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PoliticsPA: Election Results Playbook

Good morning politicos, here is your extra early Playbook.

It was a relatively quick night for the highest-profile races in PA. Governor and US Senate were called for Tom Wolf and Bob Casey within minutes of the polls closing. Dems picked up 3 congressional seats, leaving the state’s delegation split 9-to-9 and increasing from zero women to four. But Republicans held on and overcame some high-profile congressional challenges.

Harrisburg is another story. Dems added five seats in the State Senate and eleven in the House.

Overall a total of 22 seats flipped parties last night and 13 PA incumbents who were on the ballot lost their race. Here are the full results from Election Day.

Statewide
Governor: Gov. Tom Wolf defeated Scott Wagner by 17, 58-to-41.  
US Senate: Sen. Bob Casey won by 13, 56-to-43 over Rep. Lou Barletta.
State Senate: Dems flipped 5 of 18 GOP State Senate seats. Sens. McGarrigle & Rafferty OUT. Greenleaf, McIlhinney & Vulakovich seats FLIP.
State House: Dems picked up 14 seats and the GOP flipped 3. Reps. Barbin, Charlton, Corbin, Harper, Kampf, Milne, Quigley, Roe, Santora and Tai OUT. Corr, Godshall, Hanna, Lewis, Miccarelli, Quinn and Taylor seats FLIP.

Congress
PA1: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) edged out Scott Wallace by just over 2 points.
PA2: Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Phila) cruised to re-election over GOP opponent David Torres 79-to-21.
PA3: Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Phila) easily defeated GOP opponent Bryan Leib 93-to-7.
PA4: Republican Dan David lost to Democrat Madeline Dean 63-to-37.
PA5: Mary Gay Scanlon defeated GOP opponent Pearl Kim 65-to-35.
PA6: Chrissy Houlahan, a nonprofit director, held a 59-to-41 victory over Republican opponent Greg McCauley.
PA7: Democrat Susan Wild defeated Republican Marty Nothstein by double digits for the open seat.  
PA8: Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna) held off a challenge from GOP opponent John Chrin 55-to-45.
PA9: Republican Dan Meuser comfortably defeated Democrat Denny Wolff by 20 points.
PA10: Rep. Scott Perry (R-York) fought through a tough election over Democrat George Scott, edging out a two-point victory.
PA11: Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster) defeated Democrat Jess King by close to 20 points.
PA12: Rep Tom Marino (R-Lycoming) took 66% against Democratic challenger Marc Friedenberg.
PA13: Dermatologist John Joyce sailed to victory over Democratic opponent Brent Ottaway 70-to-30.
PA14: Republican State Sen. Guy Reschenthaler defeated Bibiana Boerio 58-to-42.
PA15: Incumbent Glenn Thompson (R-Centre) easily defeated Democratic challenger Susan Boser 68-to-32.
PA16: Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Butler) edged out a five-point victory over Democrat Ronald DiNicola and Libertarian Ebert Beeman.
PA17: In the only race between two incumbents nationwide, Democrat Conor Lamb defeated GOP opponent Rep. Keith Rothfus 56-to-44.
PA18: Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Allegheny) was unopposed.

State Senate

SD4: Democratic state Sen. Art Haywood (D-Phila) cruised to reelection over Republican challenger Ron Holt.

SD6: Republican state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks) edged out a razor thin victory over Democratic state Rep. Tina Davis.

SD10: Democrat Steve Santarsiero defeated Republican Marguerite Quinn 53-to-48. Sen. Chuck McIlhinney (R) decided not to seek another term in this Bucks County seat.

SD12: Sen. Stewart Greenleaf Sr. (R) is retiring from this Montgomery County seat.

His son, Republican Stewart Greenleaf Jr., was defeated by Democrat Maria Collet, a nurse and former attorney.

SD16: State Sen. Pat Browne (R) won a narrow victory over Democratic challenger Mark Pinsley in the Lehigh Valley district.

SD20: Republican State Sen. Lisa Baker easily defeated Green party challenger John Sweeney.

