Pa. Democratic Congressman Conor Lamb wins in 17th House District

Lamb became a star in 2018 when he won two races in two districts that had been hostile to Democrats.

• The Associated Press
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  The Associated Press (AP) is a U.S.-based not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City.

(Pittsburgh) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb has won a second full term in Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District in the Pittsburgh area.

Lamb beat Republican Sean Parnell after The Associated Press called the race Saturday. Lamb declared victory late Wednesday, but the AP had yet to call the race at the time.

Lamb became a Democratic star in 2018 when he won two races in two districts that had been hostile to Democrats. One was a special election in a district President Donald Trump won by 20 percentage points and a general election in a redrawn district against a three-term incumbent.

Seen as a crucial link for the Democratic Party to hang to its historic relationship with influential blue-collar unions in steel and coal country, he said he was confident in declaring victory outside late Wednesday, flanked by posters that said “We did it” and “You did it.”

Speaking at a Steamfitters union hall, Lamb said Americans must attack climate change, heal the county’s bitter divisions and use government as a force for good.

“We are the majority and we proved that again tonight,” Lamb said. “We can demand that our leaders respect each other and the people that they represent. We can demand that they tell the truth and we can demand that they put working people and the men and women of our unions ahead of special interests.”

All of Pennsylvania’s 18 members of Congress sought reelection, and in early results at least 16 won — Republicans Mike Kelly, Scott Perry, John Joyce, Brian Fitzpatrick, Fred Keller, Guy Reschenthaler, Glenn Thompson, Lloyd Smucker and Dan Meuser; and Democrats Lamb, Mike Doyle, Dwight Evans, Mary Gay Scanlon, Chrissy Houlahan, Brendan Boyle and Madeleine Dean.