Conshohocken and West Conshohocken fall within Congressional District 6, except for one Ward 1 in Conshohocken, which is in District 7. Democrat Joe Sestak currently represents District 6, however is leaving that office to challenge Senator Arlen Specter for his Senate seat. Republican Jim Gerlach also aspires to higher office and is running in the Republican primary for Governor.

With both Sestak and Gerlach leaving, Conshohocken and West Conshohocken will have two new Congressman come 2010. The current slate of contenders are:

District 6

Businessman Steven Welch faces state Representative Curt Schroder (R-Chester) and Chester County Recorder of Deeds Ryan Costello in next year’s Republican primary.  Welch initially considering running in District 7, however, decided not to face Pat Meehan and will run in the 6th.  It seems you do not have to live within the district to represent it in Congress.  It has been reported that he lives right along the border.

Former Inquirer Editorial Board member Doug Pike was the first to announce for the Democratic primary and it was thought he would be unchallenged.   Manan Trivedi, an internal medicine doctor at Reading Hospital and a Marine doctor who served in Iraq, however, has also officially announced.

District 7

On the Republican side former US Attorney Pat Meehan entered the race after first considering running for Governor and Senate.  He is currently not facing a challenger in the primary.

On the Democratic side State Representative Bryan Lentz (D-Delaware) and State Representative Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) are said to be running.

More to come as the races progress.