SD22: Democratic state Sen. John Blake comfortably held off Republican challenger Frank Scavo 61-39.   

SD24: State Sen. Bob Mensch (R) defeated Democratic challenger Linda Fields 53-to-48.

SD26: Democratic Swarthmore Mayor Tim Kearney upset incumbent Republican state Sen. Tom McGarrigle 54-46 with 99% of the vote reported.   

SD28: Republican Kristin Phillips-Hill handily defeated Democrat Judith Higgins 63-37 with just over 90% of the votes counted. The state Rep. is taking over the seat vacated by Scott Wagner.   

SD30: Republican State Sen. Judith Ward sailed to victory over Democratic challenger Emily Garbuny Best.

SD32: Democrat Pamela Gerard lost to State Sen. Patrick Stefano (R) 66-to-34.

SD34: Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R) defeated Democratic challenger Ezra Nanes 56-to-44.

SD36: Democrat William Troutman, Jr. lost to State Sen. Ryan Aument (R) 67-to-34.

SD38: Democrat Lindsey Williams narrowly edged out a 0.5% victory over Republican candidate Jeremy Shaffer. The Republican candidate defeated the incumbent Sen. Randy Vulakovich in the May primary.

SD40: State Sen. Mario Scavello won a 9-point victory over Democrat Tarah Probst.

SD44: In a narrow partisan flip, Democratic challenger Katie Muth defeated Republican incumbent John Rafferty 52-to-48.

SD46: Republican state Sen. Camera Bartolotta captured a comfortable 59-41 victory over Democratic challenger James Craig.  

SD48: State Sen. Mike Folmer (R) took 63% against Democratic challenger Lois Herr.

SD50: Republican state Sen. Michele Brooks easily won another term after beating Democratic challenger Sue Mulvey 66-34.  

State House

HD2: Erie City Councilman Bob Merski easily defeated Republican Timothy Kuzma 65-to-35. The seat has been vacant since Rep. Flo Fabrizio (D-Erie) passed away this summer.

HD8: State Rep. Tedd Nesbit (R-Mercer) sailed to victory over Democratic challenger Lisa Boeving-Learned.

HD9: State Rep. Chris Sainato (D-Lawrence) fended off challenger Gregory Michalek 57-to-43.

HD10: State Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Lawrence) defeated Green Party challenger Darcelle Slappy 78-to-22.

HD11: State Rep. Brian Ellis (R) defeated Independent challenger Samuel Doctor 77-to-24.

HD12: Rep. Daryl Metcalfe is coming back. The Butler County Republican defeated his challenger Dan Smith 58-to-42 in a race that turned on Metcalfe’s incendiary remarks, including comments about Smith’s husband.
HD13: State Rep. John Lawrence (R-Chester) won an easy re-election, 71-to-29, over Dem Susannah Walker.

HD14: Incumbent Rep. Jim Marshall (R) held a comfortable victory over challenger Amy Fazio.

HD15: In this open-seat race, Joshua Kail (R-Beaver) prevailed over Democrat Terri Mitko 62-to-38. This seat became open after Rep. Jim Christiana (R) ran for U.S. Senate in lieu of a 6th term.

HD18: The quintessential moderate, Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks), won re-election 57-to-43 over Democrat Jimmy Lamb.  

HD21: Allies of Rep. Dom Costa (D-Allegheny), who lost the primary to Sara Innamorato, mounted a last minute write-in campaign. She easily defeated the effort 85-to-15.

HD23: State Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) easily defeated Green Party challenger Jay Ting Walker 91-to-10.9

HD25:  Stephen Schlauch lost to Democrat Brandon Markosek 58-to-42. Joe Markosek, Brandon’s dad and the long-serving State Rep. and Appropriations Chairman, is retiring this Allegheny County seat.

HD26: Republican Rep. Timothy Hennessey edged out Democrat Pamela Hacker 53-to-47 in this Chester/Montco seat.

HD28: Despite a great deal of Democratic interest, challenger Emily Skopov lost to House Speaker Mike Turzai 55-to-45 in this North Hills seat in Allegheny County.

