Democrat Conor Lamb claimed victory over Republican Rick Saccone in the Pennsylvania 18th special election, marking the second time since December Democrats pulled off a stunning upset deep in Trump country.
Lamb declared himself winner early Wednesday morning, telling supporters “we did it.” NBC News called the race for Lamb, reporting he held a 641-vote margin over Saccone.
Lamb’s apparent victory—although a recount is a real possibility, with Saccone not yet conceding the race—is another in a what may be a brewing blue movement in places President Donald Trump carried in 2016. The president won the district by 20 points in 2016. In Alabama, where Trump won by almost 29 points, Democrat Doug Jones won a special election for Senate.
Trump, who stumped for Saccone last weekend in a vitriolic speech, did not address Lamb’s victory.
Lamb’s congressional seat was vacated when pro-life Republican Tim Murphy resigned after it was revealed he pressured a woman into having an abortion.
Update 1:22pm CT, March 14: With 100 percent of precincts reporting and absentee ballots counted, Lamb officially pulled off the upset, winning by just 627 votes.
