The Pennsylvania chapter of the Sierra Club today endorsed Democrat Missa Eaton, of Sharon, in her bid for Congress in the 3rd District. 

Missa Eaton/contributed

The district includes the city of Erie and western Erie County.

Eaton is running against incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler, and Independent Steven Porter, of Wattsburg.

“The Sierra Club is confident that Missa Eaton will be a champion in the fight to protect the health and well-being of Pennsylvania families,” Al Richardson, political chairman of the chapter’s Lake Erie Group, said in a statement.

Eaton said in a statement that she is honored to gain the endorsement.

– John Guerriero

The National Women’s Political Caucus has endorsed Democrat Missa Eaton for Congress in the 3rd District.

The NWPC says on its website that it is a multipartisan, grassroots group with chapters in 38 states. The NWPC says it was the first, and remains the only, multipartisan membership organization that supports pro-choice women candidates for elected and appointed office.

Missa Eaton/contributed

Eaton said in a statement that she is “thrilled” to be endorsed by the caucus.

“Our friends and neighbors deserve real representation in Washington from someone who understands and simply gets it.  We need solutions now, not partisan posturing,” Eaton said.

Citing statistics from the Center for American Women and Politics, a news release from Eaton said that this year, the U.S. House of Representatives has 73 congresswomen, making up 16.8% of the chamber. Yet the 2010 Census shows that women make up 50.8% of the U.S. population.

Donna Lent, the group’s vice president of political planning, said in a statement that Eaton is “committed to giving a voice to those who are underrepresented in politics. We need more women like Missa to engage in the fight.”

Eaton, of Sharon, is an assistant psychology professor at Penn State Shenango.

In the Nov. 6 election, she will face U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, of Butler, R-3rd Dist., who is seeking a second term. Also expected to be on the ballot are Independents Stacey Gray and Steven Porter.

– John Guerriero

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, of Butler, R-3rd Dist., has received an endorsement from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Congressman Mike Kelly

“At no other time in our nation’s history has it been more critical that members of Congress provide leadership that protects and advances the interests of the business community,” Tom Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement released by the Kelly campaign.

“We believe that your re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives will… help create more jobs and get our country back on track,” he said.

Kelly will face Democrat Missa Eaton, and Independents Stacey Gray and Steven Porter in the Nov. 6 election.

– John Guerriero