HD29: State Rep. Bernie O’Neill (R) withdrew from the campaign in August, after 16 years in the Bucks Co. seat, citing the need to care for his sister. Meghan Schroeder, a former O’Neill staffer, defeated Democrat, labor organizer and professor Andrew Dixon 52-to-48 for the Bucks-based district.

HD30: Republican Lori Mizgorski defeated Betsy Monroe 52-to-48. After serving 3 terms in this North Hills seat, State Rep. Hal English (R) withdrew from the North Hills Allegheny County race in July.

HD31: Democratic Rep. Perry Warren held onto his Bucks County seat 60-to-40.

HD33: Minority Leader Frank Dermody (D) defended his seat against Republican challenger Joshua Nulph 56-to-45.

HD37: State Rep. Mindy Fee (R-Lancaster) won an easy victory over challenger Suzanne Delahunt 73-to-27.

HD39: Robert Rhoderick Jr. (D) lost this open Mon Valley seat to Michael Puskaric 56-to-44. Outgoing Rep. Rick Saccone (R) ran unsuccessfully for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 14th district. Incredibly, Saccone recorded a robocall against Puskaric attacking the GOP candidate’s character.

HD40: Republican Natalie Mihalek won this open seat over Democrat Sharon Guidi 56-to-44. After serving 22 years, Rep. John Maher (R) retired, thereby vacating the Allegheny County district.

HD41: State Rep. Brett Miller (R-Lancaster) defeated Democratic challenger Michelle Wherley 56-to-44.

HD43: State Rep. Keith Greiner (R-Lancaster) easily defeated challenger Jennie Porter (D) 62-to-38.

HD44: Republican Valerie Gaydos won this open seat over Democrat Michele Knoll 52-to-48. Rep. Mark Mustio (R) is retiring after serving 18 years in this Allegheny County seat.

HD46: State Rep. Jason Ortitay (R) won re-election by 12 points, 56-to-44, in this Washington/Allegheny district.

HD47: With 91% reporting, Keith Gillespie (R-York) defeated Michael Wascovich 64-to-36.

HD48: State. Rep Timothy O’Neal won an easy victory 56-to-44 in a rematch of a May special election versus Dem Clark Mitchell in this Washington County seat.

HD49: After all of the precincts reported, Republican state Rep. Bud Cook holds a razor thin lead over Democrat Steve Toprani. According to the Observer-Reporter, absentee ballots had yet to be counted late Tuesday. Cook won after this Washington County-based seat after the retirement of longtime Rep. Pete Daley in 2016.

HD50: State Rep. Pam Synder (D-Greene) easily maintained her seat.

HD51: State Rep. Matthew Dowling (R-Fayette) won comfortably in his rematch versus former Rep. Tim Mahoney, 56-to-45.

HD52: State Rep. Ryan Warner (R-Fayette) won easily.

HD53: Democrat Steven Malagari defeated George Szekely II (R) 51-to-48 in this open seat. Rep. Bob Godshall (R) retired from this Montgomery County seat after 36 years.

HD54: Robert Brooks (R) won this open seat over Democrat Jonathan McCabe 60-to-40. Rep. Eli Evankovich (R) announced his August retirement from this Allegheny/Westmoreland County seat.

HD56: State Rep. George Dunbar (R-Westmoreland) was easily re-elected to his seat.

HD57: With 97% reporting, Rep. Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland) fended off the challenge from Democrat Collin Warren.

HD58: Incumbent Rep. Justin Walsh (R-Westmoreland) won easily.

HD59: State Rep. Mike Reese (R-Westmoreland) cruised to victory.

HD61: Eight-term GOP incumbent Kate Harper (R) lost her Montgomery County seat to Democratic challenger Liz Hanbridge by 8 points.

HD62: James Struzzi II (R) won against Democrat Logan Dellafiora in this open seat. Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana) decided not to seek another term and recently announced his new role as regional president of First Commonwealth Bank.

HD63: Incumbent Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion) sailed to victory.

HD64: State Rep. R. Lee James (R-Venango) won easily.

HD66: State Rep. Cris Dush (R-Jefferson) won an easy victory.

