Four local incumbents – one in the U.S. House and three in the state House – were all re-elected on Tuesday.
U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-2nd dist.) defeated Republican Jessica Arriaga, 80 percent to 19 percent. Boyle won every ward in the district, which includes all of the Northeast, parts of North Philadelphia and other areas of the city. As expected, Democrats took control of the House, meaning Boyle will chair the Budget Committee.
In state House races, winners were Reps. Martina White (R-170th dist.), Pat Gallagher (D-173rd dist.) and Joe Hohenstein (D-177th dist.).
White defeated Democrat Rob Gurtcheff, a fraud investigator for a health insurance company, with 58 percent of the vote in a district that includes Somerton, Parkwood and other areas of the Far Northeast.
White celebrated at Cannstatter’s and fielded a concession call from Gurtcheff.
“It was very nice,” she said.
White trailed in mail-in ballots, as Republicans usually do, but pulled ahead among people who voted on Tuesday.
“I’m very blessed to serve you for so long and another term,” said White, who was first elected in a 2015 special election. “The people of the district trust me to do what’s right and fight for them in Harrisburg.”
White will remain in the House minority, as Democrats expanded their majority, including ousting several incumbent suburban Republicans.
Republican City Committee chairman Vince Fenerty said White won, in part, because she and her office staff are hard workers who provide good constituent services.
“It was a bad Republican year, but Martina surpassed her challenger by a wide margin,” Fenerty said.
Gallagher defeated Republican Bill Griffin, a retired principal, with 66 percent of the vote. Gallagher won in the 41st, 64th and 65th wards, while Griffin took the 57th. The district is located east of Roosevelt Boulevard, generally from Tacony to Torresdale.
Hohenstein defeated Robyn Bird, who handles public relations and governmental affairs for Local 22, the firefighters and paramedics union, with 73 percent of the vote. Hohenstein won five of the six wards, with Bird taking the 45th. The district includes areas of Northwood, Port Richmond, Wissinoming, Tacony and Bridesburg.
Meanwhile, Gov. Josh Shapiro and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis were easily re-elected, winning 60 percent of the vote. Republicans Stacy Garrity and Jason Richey trailed with 39 percent, while Libertarians Ken Krawchuk and John Thomas took 1 percent. In Philadelphia, Shapiro took 89 percent of the vote.
State Sen. Tina Tartaglione was unopposed, as were state Reps. Sean Dougherty, Ed Neilson, Jason Dawkins, Jared Solomon and Anthony Bellmon.
Tartaglione was first elected in 1994, but has always served in the minority. Democrats, though, gained control of the Senate and will likely pass a bill long championed by Tartaglione to raise the minimum wage.
City voters also overwhelmingly passed two proposed charter changes. ••
