After redistricting, most of the 4th District was merged with the Johnstown-based Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district. Rothfus won the Republican primary unopposed. In the general election, he faced incumbent Democrat Mark Critz, who had defeated incumbent Jason Altmire in the Democratic primary. Rothfus led Critz in fundraising for the second half of 2012. It was a highly competitive election, with outside groups spending nearly $10 million.[9]
Rothfus defeated Critz 52%–48%.[8][10][11] Although Critz had retained the bulk of his former territory, he could not overcome the significantly redder hue of the redrawn district.[12] Rothfus took office when the 113th Congress convened on January 3, 2013.
Rothfus sought a second term in the U.S. House in 2014. He was re-nominated in the May 20 Republican primary and faced Democratic nominee Erin McClelland in the general election. He defeated McClelland 59%–41%, winning a second term.[13]
Rothfus sought a third term in the U.S. House in 2016. He again faced Democratic candidate Erin McClelland in the general election. He defeated McClelland 62%–38%, winning a third term.[14]
For his first three terms, Rothfus represented a district stretching from the northwestern suburbs of Pittsburgh to Johnstown. After the Pennsylvania Supreme Court threw out the old congressional map as unconstitutional and replaced it with a map of its own, Rothfus' district was renumbered as the 17th District. It lost its eastern portion, including the area around Johnstown, and reconfigured as a more compact district in the northern and western suburbs of Pittsburgh.[15] In the process, it lost its last connection to John Murtha, who had represented the 12th from 1972 until his death in 2010.
Democrat Conor Lamb, who won a special election for the neighboring 18th District, had his home drawn into the new 17th and filed to run for a full term there on March 20.[16] On paper, the new 17th is far less Republican than its predecessor; President Trump carried the old 12th by 20 points, but would have carried the new 17th by just 2.5 points.[17] In the November 2018 general election, Rothfus was defeated by Lamb. Lamb won 56% of the vote to Rothfus's 44%.[18][19]
The political action committee America First Policies bought advertisements in support of Rothfus's campaign.[20]
In early 2017, efforts were made to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Approximately 130 of Rothfus's constituents requested a town hall to discuss their concerns about removed/reduced health coverage. Frustrated citizens sponsored and invited Rothfus to a town hall; he declined.[23] Some of Rothfus's constituents reportedly started a PAC to motivate him to meet with them.[24] On June 3, activists and constituents purportedly frustrated with Rothfus's refusal to host a town hall interrupted a Chamber of Commerce meeting that Rothfus was attending.[25]
Human trafficking
Along with Congressman Juan Vargas (D-CA), Rothfus introduced the "Fight Illicit Networks and Detect Trafficking Act" (or the FIND Trafficking Act), H.R. 6069. On July 17, 2018, the House passed the S.488, the JOBS and Investor Confidence Act of 2018, which contained the text of the FIND Trafficking Act. The FIND Trafficking Act directs the Comptroller of the Currency to study how virtual currencies can facilitate human trafficking.[26]
Insurance regulation
On September 12, 2018, a bill that Rothfus had introduced, the State Insurance Regulation Preservation Act (H.R. 5059), passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation would tailor the supervision of the Federal Reserve over holding companies that own thrifts (savings and loans banks). The bill streamlines regulator's approach to insurance savings and loan holding companies (ISLHCs) by enacting several reforms.[27]
LGBT rights
In 2015, he signed onto a resolution which would amend the U.S. Constitution so that only marriages between men and women are legal.[28] Rothfus has a 0 rating from the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT rights advocacy group.[29]
Natural disasters
In 2013, Rothfus voted against a bill to provide disaster relief funding to victims of Hurricane Sandy. Referring to the bill's funding offsets for the National Flood Insurance Program, he said it was "irresponsible to raise an insolvent program's debt ceiling without making reforms."[30]
In May 2017, Rothfus voted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act,[32][33][34] including provisions to defund Planned Parenthood.[35] The bill included an exemption for Congress that was later removed,[36] and the MacArthur amendment, which allowed states to opt out of covering preexisting conditions.[37]
Personal life
Rothfus resided with his wife, Elsie, and their six children in Sewickley, Pennsylvania in 2012.[1] He is a survivor of appendix cancer.
He and his family attended St. James Catholic Church in Sewickley.[38]
