way of life.  I supported Laureen Cummings and Dr. David Moylan for Congress (the previous nominees for PA 17)  and worked the phones and helped any way I could.  After realizing the impact of the election, I felt more motivated than ever to run again and to stand up for the founding of this great nation.

To me, the problems we faced were not insurmountable because they were all problems that the government itself had created! High gas prices? Open up more land for drilling.  Complete the Keystone pipeline.  Allow more nuclear plants to be built.  Then there's the tax code.  Besides the fact that the tax system needs reform, we have the highest corporate income tax in the world at 35%.  Why are jobs getting sent overseas and why are the profits staying there?  It's too expensive to bring them here.  Here's a stimulus idea - drop the corporate tax to 20%.  Let the money and jobs flow back to the USA.  The Treasury will get more with the additional taxpayer base.  Very simple, but the Democrats resist it because they can't control where the money goes like they could with the stimulus package.  It's hard to buy votes when the money stays in the pockets of the taxpayer! 

Then there's the ACA (Obamacare).  We know what it means - it's not affordable, Obama doesn't care, and it's all an act.  It cannot be fixed.  It must be repealed and real patient-centered reforms, including tort reform, must be enacted.  The government has no place getting between you and your doctor.  The fact that they had to lie to sell the program tells you everything you need to know.  It must go!  

There are also way too many regulations in this country. That's another reason we are losing jobs.  The cost of compliance is too high.  Other countries will gladly allow us to build factories and hire their locals.  These factories should be in this country with our citizens working in them, but the environmental lobby and the alternative energy movement won't allow it.  We must stand up to these groups.  I certainly will.  

To finish up, I'm pro-2nd amendment, 100% pro-life, pro-school choice and don't support gay marriage (civil unions are the solution).  We need to return government to the local level whenever possible.  Local government is the best.  The 10th amendment was put there for a reason.  The free market must be what determines the success or failure of business, not the heavy and meddling hand of government.  The fiasco of global warming has to be faced head on.  It's simply another way that we lose our rights and freedoms.  There have never been two days, let alone two years, where the climate has been the same.  The use of guilt and fear and the indoctrination is suppressing our industry and ambition.  I will avidly debunk the myth and empower those who are for the responsible development of our abundant resources.  The best foreign policy regarding the Middle East is not to need their oil! Everything else will become simpler when we are energy independent.

We need to renew the American Dream.  I have lived it, and I understand it.  

Thank you for your support!

Matt Connolly

 



2014 Campaign

As your Congressman, I WILL:

* Work to repeal job killing Obamacare and promote patient centered healthcare policies.
* Enable the U.S. to be free of foreign oil and lower the cost of gas and energy for everyone.
* Help get people off of Welfare and restore the human dignity that comes from earning a living.
* Reform the tax code and reduce regulations.
* Get Big Government out of our lives.
* Strengthen the border first. Then reform immigration laws.

 



2016 Campaign

Matt Connolly's position is 100% Pro-Life, Pro-Family, Pro Traditional Marriage, and Pro 2nd Amendment. 

Matt's Position on other Important Issues:

Obamacare

We must repeal it.  It is unfixable, and the federal government should NOT be between any patient and their doctor - PERIOD.
Insurance premiums will come down dramatically if we enact tort reform and allow free-market competition to lower health care costs.
The goal of quality health care for all can never be the result of fines, mandates, taxes, and regulations. Bureaucracy has never solved anything!

Energy Policy

The US can become energy independent altogether, and the citizens would benefit significantly – lower gas prices, cheaper electricity, and heating costs.  The Keystone XL Pipeline should have approved years ago.
 This Nation Has Vast Reserves Of Energy. Let us Use Them To Give Affordable Fuel and Electricity to our Citizens

Welfare

Human dignity is being eroded by the promotion and increased dependency on government handouts.  This is no accident – it is a vote buying operation.  We must reverse this trend and make work a requirement to receive benefits. 
 Working families just cannot afford to keep paying the price for this.

