18:25
livefeed
Dems claims victory in DelCo state Senate seat
Democrats have claimed victory in a suburban Philadelphia state Senate seat, only the second legislative victory they’ve claimed this election.
In the 9th Senate District, made up of parts of Delaware and Chester counties, Democrat John Kane has claimed victory over Republican state Sen. Tom Killion. The district includes such municipalities as Chester, Kennett Square, and Rose Valley.
Unofficial results on the Department of State website show Kane up by about 5,000 votes on Killion, leading 52-48 percent.
In a late afternoon statement, Kane said he expected his lead to increase, and thanked his supporters.
“This campaign was always about working people and the need to have a voice at the table,” Kane said. “I’m proud to be the champion of working families and I will never stop fighting on their behalf.”
He also thanked Killion for his service in the General Assembly.
Killion, first elected in a 2016 special election, was viewed as among the most moderate Republicans in the General Assembly, and was considered a top target for Democrats in 2020. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the district by about 14 percentage points.
In a message to his supporters on Facebook, Killion conceded shortly after Kane’s release.
“While I hoped for a different outcome, I respect the choice of my fellow citizens and I congratulate John Kane on his victory,” Killion wrote.
The race has not yet been called by the Associated Press.
Kane’s win does not improve Democrats standing in the upper chamber, however. The AP has called one western Pennsylvania Senate race against Democrats, while a second is still too close to call. Currently, Democrats hold 21 out of 50 seats in the Senate.
It is one of just two flips Democrats are currently claiming. They have also claimed victory in the 152nd House District, an open seat held by Republicans in Montgomery County and parts of Philadelphia.
There, Democrat Nancy Guenst is leading her Republican opponent 51-42, with an independent taking 7 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results.
The 203-member House is currently 109-93 for the GOP. Republicans appear likely to add to their majority when all races are called.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.