HD67: State Rep. Marty Causer (R-McKean) won easily.

HD68: State. Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga) easily defeated challenger Carrie Heath in a rematch of their May special election.

HD69: State Rep. Carl Metzgar (R-Somerset) was re-elected 79-to-21.

HD70: Republican Christopher Mundiath lost to State Rep. Matthew Bradford (D-Montgomery).

HD71: The fourth time’s the charm? After 3 previous attempts, Republican Jim Rigby is going to Harrisburg. The former borough councilman and former police officer defeated incumbent Rep. Bryan Barbin (D-Cambria) after losing to him by 182, 187 and 700 votes in previous elections. He won 52-to-48.

HD72: State Rep. Frank Burns (D-Cambria) held onto his seat 52-to-48 against GOP challenger Gerald Carnicella. It remains the most Trump-friendly state house seat held by a Dem (Trump won it by 44 points).

HD74: Democrat Dan Williams defeated Republican Amber Little-Turner 62-to-38. Rep. Harry Lewis (R) declined to run for re-election. This was this most pro-Clinton district won by a Republican in 2016. Williams leads the New Life in Christ Fellowship in Coatesville.

HD76: Michael Hanna Jr. lost this open seat to Republican Stephanie Borowicz 54-to-46. Minority Whip Mike Hanna Sr. (D) is retiring after more then two decades representing Clinton County.

HD78: State Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford) was easily re-elected.

HD80: Republican James Gregory easily defeated Democrat Laura Burke to win this open seat. Rep. Judy Ward (R) was elected to the Blair County-based Senate seat.

HD81: State Rep. Richard Irvin (R-Blair) won easily.

HD82: John Hershey (R-Juniata) easily won this open seat against Elizabeth Book (I). Rep. Adam Harris (R) is retiring after 16 years in this central PA district.

HD83: State Rep. Jeff Wheeland (R-Lycoming) won easily.

HD85: State Rep. Fred Keller (R-Snyder) won easily.

HD86: State Rep. Mark Keller (R-Perry) won easily.

HD87: State Rep. Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland) declared a 16 point victory over Dem Sean Quinlan.

HD88: State Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland) won easily.

HD91: State Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams) won easily.

HD92: State Rep. Dawn Keefer (R-York) was easily re-elected to her seat.

HD94: Democrat Stephen Snell lost to State Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York) two-to-one.

HD97: State Rep. Steven Mentzer (R-Lancaster) won easily.

HD100: State Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) was easily re-elected.

HD101: Democrat Cesar Liriano lost to Republican State Rep. Francis Ryan (R-Lebanon) 65-to-35.

HD103: Democratic State Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin) won easily.

HD104: State Rep. Susan Helm (R-Dauphin) held on to her seat by 9 points over Dem Patricia Smith.

HD105: In a close race, Republican Andrew Lewis won this open seat over Democrat and good government activist Eric Epstein. Long-serving Judiciary Committee Chairman Ron Marsico (R) is retiring from this Dauphin County seat.

HD106: Republican State Rep. Thomas Mehaffie (R-Dauphin) won an easy victory.

HD107: State Rep. Kurt Masser (R-Northumberland) won easily.

HD109: State Rep. David Millard (R-Columbia) won easily.

HD112: Democrat Kyle Mullins defeated Republican Ernest Lemoncelli in this battle for an open seat. Rep. Kevin Haggerty (D) is retiring this Lackawanna County seat after years dogged by personal issues and chronic absences.

HD114: Rep. Sid Kavulich (D) passed away suddenly in October. He was unopposed on the ballot, meaning there is likely to be a special election for the seat in a few months.

HD115: State Rep. Maureen Madden (D-Monroe) easily defeated Republican challenger David Parker, 60-to-40, in a rematch of the 2016 campaign.

HD119: Rep. Gerald Mullery survived a relatively close rematch against Republican Justin Behrens, winning 53-to-47.

HD122: State Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) won easily.

HD127: State Rep. Thomas Caltagirone (D-Berks) was easily re-elected.

HD128: State Rep. Mark Gillen (R-Berks) won easily.

