Matt Cartwright, Laureen Cummings vie for 17th District seat

(Undated) -- For the first time in nearly two decades, Democratic Congressman Tim Holden's name won't be on the November ballot.

In the race for the 17th Congressional District seat, Democrat Matt Cartwright knocked off Holden in the spring primary.

The attorney from Lackawanna County says he understands cuts may be necessary to help improve the country's finances.

But he says last year's sequestration efforts to help close the gap went too far. "We're talking about jobs at risk at our Tobyhanna Army Depot, for example. National defense cuts. There are cuts in there that are just irresponsible and they need to be revisited."

Cartwright says it's important to balance the budget, but disagrees with proposals to make cuts to Medicare or Social Security.

Republican Laureen Cummings of Lackawanna County is both a nurse and small business owner.

She says one of her goals if elected would be to roll back federal regulations, especially on Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction. "When you're referring to Marcellus Shale, that should be taken care of by the Department of Environmental Protection here, that's local. The EPA should not be able to step in and do anything with that."

Cummings says she'd also work to repeal the Affordable Care Act and revamp the federal income tax.

The 17th District has a different look, due to redistricting. It no longer includes Harrisburg, and other parts of Berks, Dauphin, Lebanon, and Perry counties. It consists parts of of Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties.

Cartwright shares his views on the Affordable Care Act, the economy, and partisanship:

Cummings talks the Tea Party, federal regulations, and health care: