Dem challenger defeats 14-year incumbent English

Fourteen-year incumbent Phil English conceded the race at about 11:30 p.m.

STAFF REPORT

SHARON, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s 3rd and 4th congressional districts are sending Democrats to be their representatives in the U.S. House.

Fourteen-year Republican incumbent Phil English conceded the race in the 3rd District, and Democrat Kathy Dahlkemper gave her acceptance speech in Erie at about 11:30 p.m. By midnight, she was winning 51.7 percent to 48.3 percent, with 94 percent of the vote in.

In Mercer County, she beat English 52.24 percent to 47.56 percent, or 22,593 to 20,567 votes.

Dahlkemper looked ahead Tuesday night to what she hopes to accomplish in Congress.

“There are a number of very important issues,” she said.

“The economy is the No. 1 issue,” she said.

Making sure that “my children, all children in the region” have jobs is also critical, she said.

She said that green jobs in energy technology is the next area of growth, and that she’ll be a salesperson for the region to get those jobs here.

English said he conceded because he would have had to have won an extraordinary number of absentee ballots and remaining precincts.

“I think she deserved an opportunity to have a timely announcement,” he said. “I wish the new president and the new Congress well.

“This has been the great honor of my life, to do this for 14 years,” he said.

In the 4th District, U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, D-McCandless, is going back to his House seat after defeating Republican Melissa Hart. He won with 56.3 percent to 42.8 percent of the vote with 96 percent of precincts reporting.

“I am honored to once again have the opportunity to represent Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional District,” said Altmire. I will continue fighting for our veterans, working to improve our region’s economy, and helping to make America energy independent,” he said.

The election results were obviously disappointing for her, Hart said through a spokesperson. But she hopes that the new Congress can accomplish something, she said.