HD129: Republican State Rep. Jim Cox (R-Berks) won easily.

HD131: Republican State Rep. Justin Simmons held onto his seat 53-47 over Democrat and pub owner Andy Lee in this Lehigh County seat.

HD134: State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh) won easily.

HD139: Democrat Orlando Marrero lost to State Rep. Michael Peifer (R-Pike) 64-to-37.

HD141: State Rep. Tina Davis (D-Bucks) won easily, 62-to-38. It was a consolation prize as her simultaneous State Senate campaign fell 100 votes short of ousting Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks).

HD142: State Rep. Frank Farry (R-Bucks) won by 12 points over Dem Lauren Lareau.

HD143: Democrat Wendy Ullman defeated Republican Joseph Flood 51-to-49 to win this open seat. Rep. Marguerite Quinn ran for the Bucks Co. Senate Seat vacated by Sen. McIlhinney and lost.

HD144: In this tight race for an open seat, Republican F. Todd Polinchock defeated Democrat Meredith Buck 51-to-49. Rep. Kathy Watson (R) is retiring after 18 years in this Bucks Co. seat.

HD145: State Rep. Craig Staats (R-Bucks) won by 14 points.

HD146: Democrat Joseph Ciresi defeated Republican incumbent Thomas Quigley 56-to-45 in this Montgomery County swing district. Ciresi is director of sales and promotions at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

HD147: Republican State Rep. Marcy Toepel (R-Montgomery) won by 14 points.

HD150: Democrat Joe Webster defeated Republican Nick Fountain 56-to-44 in this Montco district. Freshman State Rep. Mike Corr (R) withdrew his candidacy over the summer. Webster is a retired Air Force Colonel and is currently the VP of Mission Services at Accenture.

HD151: In a close race, State Rep. Todd Stevens (R-Montgomery) held onto his seat against Democratic challenger Sara Johnson Rothman 51-to-49.

HD152: State Rep. Thomas Murt (R-Montgomery) won by 10 points over Dem Daryl Boling.

HD153: Democrat Ben Sanchez won this open seat against Republican Douglas Beaver Jr. and Libertarian Marc Bozzacco. Rep. Madeleine Dean didn’t seek re-election and won her bid for Congress.  

HD154: State Rep. Steve McCarter (D-Montgomery) won easily.

HD155: Incumbent Becky Corbin (R-Chester) lost her seat to Democrat Danielle Friel Otten 55-to-45. Friel Otten has been active in organizing opposition to natural gas pipeline development in Chester County, where the district is located.

HD156: State Rep. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) won easily.

HD157: Incumbent Warren Kampf (R-Chester), a perennial Democratic target in this Chesco/Montco seat, lost his seat to Democrat Melissa Shusterman 57-to-44. She founded and runs a digital video production company.

HD158: Democratic challenger Christina Sappey defeated freshman Republican Eric Roe 53-to-47. Sappey is a longtime legislative aide to Chester County Democrats including Former Rep. Barbara McIlvaine Smith and Senator Andy Dinniman. She most recently served as chief of staff for Rep. Carolyn Comitta, who will now be her colleague.

HD159: State Rep. Brian Kirkland (D-Delaware) won easily.

HD161: State Rep.Leanne Krueger-Braneky (D-Delaware) won easily.

HD162: Democrat David Delloso won this open seat against Republican Mary Hopper 52-to-48. State Rep. Nick Miccarelli (R) declined to run for re-election to this Delco seat amid allegations of sexual assault by two women, including another House member.

HD163: Challenger Michael Zabel defeated two-term Republican incumbent Jamie Santora 53-to-47, moving the Delco seat into Democratic hands for the first time in 40 years. Zabel is a former Philly Assistant District Attorney and is currently is an Attorney at Rawle & Henderson.

HD164: State Rep. Margo Davidson (D-Delaware) won easily.

HD165: Democratic challenger Jennifer O’Mara defeated Republican incumbent Rep. Alex Charlton by an extremely thin margin of 163 votes in this Delco seat. She is a non-profit executive.