Taxes and Regulation

The US has the highest corporate tax rate in the world, yet the highest debt. Factories are leaving the country because of this and the regulatory environment that makes compliance virtually impossible. 
Every time tax rates are lowered revenue increases.  The country simply goes back to work.  Ideology and class warfare only hurts working people.
Radical environmentalism and fear mongering do not create jobs or support families.

Big Government

The intrusion of government in our lives has never been higher.  The Founding Fathers were very concerned about this, yet those in power have used executive orders and appointments to circumvent the democratic process.  This is perhaps the most troubling trend of all.  We must take steps to expose the damage and return freedom and liberty to all Americans before it’s too late.

Pro-Life

Matt is 100% pro-life. He believes life starts at conception and we should protect it until natural death.
No matter how conception happens, the child is always innocent.
Some argue abortion should be allowed if the mother's life is in danger. There is virtually no circumstance where a viable baby would have to be aborted to save the life of a mother. Modern medicine has simply come too far.
However, this argument is often used to give an excuse to legitimize abortion. In fact, "life of the mother" will soon become "lifestyle of the mother."

 

PRESS

Congressional candidate compared to Holden at Ashland town hall meeting

By Mark Gilger Jr. / Published: April 9, 2016

Photo: N/A, License: N/A, Created: 2016:04:08 19:17:32

MARK GILGER JR./STAFF PHOTO Matt Connolly, right, and Scott Uehlinger, answer questions from audience members at a town hall meeting Friday, April 8, 2016 at the Mineshaft Cafe, Ashland.

ASHLAND — A few of the people attending Matt Connolly’s town hall meeting Friday at the Mineshaft Cafe said the Republican congressional candidate reminded them of former Congressman and Schuylkill County resident Tim Holden, D-17. Connolly said that comparison is fine with him.

“If Tim Holden was still our congressman, I would not be running,” Connolly said Friday.

The real estate investor and former professional race car driver is seeking the Republican nomination to represent the 17th Congressional District, which includes all of Schuylkill County and parts of Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe and Northampton counties.

“One of the things that happens when you are an incumbent is you have a record, and Matt Cartwright has a terrible record,” Connolly said.

Connolly, 50, of Bethlehem Township, Northampton County, announced his campaign in December at Pine View Acres, Pottsville. He ran for the nomination in 2014 against Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III and pilot Matthew Dietz, Wind Gap. Although Moylan won the party nomination thanks to a large margin in Schuylkill County, he lost in the General Election to Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, Moosic.

Connolly outpolled Moylan in the other five counties in the district.

“Schuylkill County is the heart and soul of this district, and I’m going to keep it that way,” he said.

Schuylkill County Register of Wills Theresa Santai-Gaffney, who managed Moylan’s 2014 campaign, endorsed Connolly on Friday.

“It’s a tough job, but if anyone can do it, right here is our guy,” Santai-Gaffney said. “If we don’t get Matt in, Schuylkill County will be forgotten as we have in the past few years.”

“Homeland security is really growing on people’s minds and Belgium attack was really a wake up call,” Connolly said.

Uehlinger, Topton, is running for Republican delegate in the 15th Congressional District. He said he will support the candidate who wins the district.

“I’m not a politician,” he said. “I’m just a CIA/Navy guy, but I am going to do right by the people in my district because I can’t be bought because I’m not part of the political machine.”

Uehlinger said political correctness is hurting national security and the foreign policy of the current administration is a continuous failure. That is why people like Connolly are needed, he said.

“I was taken by his willingness to speak straight about what we believe in and someone like Matt is the kind of person we need to get rid of the terrible situation we have now,” he said.

