The Butler County Republican gets another two years.
Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Butler) took down Democrat Ron DiNicola in the race for the newly drawn 16th District.
Kelly won 52-47 over DiNicola after 100% of the precincts were reported.
was ahead by about 4 points and 9,000 votes with all precincts in except a few in Butler County, Kelly’s home base.
Kelly boasted about the Trump economy and the GOP tax reform bill in appealing to voters in the district. DiNicola, a Marine veteran, ran against the GOP tax reform bill, believing it only benefited the wealthy and championed covering pre-existing conditions.
Public polls in the last month seemed to indicate the race was getting closer for Kelly, in a district President Trump won by 20+ points. Trump even made an appearance alongside Kelly for a MAGA rally in October to boost the Republican candidate.
The DCCC’s first investment in Pennsylvania races was to help DiNicola’s campaign in their effort to flip the seat.
Candidates took serious jabs at one another in ads towards the end of the campaign. Kelly released a spot painting DiNicola as an advocate for dangerous criminals. DiNicola ran ads stating Kelly personally benefited for the GOP tax reform bill.
Loading ...
2 Responses
Still was a big swing in that district. Ron was such a good candidate, what a shame he lost to Kelly. Good to see Erie revert back to form though. Could knock Kelly off in 2020.
I will never understand how this district’s voters can be so damn stupid.