As of now, Republican challenger Dave McCormick is leading longtime Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. Bob Casey. "It looks like we're heading in a very good direction," McCormick told supporters Tuesday night at his Pittsburgh headquarters. Casey has not yet spoken on the race.
Republican Ryan Mackenzie is the Lehigh Valley's next congressman. He told supporters beating an incumbent like Susan Wild has to be considered an upset. "Thank you to the voters. Because what you did today is something so significant that only probably two percent of challengers will defeat an incumbent and we did that right here in Pennsylvania," Mackenzie said last night. Early this morning Wild conceded the race. In a statement, Wild said, "There is no sugarcoating it: this is a bitterly disappointing outcome. I lost this election, and my opponent won. I congratulate my opponent on winning this seat, and I am going to do everything to ensure a smooth transition, because the people of this district deserve nothing less.” Mackenzie beat Wild by about 5600 votes.
Not only did Republicans have a big night on the statewide level, they did in local Lehigh Valley races as well. It looks like all five contested state House races in the Lehigh Valley have been won by Republicans. In the 187th District, Gary Day appears to have beaten Stefanie Rafes by roughly 4200 votes. On the same night her son, Ryan, appears to have been elected to Congress, Milou Mackenzie was re-elected in the 131st District by 4300 votes over Meriam Sabih. In the 137th District, incumbent Joe Emrick defeated Democrat Anna Thomas by about 1050 votes. Republican Ann Flood keeps her job representing 138th District by defeating Jared Bitting by 12,000 votes. In the 183rd District Incumbent Zach Mako easily defeated Joseph Lenzi by about 10,000 votes.
If the current numbers stand, Republicans will have won all statewide elections on Tuesday. In the race for attorney general, York County DA Dave Sunday holds a five point edge over ex-Auditor General Eugene DePasquale. Pennsylvania Auditor General Tim DeFoor is going to keep that job. He leads Philadelphia Democrat St. Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta by five points. In the state treasurer race, incumbent Republican Stacy Garrity is in line to keep that job as she holds a six point lead over Democrat challenger Erin McClelland. All three of those races are with 91 percent of the vote counted.
Pennsylvania voters are most concerned about the state of democracy and the economy. The NBC News Exit Poll found those issues outpaced abortion, immigration and foreign policy. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump voters are split on what they prioritize, however. Those who voted for the former president cited the economy and immigration as their top concerns, while the vice president's supporters have the highest concern about the state of democracy.
New Jersey voters have chosen a new senator. South Jersey Democratic Congressman Andy Kim defeated Republican Curtis Bashaw to replace longtime US Senator Bob Menendez. Menendez resigned in disgrace following his conviction on corruption charges. It has been 52 years since the Garden State elected a Republican senator. Kim will be New Jersey's first newly-elected senator since Cory Booker won in 2013 as well as the first Korean-American to serve in the U.S. Senate. He was New Jersey's first Asian-American to be elected to Congress when he beat a Republican incumbent in 2018.
A star player on the 76ers is paying for his off-court actions. The NBA suspended Joel Embiid three games for shoving a reporter. The seven-time All-Star will lose more than a million-dollars in pay during the suspension, and the punishment will start once he is ready to return from injury. Embiid took exception with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes, who recently wrote an article about Embiid's conditioning and professionalism while bringing up his son and deceased brother. The former MVP hasn't played this season due to management of chronic knee issues.