Pennsylvania special election too close to call, in setback for Donald Trump

It wasn’t clear who won the special election for Pennsylvania’s 18th congressional district on Tuesday night. With Democrat Conor Lamb maintaining a narrow lead of 847 votes over Republican Rick Saccone with 99% of precincts reporting, the result could still go either way.

However, it was clear who lost the election: Donald Trump.

Saccone ran as an extension of Trump in a district the US president won by 20 points in 2016. He said he would be “Trump’s wingman” in Washington and touted himself as “Trump before Trump”. Saccone appeared with Trump in a rally only days before the election and held campaign events with two of the president’s children as well as a number of administration officials.

The photo finish in such a deep red district made clear how much Trump’s standing has fallen since 2016 and gives Democrats increased optimism for November’s midterm elections.

Some voters cast their ballot based on Trump. Outside a polling place in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, Joe Morgan told the Guardian: “I approve of the way the president is trying to put the country in a better spot and I think voting Republican will help him do that.”

In contrast, another voter, Paul Kane, told the Guardian he voted for Lamb because “Trump’s an asshole”.

Three counties have yet to count absentee ballots, delaying any final result. The vote for Libertarian candidate Drew Miller was larger than than the margin between Lamb and Saccone – despite Miller receiving less than 1% of the vote.

Source: theguardian