The seat came open in October when eight-term Republican Rep. Tim Murphy resigned amid a sex scandal.
Republican Rick Saccone conceded to Democrat Conor Lamb in Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District race Wednesday night, according to Lamb.
An ex-Marine and federal prosecutor, Lamb, 33, captured a seat held by Republicans for the last 15 years by defeating Saccone by less than 800 votes.
On Twitter Wednesday night, Lamb said he had just gotten off the phone with Saccone and congratulated him “for a close, hard-fought race.”
Just got off the phone with my opponent, @RickSaccone4PA, who congratulated me & graciously conceded last Tuesday’s election. I congratulate Mr. Saccone for a close, hard-fought race & wish him the best. Ready to be sworn in & get to work for the people of #PA18.
Saccone released a statement congratulating his opponent on his victory. “While there are
less than 800 votes separating us, the people of the 18th District deserve to have
a voice representing them in Congress,” it read.
Republicans considered seeking a recount or filing a lawsuit to contest the result, even as vote-counting over the past week continued to pad Lamb’s lead.
The seat came open in October when eight-term Republican Rep. Tim Murphy resigned amid a sex scandal.
Lamb’s lead over Saccone was so narrow that Saccone refused to concede and news outlets waited for absentee and other ballots to be counted.
Lamb and Democratic groups declared victory on election night March 13.
Saccone, a 60-year-old state representative, ran closely to President Trump, who won the district by 20 percentage points in 2016 and enjoys a higher favorability there than he does nationally. Lamb, who ran as a centrist Democrat and called for new leadership for his party, pulled in four times the money Saccone did.
GOP outside groups poured in more than $10 million to save Saccone compared with under $2 million for Lamb.
Democrats say that the special election results prove they can compete everywhere. Republicans acknowledged the loss was not good but said not to read the tea leaves because Democrats may have a hard time replicating candidates like Lamb across the country.
Lamb will not be the congressman for the 18th District for long. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court scrapped the state’s current congressional map as an unconstitutional gerrymander and drew a new map that is expected to be in place for primary elections in May.
Under that map, Lamb’s residence will fall inside the new 17th District. He filed a petition this week to appear on the ballot, where he’ll challenge sitting GOP Rep. Keith Rothfus.
Contributing: The Associated Press