HD166: State Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) cruised to another term after holding off Republican challenger Baltazar Rubio by over 40 points.  

HD167: Democrat Kristine Howard, a Casework Specialist with the Chester County Department of Children, defeated six-term incumbent state Rep. Duane Milne (R-Chester) 52-to-48.

HD168: Republican State Rep. Christopher Quinn held off Democratic challenger Kristin Seale in a close race, 51-to-49. Seale made headlines in the spring as one of four DSA-backed candidates to win contested Democratic primaries. (The other three were unopposed in the general).

HD169: State Rep. Kate Klunk (R-York) easily defeated Democratic opponent Sarah Hammond by 40 plus points with 81% of the votes reported.  

HD170: State Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) fends off Democratic challenger Michael Doyle 58-42. With the Republicans losing control of PA177, White is now the lone Philadelphia Republican in Harrisburg (Rep. Murt’s district also includes part of the city).

HD171: Republican State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre) coasted to an approximate 20 point victory over Democrat Erin McCracken.  

HD175: Democrat Mary Isaacson ran unopposed in the Philadelphia based district. State Rep. Mike O’Brien (D) passed away in October, a few months after he ended his candidacy for this Philly seat. Isaacson worked as O’Brien’s Chief of Staff.

HD176: State Rep. Jack Radar (R-Monroe) defeated Democrat Claudette Williams 55-45.

HD177: Democrat Joe Hohenstein beat Republican Patty-Pat Kozlowski for the open seat in Philadelphia. Hohenstein will succeed Rep. John Taylor, Philadelphia’s most powerful Republican, who is retiring after 34 years.    

HD178: State Rep. Helen Tai (D) lost a close rematch against Republican Wendi Thomas by about 1 point. Tai defeated Thomas in a May special election in Bucks County.  

HD181: Malcolm Kenyatta (D) easily took down Republican nominee Milton Street for the seat being vacated by state Rep. Curtis Thomas (D-Phila). Thomas announced his retirement from the district in August after serving for 30 years.

HD182: State Rep. Brian Sims (D-Phila) coasted to another term, beating Independent candidate James McDevitt for the Philadelphia based district.

HD183: State Rep. Zachary Mako (R-Northampton) leads Democrat Jason Ruff 57-43 with 89% of the votes reported according to the New York Times.

HD184: Democrat Elizabeth Fiedler ran unopposed in this heavy Democratic Philadelphia district. She is succeeding Rep. Bill Keller (D) who is retiring after 26 years representing this district.

HD187: State Rep. Gary Day (R-Lehigh) won by 19 over Democrat Adam Blichar Jr.

HD189: State Rep. Rosemary Brown (R-Monroe) defeated Democrat Adam Rodriguez 59-42.  

HD190: State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown (D) ran unopposed in this Philadelphia based district. There will be a special election here next year because Rep. Brown was recently convicted on 7 counts including accepting bribes. She is not eligible to return to the House.

HD193: Torren Ecker (R) easily bested Democrat Matt Nelson 68-32 for this open seat succeeding Rep. Will Tallman (R). Tallman declined to seek re-election after 10 years serving this Adams/Cumberland Co. district.  

HD194: State Rep. Pamela A. DeLissio (D-Phila) cruised to reelection over Republican Sean Stevens.

HD199: Republican Barb Gleim defeated Democrat Sherwood McGinnis 59 to 39 in the race for this open seat. Gleim will succeed fellow Republican, Rep. Stephen Bloom for this seat. Bloom ran unsuccessfully for the GOP nomination for PA-13. He served 8 years in this Carlisle-based district in Cumberland County.

This article was corrected to show that state Rep. Tim Hennessey won re-election in HD-26 and that state Rep. Bud Cook holds a narrow lead after all of the precincts have been reported in HD-49.

18 Responses

  1. Democrats did well, represented us admirably. And Trump got a shellacking nation wide. Worst president ever. A no-show for Veteran’s Day. Worried about that ridiculous hair on his head. Most shallow and inept man to ever walk the earth. One Term Don.

