Pa. election results: 4 big winners and 2 big losers

Here’s a look at some statewide trends in Pennsylvania.

Winner: Women running for office

Pennsylvania had the distinction of having no women in Congress since U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz left office after the 2014 election. But that changed Tuesday.

Four women, all Democrats, won election to Congress: state lawmaker Madeleine Dean, Air Force veteran Chrissy Houlahan and attorney Mary Gay Scanlon in the Philadelphia suburbs and attorney Susan Wild in the Lehigh Valley.

Winner: Supporters of abortion rights

The appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court led to the possibility that the court could eventually overturn the Roe v. Wade decision of 1973.

Democratic incumbent Gov. Tom Wolf promised to veto any abortion bans in Pennsylvania. Republican Scott Wagner Wagner wouldn’t commit.

Wolf’s victory provides some certainty in Pennsylvania.

Winner: The power of incumbency for Pa. governors

Since Pennsylvania’s constitution was changed to allow governors to serve two terms, no incumbent lost — until Tom Wolf defeated Gov. Tom Corbett in 2014.

But this year, Wolf won re-election — a return to tradition.

Winner: Different types of Republicans

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick gets an F rating from the NRA. U.S. Rep. Scott Perry gets an A-rating from the group.

Fitzpatrick is a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. Perry quit that group and is part of the conservative Freedom Caucus, a group known for taking a hard line on issues.

Both Republicans were in toss-up races. But both managed to win: Perry in a central Pennsylvania district that includes Harrisburg, and Fitzpatrick in a suburban Philadelphia district for all of Bucks County.

Loser: The “Trump-like” candidates

Years before Donald Trump launched his bid for president by talking about drugs and rapists from Mexico, then-Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta got national attention for a local ordinance that he said was aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration. Barletta, who challenged Sen. Bob Casey, was one of the earliest members of Congress to support Trump’s presidential campaign.

Gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner, meanwhile, had a brash style and business background that prompted many Trump comparisons. At one point, Wagner said Trump was “actually a mini-Scott Wagner.”

Both Barletta and Wagner received the endorsement of the Pennsylvania GOP and went on to win their party’s nomination. But they trailed in general election polls by double digits for months.

Loser: Many suburban Republicans

Republicans in multiple state legislative races were trailing early Wednesday morning, including state Sen. Tom McGarrigle in Delaware County. He conceded the race, according to the Delaware County Daily Times.

If you’re looking for sea changes, note state Senate races in PA southeast. GOP incumbents McGarrigle & Rafferty will lose their seats. Quinn (R) loses 10th district bid to Santarsiero. Sen. Greenleaf’s son (R) loses the family seat to Collett. Williams (D) takes former GOP 38th.

— Katie Meyer (@katieemeyer4) November 7, 2018

What does this mean? Chiefly, Senate GOP is going to lose its supermajority, which is not a small thing. And this is even more hard evidence the Philly burbs are increasingly inhospitable to Republicans.

— Katie Meyer (@katieemeyer4) November 7, 2018