Election Results

US Senate 56 D to 40 R with 3 leaning R and 1 leaning D (D pick-up of at least 5)

US House 259 D to 175 R (D pick-up of 23)

PA Senate 30 R to 20 D (R pick-up of 1)
PA House 104 D to 99 R (D pick-up of 2)

1.) OBAMA CARRIES KEYSTONE STATE; WINS PRESIDENCY. Barack Obama will be
the 44th President of the United States of America after winning the Electoral College vote by a
commanding 338 to 157 Electoral College margin. Obama was the fifth consecutive Democrat
candidate to win Pennsylvania's electoral votes, Obama defeated John McCain in Pennsylvania
to win the state's 21 electoral votes by a 55% to 44% margin. Obama won huge margins in
Philadelphia County, Allegheny County, and the suburban counties (Bucks, Chester,
Montgomery, Delaware) to help carry him to victory.

2.)DEMOCRATS INCREASE CONGRESSIONAL MARGINS. As was widely expected,

Democrats have increased the size of their majorities in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House.

U.S. Senate: As of press time, Democrats picked up at least five (5) Senate seats, including:
Colorado (Mark Udall won open seat); New Hampshire (Jean Shaheen defeated John Sununu);
New Mexico (Tom Udall won open seat); North Carolina (Kay Hagan defeated Elizabeth Dole);
and Virginia (Mark Warner won open seat).

This gives the Democrats 56 seats or four short of a filibuster-proof Senate. However, results are
still unclear in the following states where Republicans lead but by razor slim margins and these
races have not yet been called:
Alaska (D - Mark Begich (47%) challenging R - Ted Stevens (48%)); Stephens was
found guilty last month on corruption charges after he failed to properly report gifts
worth more than $250,000. But even if he wins, he could still be forced from office.
If he resigned, Alaska's governor would be forced to call a special election to
replace him and many have speculated that Mrs Palin might use the opportunity to
throw her own hat into the ring.
Minnesota (D - Al Franken challenging R - Norm Coleman with Coleman leading by 438
votes in the latest tally. Minnesota State law mandates a recount in close elections
like this) Results won’t be official for several weeks;
Oregon (D - Jeff Merkley (48%) challenging R - Gordon Smith (46%)); and
Georgia (Jim Martin challenging Senator Saxby Chambliss which may not be decided
until a December 2 run-off if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote.
Current count gives Chambliss 49.8%).

The make-up of the Senate will have at least 54 Democrats and 2 Independents (Bernie Sanders;
Joe Lieberman -- both of whom currently caucus with the Democrats), but -- barring the sweep of
the four undecided remaining races -- will fall short of the 60 votes necessary for cloture. (Of
course, some Republicans might occasionally vote with Democrats to cut off debate.)

U.S. House: At this time, it appears Democrats have picked up at least 23 seats in the House
(according to MSNBC), in doing so increasing their majority to 259 to 175. In Pennsylvania,
Republican Congressman Phil English was defeated by Democrat challenger Kathy Dahlkemper
in the 3rd District by a margin of 51.5% to 48.5%. English was seeking an eighth term in
Congress. All remaining Pennsylvania incumbents we re-elected, including Paul Kanjorski and
John Murtha. In the 5th Congressional seat vacated by Congressman John Peterson, Republican
Glenn Thompson held the seat for the Republican Party.

3.) CORBETT RE-ELECTED ATTORNEY GENERAL BY SOLID MAJORITY.

Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett was re-elected by a margin of 52% to 46% over
Democrat John Morganelli. Green Party candidate Marakay Rogers took 2% of the vote.
Corbett's victory continues the dominance of the GOP in winning the office of Attorney General
every election since it became an elective office in Pennsylvania in 1980. The race for Governor
in 2010 begins … uh, today.

4.) WAGNER WINS SECOND TERM. Democrat Auditor General Jack Wagner easily won
re-election to a second term by defeating Republican Chet Beiler 60% to 37%. Libertarian Betsy
Summers received 3% of the vote. Did we mention the gubernatorial election?

5.) MCCORD CRUISES IN STATE TREASURER'S RACE. In the open state Treasurer's
seat race, Democrat Rob McCord defeated Republican Tom Ellis by a 56% to 42% margin.
Libertarian Berlie Etzel received 2% of the vote.

6.) STATE SENATE REMAINS IN GOP CONTROL. The Pennsylvania State Senate
remains the lone bastion of GOP dominance in the Keystone State as Republicans picked up the
47th District seat of retiring Democrat Senator Jerry LaValle to increase their majority to 30-20.
Republican Elder Vogel, Jr. defeated Democrat Jason Petrella in the 47th District (Beaver Co)
57% to 43%. Both parties defended all of their seats in the remaining races. Closest among them
were Kim Ward's victory over Anthony Bompiani in the 39th Senate District (Westmoreland Co)
open seat (Regola) and Senator Jeff Piccola's narrow re-election over Democrat Judy Hirsh in the
15th Senate District (Harrisburg).

7.) DEMOCRATS MAINTAIN CONTROL OF STATE HOUSE. The Pennsylvania House

will again be controlled by Democrats, who have tentively gained two seats to expand their
majority to 104 to 99. Democrats picked up the following seats:

House District 13 (Hershey seat): Tom Houghton (47%) defeats John Lawrence (46%)
House District 31 (Steil seat): Steve Santarsiero (53%) defeats Pete Stainthorpe (47%)
House District 70: Matthew Bradford (51%) defeats Representative Jay Moyer (49%)
House District 83 (Cappelli seat): Rick Mirabito (58%) defeats Dave Huffman (42%)
House District 157 (Rubley seat): Paul Drucker (51%) defeats Guy Ciarrocchi (49%)
House District 170 (Kenney seat): Brendan Boyle (59%) defeats Matt Taubenberger (41%)

Meanwhile, Republicans picked up the following four seats:

House District 15: Jim Christiana (52%) defeats Representative Vince Biancucci (48%)
House District 57 (Tangretti seat): Tim Krieger (52%) defeats John Boyle (48%)
House District 75: Matthew Gabler (53%) defeats Representative Dan Surra (47%)
House District 142: Frank Farry bested Democratic Rep. Chris King in Bucks County’s
142nd District with 51 percent of the votes and about a 1,000-vote lead