Charlton turns back GOP challenge in 165th
Democrats picked their nominees to take on three Republican incumbents in the state House and Senate Tuesday, as freshman state Rep. Alex Charlton, R-165, of Springfield, successfully defended his seat against a Republican challenger.
Charlton, 38, the endorsed candidate, defeated fellow Springfield resident Regina M. Scheerer 4,473 to 2,347, according to an unofficial tally at about 11 p.m. with 100 percent of machines reporting in.
Charlton sits on the Health, Human Services and Urban Affairs committees, and serves as secretary of the Tourism and Recreational Development Committee.
He previously said he has worked hard over the last term to improve how the Department of Community and Economic Development interacts with small businesses, finding new funding sources for schools and ensuring programs and systems are in place to take care of people with special needs, and that he hopes to continue those efforts in Harrisburg.
Charlton will face Democrat Jennifer O’Mara of Morton in the November General Election. The 165th District includes Morton and parts of Marple, Radnor and Springfield.
Chester County Democrat Anton Andrew meanwhile appeared to be leading Cathy Spahr of Upper Chichester by just 11 votes in the 160th District as of press time Tuesday.
While Spahr led Andrew 1,510 to 757 in Delaware County with 100 percent of machines reporting in, Chester County voters added 1,034 to Andrew’s total and just 272 to Spahr.
Three Chester County precincts had not reported in by deadline, however, so that race remained too close to call. The eventual winner there will take on longtime incumbent Republican state Rep. Steve Barrar in November.
The 160th District is made up of Bethel, Chadds Ford, Concord and part of Upper Chichester in Delaware County, as well as Kennett Square, Kennett Township, Pennsbury and Pocopson in Chester County.
Rose Tree Media School Board Member Kristin Seale also squeaked out a win against Chester Heights Borough Councilman Philip A. Block by a vote of 2,653 to 2,588 and now goes on to face incumbent state Rep. Chris Quinn, R-168 of Middletown in November.
Seale, 45, holds a bachelor’s degree in public and community health from New Mexico State University and a master’s degree in public administration from Villanova University.
She is a founder of two successful nonprofit women’s sports organizations and director of operations for the non-profit Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance. She would be the first women to hold the seat and first openly LGBTQ legislator in the state should she win in November.
Seale said she has worked with two different state legislatures over the past decade to successfully pass bipartisan legislation on women’s healthcare, impoverished populations, and energy efficiency and developing clean energy jobs.
The 168th District includes Chester Heights, Edgmont, Media, Middletown, Newtown, Thornbury, Upper Providence and part of Marple.
In the race to determine who will challenge incumbent state Sen. Tom McGarrigle, R-26 of Springfield, Delaware County Democrats selected Swarthmore Mayor Tim Kearney 9,800 to 6,547 over former Philadelphia prosecutor Tanner Rouse with approximately 98 percent of machines reporting in. Rouse added 1,203 votes in Chester County, but Kearney also picked up another 466 there with only one district still out.
Kearney, 57, is a 23-year resident of the county, father of two adult children and has been mayor of Swarthmore since 2014. He holds a bachelor’s of science degree in architecture from the Catholic University of America and a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.
STATE LEGISLATURE CONTESTED
160TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS Anton Andrew 1,791 Cathy Spahr 1,782
168TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS Kristin Seale 2,653 Philip Block 2,588
165TH DISTRICT REPUBLICANS Alex Charlton 4,473 Regina Sheerer 2,347
26th SENATE DEMOCRATS Tanner Rouse 7,749 Tim Kearney 10,266 An architect by trade, he runs CuetoKEARNEYdesign with his wife, Claudia Cueto, and is an adjunct assistant professor at Drexel University.
Keanrey said his major areas of concern are education spending reform, environmental protection, common sense gun control and getting in place a fair and balanced budget.
The 26th District includes Aldan, Clifton Heights, East Lansdowne, Glenolden, Marple, Media, Millbourne, Morton, Newtown, Prospect Park, Ridley Park, Ridley, Rutledge, Springfield, Swarthmore, Tinicum, Upper Darby and Upper Providence in Delaware County, as well as Easttown and Willistown in Chester County.