Seventeen days following the rescheduled date of the Pennsylvania primary, a Berks County dentist and farmer has declared victory in the 9th Congressional District.
Democrat Gary Wegman will face incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Daniel Meuser in November. Wegman had competed against Laura Quick to become the party’s nominee. Quick conceded to her opponent on Friday.
The commonwealth’s election was moved from April 28 to June 2 due to fears of individuals spreading and contracting the coronavirus. The race was too close to call throughout the past two weeks.
Todd Zimmerman, the co-chair for Gary Wegman for Congress, recently explained that both campaigns wanted to wait until mail-in ballots and provisional and military ballots were counted. Both candidates were holding out for final counts mostly from Luzerne County.
Wegman’s camp said they think he won by 766 votes.
The 9th Congressional District is located in parts of Carbon, Columbia, Lebanon, Montour, and Schuylkill counties, as well as parts of Berks, Luzerne, and Northumberland counties.
Wegman’s campaign released the following statement:
“Wegman is a lifelong resident of Berks County who is running for Congress because “he believes that we can’t afford the “politics as usual” that has led to the gridlock and bad ideas in Washington — ideas that have ignored and left behind the people in our region while politicians and special interests have prospered.”
As a 36-year medical professional and a small business owner, Wegman is highlighting the rising cost of prescription medications and health insurance, as well as the need for infrastructure investment and support for 9th District agricultural communities.
When asked for comment, Wegman said that he is “humbled and honored at the support that [he] received during the election. The people of the 9th District are looking for real solutions to the real issues that they face--not more politics of division. [He is] looking forward to working with our entire community to bring living wage jobs and affordable healthcare to hard-working Americans.”
READ MORE
Biden visits Philly suburbs, calls on Trump to ‘wake up’ to havoc caused by virus
Challenger to longtime Philadelphia lawmaker James Roebuck declares victory
Joe Biden holds narrow lead over President Trump in Pa., new poll finds