  2. When I look at the map it doesn’t show a BLUE wave. Phila. & Pittsburg and surrounding areas only in Red. We are wondering if Mr. Cole worked at the Morning Call?

  3. This is a great article but it would be more helpful for future candidate planning if you had listed ALL the candidates who ran, even those who were defeated, and also listed the truly unopposed seats.

    For example, there were challengers in the 56th and 58th Districts (and more) but because you didn’t mention the challenger’s names, it looks like the winners were unopposed there.

  4. Overall disappointing election. PA has not yet recovered from its Trumpian delusions and hate campaign. Ashamed of my State.

    1. Really? I don’t have that feeling at all. The state harshly turned away 2 ultra Trumpers by double digits, elected 4 D House reps. All those CD’s were safe R just 2 years ago. A fair map helped but the results in 7 and 17 still were fairly stunning. In the state races, the R’s super majority in the Senate was broken and they also lost seats in the state house. Not sure what you are seeing. PA lead the way in the D’s taking the House. Sure, in a way they could have had as much as +6 but that wasn’t meant to be.

      For me, it shows how big a mistake the Dems made in 10 by keeping Obama on the sidelines. Yes, it still would have been bad but many seats could have been saved if the base was a little more energized. Trump just proved that. Still, he couldn’t save the House.

      Then again, after yesterday, I think our Democracy is basically gone.

  5. Chrissy Houlahan is the first Dem to represent Chester County for the US House in 160 years and the first woman – ever.

  6. Scott Wagner is the gift that keeps on giving for Dems. Some Democratic gubernatorial candidacies failed including Ohio and Florida but Scott Wagner with his knack for the absurd insisted on participating in antics that guaranteed Pa be Dem. From confronting the tracker at the York Country Club to insulting a young voter at a town hall to “golf spikes video” he in essence handed Gov Wolf a landslide and the Dems a chance at fair redistricting which is crucial if Pa loses a seat in Congress which is expected. For the next decade because of Wagner’s collapsed campaign the Dems are well positioned for the vital nature of congressional redistricting.

  7. Yes . With the Democrats controlling PA they will now become another California and support illegal immigrants and turn their backs on citizens.
    Having lived in the LA area I soon learned how the politicians followed the money trail no matter who it connected to. Most Latinos collected welfare money, almost free housing, free health care and free food while the citizens paid their taxes which supported this give away. I mention this to prove that I know what I am writing about.

    1. Oh please. Go visit Carbon county and see how many of the rural people there are on gov assistance. The funniest part is that there are many on Medicaid who don’t even know it.

      Also, did you notice that 3 of the deepest red states in America voted to expand Medicaid? Probably not. You are so into your own hate that you cannot see anything past your simpleminded racism.

          1. In the meantime, some in PA have their head so far up Donald Trump’s ass (ewww, ugh!) all they know is to fear those damn smelly brown people. Maybe because its damn, smelly, and brown in Trump’s ass.

    2. Just for the record, the R’s still have the majority in the state house and sen. Sometimes I really wonder.

  8. Can anyone in Western PA explain why there were 9,377 write in votes against Congressman Doyle who ran unopposed? Was that the GOP, DSA or has his District just gotten tired of him? Thats a big number and certainly invites a primary challenger in 2 years.
    Thanks!

    1. Interesting. Doyle’s 9,300 write in votes is more than the total number of write-ins for every other candidate in allegheny county combined.

      Wayne Fontana was also unopposed and the write ins against him were 2,135 which are very high considering that his senatorial district is much smaller than Doyle’s CD District.

      Fontana and Doyle are two establishment elected officials, so this is probably not a coincidence.

      Sarah Innamorato and Summer Lee each had a higher than average number of write-ins, but that was Because of Dom and Paul Costa and some county committee members who conspired with them.

      I live out here and I’m guessing the Doyle and Fontana write-inss are a coordinated DSA effort to test the fences ahead of next years primaries.

      They’ve stated that every incumbent should be challenged.

  9. I thought +3 would happen and that is how things turned out. The R’s are lucky though. Could have been worse. Except in Chesco. That was a disaster for the GOP.

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