 



 

More Background on MattConnollyForCongress.com

MattConnollyForCongress.com served as the official campaign platform for Matt Connolly’s bids for Congress in Pennsylvania's 13th District in 2014 and the 17th District in 2016. Connolly, a Republican, ran on a platform rooted in conservative principles, drawing inspiration from Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016. Connolly advocated for tax cuts, repealing Obamacare, reducing government regulations, and fostering energy independence. His political messages reflected national trends within the Republican Party during that time, emphasizing small government and free-market ideals.

Campaign History and Political Platform

Connolly’s first run in 2014 saw him lose in the Republican primary to Dr. David Moylan, but he came back in 2016, winning the Republican nomination. His platform remained consistent across both campaigns, focusing on repealing the Affordable Care Act, lowering corporate taxes to encourage business investment, and cutting federal regulations. He was a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights and opposed abortion, aligning with traditional Republican values. Despite his efforts, Connolly lost to Democratic incumbent Matt Cartwright in both elections.

Media Coverage and Local Endorsements

Connolly's campaigns were marked by endorsements from local business figures and political allies. Notably, businessman Bill Righter, who donned Batman-themed attire to support Connolly, brought a unique local flavor to the campaign. Connolly’s town hall meetings and campaign stops, especially in Schuylkill County, drew media attention for his populist and straight-talking style. He was frequently compared to former Democratic Congressman Tim Holden by some voters. Although his policies resonated with a portion of the electorate, Connolly struggled to attract moderate voters in a district that leaned Democratic.

Audience and Cultural Significance

Matt Connolly's campaigns were rooted in grassroots Republican activism. His platform reflected the broader national shift in Republican politics toward populism and anti-establishment sentiment during the 2016 election cycle. Connolly’s vocal support for energy independence, reduced federal regulations, and tax reforms struck a chord with conservative voters frustrated with government overreach. However, his stance on controversial issues like Obamacare and immigration also polarized opinions. His campaigns were a microcosm of the broader national dialogue within the Republican Party, showcasing how local elections intersected with major national policy debates.

Connolly’s Legacy and Influence

Although Matt Connolly did not win his congressional races, his campaigns contributed to the ongoing conversation within the Republican Party about reducing government involvement in business and healthcare. His emphasis on energy independence, lower taxes, and deregulation was in line with the broader Republican agenda during the Trump era. Connolly’s candidacy highlighted the appeal of outsider candidates in local and national elections, and his campaigns reflected the broader political dynamics that were reshaping American politics during the 2014 and 2016 elections.

Specific Campaign Insights

Connolly’s political positions included support for tort reform in healthcare, repealing the Affordable Care Act, lowering corporate taxes to encourage U.S.-based business operations, and reducing environmental regulations. He consistently framed these issues as government-created problems that could be resolved by reducing federal oversight and empowering local governments. His platform on social issues was equally conservative, as he positioned himself as pro-life, opposed to gay marriage, and a staunch defender of Second Amendment rights. These positions resonated strongly with his conservative base but failed to generate widespread appeal in a district that had historically leaned Democratic.

Press and Media Coverage

Connolly's campaigns were covered by local newspapers and media outlets, particularly during town hall meetings where his straight-talking, no-nonsense style resonated with attendees. In 2016, media coverage often drew comparisons between Connolly and other outsider political figures. His alignment with Trump’s national platform gave him a higher profile in the 2016 campaign, but his inability to appeal to moderates and independents ultimately led to his defeat. His campaign rhetoric centered on reducing government spending and cutting down regulations, ideas that were embraced by his core supporters but faced pushback from those wary of drastic policy changes.

 

Matt Connolly’s campaigns for Congress in Pennsylvania were significant in their reflection of broader national trends within the Republican Party during the 2014 and 2016 elections. His commitment to conservative values, small government, and deregulation aligned with a growing populist movement within the party. Although he did not win, Connolly’s campaigns demonstrated the appeal of grassroots, outsider candidates who sought to challenge the political establishment. His platforms, endorsements, and media coverage offer insight into the evolving political landscape during this period, making his campaigns a noteworthy chapter in local and national politics.

 

 

MattConnollyForCongress.com