Rep. Scott Perry wins in close race against George Scott

(New Cumberland) — Voters are sending Republican Congressman Scott Perry, R-10, back to Washington for a fourth-term.

It’s the narrowest victory in Perry’s political career, thanks largely to the state’s new district map. Republicans won the other close congressional contests as well in the 1st, 11th and 16th districts.

Perry’s won previous races by 20 to 50 points. This time, he won by two — over Democrat George Scott.

Perry and Scott live several miles apart in York County, where Perry’s margin of victory was widest.

We caught up with Perry at his campaign’s victory party at Boomerang Bar and Grill in New Cumberland, across the street from Scott’s gathering at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center.

“We were outgunned, outspent, out-a lot of things,” Perry said. “But perseverance and hard work and faith and dedication really still mean something in America today. And this is evidence of that.”

Scott’s staff was emotional during his concession speech.

“The 10th Congressional District is far, far different from the [fourth] district that [Perry] has served for the last six years,” Scott said.

Scott, a Lutheran pastor, won Dauphin County (including dramatic dominance in some precincts that typically tend heavily Republican). Dauphin falls entirely into the 10th and features mainly urban and densely-populated suburban communities, some that were part of Perry’s former 4th district.

But across the Susquehanna River, the majority of voters went for Perry in the portion Cumberland County falling into the 10th — much of which is new territory.

And he ran away with 10th district precincts in York County, which includes the city of York, its suburbs and farms as far south as the Maryland border.

“Those people know me,” Perry said of his fellow Yorkers and prior/current constituents in the former fourth district. “They know that when I say something that’s what I’m going to do. … It’s not one story here and another story [in Washington D.C.]. I’m true to my word.”

Turnout was much higher than usual in Pennsylvania and nationally, fulfilling a widespread expectation despite primary turnout just a hair above the lackluster numbers typical of a midterm. In some 10th district precincts, Tuesday’s turnout surpassed rates for the last presidential election in 2016, according to poll workers.