Pennsylvania Republicans appeared on pace Wednesday to strengthen their majority in the state House of Representatives, according to vote tracking by The Associated Press.
While early results on Tuesday night had suggested Democrats might flip the chamber after a decade of GOP control, that prospect faded as county elections workers kept counting ballots into Wednesday.
The Pennsylvania Department of State expects “the overwhelming majority” of votes in Tuesday’s general election to be counted by Friday, the department has said.
By midafternoon Wednesday, the AP’s review of unofficial, incomplete election results showed Republicans were likely to grow their majority to 122 seats, up from 110 in the 203-member House.
“We feel very confident in defending our incumbents and also picking up some Democrat seats,” state Rep. Greg Rothman, a Cumberland County Republican, told reporters Wednesday in Harrisburg. The House saw contested races for 169 seats, he said.
Here’s a look at some competitive races in southwestern Pennsylvania and where they stood as of Wednesday afternoon:
District 12: Incumbent Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, has prevailed over Democratic challenger Daniel Smith, the AP reported. With all precincts reporting, Mr. Metcalfe had 75.5% of the vote. The district, in Butler County, covers Adams, Callery, Clinton, Cranberry, Forward, Mars, Middlesex, Penn, Seven Fields and Valencia.
District 21: The AP identified incumbent Rep. Sara Innamorato, D-Upper Lawrenceville, as the winner over Republican challenger John Waugh. With 56 of 69 precincts reporting, Ms. Innamorato had 63.9% of the vote. The district includes part of Pittsburgh’s East End, Aspinwall, Etna, Millvale and Reserve.
District 25: Incumbent Rep. Brandon Markosek, D-Monroeville, was leading Republican challenger John Ritter, 55.3% to 44.7%, with 51 of 62 precincts reporting. The AP had yet to identify a winner in the district, which includes East McKeesport, East Pittsburgh, Monroeville, North Versailles, Pitcairn, part of Plum, the Allegheny County portion of Trafford, Wall and Wilmerding.
District 28: The AP identified Republican Rob Mercuri as the winner of the seat vacated by former House Speaker Mike Turzai. Mr. Mercuri was leading Democrat Emily Skopov, 60.8% to 39.2%, with all precincts reporting. The district covers the North Hills suburbs of Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, Marshall and Pine.
District 30: Incumbent Rep. Lori Mizgorski, R-Shaler, successfully defended her seat against a challenge from Democrat Lissa Geiger Shulman, according to the AP. Ms. Mizgorski was leading Ms. Shulman, 58.5% to 41.5%, with all precincts reporting. The district includes Fox Chapel, Hampton and parts of O’Hara, Richland and Shaler.
District 33: The AP had yet to identify a winner in the race between incumbent Rep. Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, and Republican challenger Carrie DelRosso. With 39 of 61 precincts reporting, Ms. DelRosso was leading Mr. Dermody, 56.1% to 43.9%. The district includes Brackenridge, Cheswick, East Deer, Frazer, Harmar, Indiana, Oakmont, Springdale, Tarentum and part of Harrison as well as Arnold and New Kensington in Westmoreland County.
District 36: Democrat Jessica Benham was leading Republican A.J. Doyle in the race to succeed state Rep. Harry Readshaw III, D-Carrick, who is retiring. With 47 of 72 precincts reporting, Ms. Benham had 59.2% of the vote. The AP had yet to identify a winner in the district, which spans Carrick, South Side and Mount Washington within Pittsburgh’s city limits to Brentwood, Mount Oliver and part of Baldwin Borough.
District 38: The AP called the race for Democrat Nick Pisciottano, who was leading Republican Linda Book, 53.9% to 46.1%, with 58 of 71 precincts reporting. The winner will succeed Rep. Bill Kortz, D-Dravosburg, who is retiring. The district includes Dravosburg, Glassport, Liberty, Pleasant Hills, Port Vue, Whitehall and parts of Baldwin Borough, South Park and West Mifflin.
District 39: Incumbent Rep. Mike Puskaric, R-Union, held off Democratic challenger Sara-Summer Oliphant to hold on to his seat, according to the AP. With nearly 51 of 54 precincts reporting, Mr. Puskaric had 66.3% of the vote. The district includes Elizabeth township and borough, Jefferson Hills, West Elizabeth and parts of Bethel Park and South Park as well as Finleyville, Nottingham, Somerset and Union in Washington County.
District 40: Incumbent Rep. Natalie Mihalek, R-Upper St. Clair, retained her seat against a challenge from Democrat Sharon Guidi, the AP reported. With all precincts reporting, Ms. Mihalek had 63.4% of the vote.The district includes parts of Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair and Peters in Washington County.
District 45: Incumbent Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik, D-Carnegie, was leading Republican challenger Danny DeVito, 59.3% to 40.7%, with 58 of 67 precincts reporting. The AP had yet to identify a winner. The district includes Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights, Carnegie, Coraopolis, Emsworth, Kennedy, Neville, Pennsbury, Robinson, Rosslyn, Stowe and part of Scott.
District 46: The AP identified incumbent Rep. Jason Ortitay, R-South Fayette, as the winner over Democratic challenger Byron Timmins. Mr. Ortitay had 64.2% of the vote with all precincts reporting. The district includes Bridgeville, Collier, Heidelberg, McDonald, Oakdale and South Fayette in Allegheny County and Burgettstown, Canton, Cecil, McDonald, Midway, Mount Pleasant and Robinson in Washington County.
The Associated Press contributed. Adam Smeltz: asmeltz@post-gazette.com, Twitter @asmeltz.
First Published: November 4, 2020, 10:07 p.m.
Updated: November 4, 2020, 10:08 p.m.