Democrat declares victory in key Pennsylvania vote

MT. LEBANON, Pennsylvania — Democrat Conor Lamb and Republican Rick Saccone battled to the wire into this morning in a tight congressional election that pitted the strength of U.S. President Donald Trump in blue-collar America against the energy and anger of the political left.

Lamb declared victory early this morning, but the Associated Press had not called the race. Unofficial returns showed Lamb with a narrow lead over Republican Rick Saccone as absentee ballots were still being counted.

The contest in the Pittsburgh-area district has drawn national attention as a bellwether for the midterm elections in November for control of Congress. Whatever the final outcome, the showing by Lamb in a district Trump won by 20 points in the presidential race is sure to stoke anxiety among Republicans across the U.S. and renewed enthusiasm among Democrats.

With 99 per cent of precincts reporting, unofficial results had Lamb leading Saccone by fewer than 900 votes. Some absentee ballots were not expected to be counted until well into the morning, and the result could be decided by a recount.

The White House had scrambled to rally voters behind Saccone, who cast himself as the president’s “wingman.” Because of a state court decision redrawing Pennsylvania’s congressional boundaries, the winner will have to start campaigning for re-election almost immediately in a different district.