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Race too close to call with Trump-backed Republican Rick Saccone and Democrat Conor Lamb in virtual tie Pennsylvania election: Race too close to call with Trump-backed Rick Saccone and Democrat Conor Lamb in virtual tie
(35 minutes later)
The results of highly anticipated special election in Pennsylvania are too close to call, as an outsider Democrat tries to edge out a Trump-supporting Republican in what was thought to be a solidly red district. The result of highly anticipated special election in Pennsylvania are too close to call, as an outsider Democrat tries to edge out a Republican backed by Donald Trump in a district the president won by 20 points in 2016.
Democrat Conor Lamb and Republican state Representative Rick Saccone are battling for the US House seat in Pennsylvania's 18th district, in what many have billed as a referendum on the GOP’s ability to hold its House majority in November. Democrat Conor Lamb and Republican state Representative Rick Saccone are battling for the US House seat in Pennsylvania's 18th district, in what many have billed as a race that would give a strong hint about  the Republican Party’s ability to hold its majority in both cambers of Congress in midterm elections in November. 
Though the district voted overwhelmingly for President Donald Trump by 20 per cent in 2016, Mr Lamb and Mr Saccone candidates were neck-in-neck as votes poured in on Tuesday night. While Mr Lamb has tried to play down the idea of the race being a referendum on the president, there is no doubt that with the way Mr Saccone has courted supporters of - and also received an endorsement from - Mr Trump, any loss will be a blow to the current White House incubent.
Mr Lamb started the night with a strong lead over his opponent, which narrowed significantly over the course of the evening. He pulled strength from the liberal Allegheny county, where he lead Mr Saccone by more than 10,000 votes. But with 99 per cent of precincts reporting – and 6,000 absentee ballots still unread – the Democrat lead at some points by less than 1,000 votes. Though the district voted overwhelmingly for Mr Trump, Mr Lamb and Mr Saccone candidates were neck-in-neck with more than 99 per cent of the votes counted and the final votes likely to be tallied in the morning. 
Two counties – Greene and Washington – said they would not count their absentee ballots until Wednesday. Mr Lamb started the night with a strong lead over his opponent, which narrowed significantly over the course of the evening. He pulled strength from the liberal Allegheny county, where he lead Mr Saccone by more than 10,000 votes. But with almost all precincts reporting – and 6,000 absentee ballots still unread – the Democrat lead was around 800 votes out of more than 220,000.
Mr Saccone and Mr Lamb are competing for the seat vacated by Republican Representative Tim Murphy, who resigned amid a personal scandal in October. The district itself won’t last past the midterms in 2018 – the current Pennsylvania map was recently struck down by a court for being biased toward Republicans. But the race remains a powerful symbol for what could happen in the midterms. Two counties – Greene and Washington – said they would likely count their absentee ballots until Wednesday. While there is no mandatory requirement for a recount, the result will likely be easily within the range where wither campaign could request, and pay for, one to be conducted.
Mr Saccone and Mr Lamb are competing for the seat vacated by Republican Representative Tim Murphy, who resigned amid a personal scandal in October. The district itself will last past the midterms in 2018 – the current Pennsylvania map was recently struck down by a court for being biased towards Republicans. But the race remains a powerful symbol for what could happen in the midterms.
Signalling the importance of the race, Mr Saccone rallied the full force of the White House to his side in the weeks before the election, making appearances with everyone from Vice President Mike Pence to Mr Trump’s son, Don Jr.Signalling the importance of the race, Mr Saccone rallied the full force of the White House to his side in the weeks before the election, making appearances with everyone from Vice President Mike Pence to Mr Trump’s son, Don Jr.
Mr Trump himself praised the candidate in a last-minute rally in Pennsylvania this weekend, calling him “a very fine human being”. Mr Saccone said in an election-day interview that he hoped to be the president’s “wingman” in Washington.Mr Trump himself praised the candidate in a last-minute rally in Pennsylvania this weekend, calling him “a very fine human being”. Mr Saccone said in an election-day interview that he hoped to be the president’s “wingman” in Washington.
But it was unclear on Tuesday night whether tying himself to the president’s coattails would help the representative beat Mr Lamb, a Marine veteran and former prosecutor who ran an outsider Democratic campaign. But it was unclear on Tuesday night whether tying himself to the president’s coattails would help the representative beat Mr Lamb, a Marine veteran and former prosecutor who ran an outsider campaign as a moderate Democrat.
Perhaps in an attempt to appeal to the Trump voters in Pennsylvania's 18th, Mr Lamb has repeatedly claimed the election was not about the president, but about local issues. He also steered clear of traditional Democratic issues like gun control, and expressed support for Mr Trump’s tariff plan.Perhaps in an attempt to appeal to the Trump voters in Pennsylvania's 18th, Mr Lamb has repeatedly claimed the election was not about the president, but about local issues. He also steered clear of traditional Democratic issues like gun control, and expressed support for Mr Trump’s tariff plan.
The candidate surged in the polls last month, after an impressive round of fundraising in which he raked in $3.3m compared to Mr Saccone’s $703,000. Outside Republican groups rushed to make up the difference, flooding the district with $10m in funding. It remained to be seen whether their efforts paid off.The candidate surged in the polls last month, after an impressive round of fundraising in which he raked in $3.3m compared to Mr Saccone’s $703,000. Outside Republican groups rushed to make up the difference, flooding the district with $10m in funding. It remained to be seen whether their efforts paid off.