Editing Curt Weldon (section)

=== 2006 ===
{{Main|Pennsylvania 7th congressional district election, 2006}}

Weldon's Democratic opponent in 2006 was [[Joe Sestak]], a Vice-Admiral who retired earlier in the year after a 31-year military career. According to the ''Delaware County Daily Times'', Sestak proved to be a capable fundraiser and had raised more money than Weldon.<ref>William Bender, [http://www.delcotimes.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=17280041&BRD=1675&PAG=461&dept_id=18171&rfi=8 "Sestak's coffers continue to grow"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313030526/http://www.delcotimes.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=17280041&BRD=1675&PAG=461&dept_id=18171&rfi=8 |date=March 13, 2007 }}, ''Delaware County Daily Times'', October 4, 2006</ref>

In July, CQPolitics changed their rating on the race from "Republican Favored" to the more competitive "Leans Republican."<ref name="CQP"/> On October 13, 2006, CQPolitics once again changed their rating on the race, from "Leans Republican" to "No Clear Favorite."<ref>Greg Giroux, [http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/10/navy_vet_sestak_coming_closer.html "Navy Vet Sestak Coming Closer to Sinking Weldon in Pa. 7"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061027143218/http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/10/navy_vet_sestak_coming_closer.html |date=2006-10-27 }}, ''CQPolitics, October 13, 2006</ref>

On October 26, 2006, ''[[American Prospect]]'' magazine reported that e-mails recently had been forwarded to the Justice Department that describe alleged efforts by official members of Weldon's staff to call Navy employees for information and negative statements about Democratic opponent Sestak. In one [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] email, Weldon's office is described as "calling everyone and his brother" in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) about Sestak.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=12169 |title=American Prospect Online - ViewWeb |access-date=2006-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213061648/http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=12169 |archive-date=2007-02-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On October 27, 2006, the advocacy group [[Campaign for America's Future]] began running advertisements in Pennsylvania's 7th District questioning $233,840 in campaign contributions Weldon received from drug and insurance companies, in light of his voting history.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://home.ourfuture.org/weldon/ |title=Campaign for America's Future :: Rep. Curt Weldon |access-date=2006-10-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061102210410/http://home.ourfuture.org/weldon/ |archive-date=2006-11-02 }}</ref>

On November 7, 2006, Weldon lost the general election, taking 44% of the vote to Sestak's 56%.