Ciresi

seat for the second time Tuesday night amidst another “blue wave” of Democratic votes.

In 2012, he lost to Democrat Mark Painter who rode a wave of party-line votes for Barrack Obama’s reelection. Quigley won the seat back two years later.

But this time he lost to Democrat Joe Ciresi who challenged him unsuccessfully in a close race two years ago and who has been active in the district every since, itching for a rematch.

According to unofficial and incomplete results posted by Montgomery County Tuesday night, Ciresi was ahead by 55 percent to Quigley’s 44 percent.

“Trappe went blue,” said one amazed volunteer who was delivering poll numbers from the usually reliably Republican voting district.

“This has been almost a four-year journey with almost everyone in this room,” he told supporters in Pottstown Tuesday night. “None of you left my side.”

“You believed in my when sometimes I didn’t believe in myself. You walked with me when sometimes I didn’t want to walk. You yelled at me when I needed it,” Ciresi said.

“I ran for this community and for the vast issues we have here. I look forward to serving and seeing our communities become what they should be.”

The 146th District is comprised of Limerick, Lower Pottsgrove and Perkiomen townships, and the boroughs of Royersford, Trappe, along with the eastern precincts in Pottstown.

147th House Dist.

Incumbent Republican Marcy Toepel, on the other hand, seems to have survived a challenge from Democratic challenger Josh Camson, according to early returns.

With 61 percent of the precincts reporting in, Toepel was ahead by 56 percent to 43 percent for Camson. Should that trend continue, she will have won a fourth term.

The 147th District in Montgomery County includes the townships of Douglass, Lower Frederick, Lower Salford, Marlborough, New Hanover, Upper Frederick, Upper Pottsgrove, Upper Salford and West Pottsgrove. The district also includes the boroughs of Green Lane and Schwenksville.

26th House Dist.

Incumbent Republican Tim Hennessey, a 25-year veteran of the state legislature seems to have been another survivor.

With 97 percent of the precincts counted, Hennessey was ahead of his challenger — Democrat Pam Hacker, 58, a construction electrician from East Vincent — by 55 percent to

EVAN BRANDT — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Democrat Joe Ciresi celebrates his win Tuesday night after unseating incumbent Republican Tom Quigley for the 146th Dist. seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.