Dems Win Big In Philly Area, Setting Stage For Contentious 2020

PHILADELPHIA SUBURBS, PA — Democrats throughout the Philadelphia region were celebrating Wednesday morning, emboldened by several election victories that will place them in control of county government for the first time in decades.

Democratic candidates won county control in all four suburban Philadelphia counties, conforming to a nationwide trend that saw blue upsets, including in Kentucky, where a Democratic governor is poised to defeat the Republican incumbent. Democrats in Virginia also won control of the state government for the first time in decades.

Meanwhile, the mood among local GOP leaders was far from hopeful, with one prominent chairman saying it's time for the party to "chart a new path forward" in the Philadelphia region.

Indeed, with less than a year to go until the next presidential election, Republicans may have their work cut out for them in the Philadelphia suburbs, which are often called a bellwether in presidential elections.

Republicans, reflecting on the results, said they must adapt.

"Last night was very difficult for Republicans in Chester County," Rick Loughery, the Chairman of the Republican Committee of Chester County, said in a statement. "For our election to result in such a loss is impossible to comprehend after such an extraordinary effort from our committee, candidates and volunteers...It is clear that the changing political landscape of the Philadelphia suburbs requires that we begin to chart a new path forward."

In Delaware County, Democrats won all three seats on the County Council. It was the first time ever the party won each seat on that board. Sitting District Attorney, Republican Katayoun Copeland, was defeated by Democratic challenger Jack Stollsteimer.

Similar situations played out regionally, including in Bucks County, where Democrats took control of the county board for the first time in decades. Incumbent Democratic Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia came out on top, followed by State Rep. Gene DiGirolamo of Bensalem, who will be the lone Republican on the board.

Democratic candidate Bob Harvie, the Falls Township Board of Supervisors chairman, bested Republican board Chairman Robert Loughery, who trailed by just 665 votes. Loughery conceded the race at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

"Pop the cork. Bucks County turned Blue!," Bucks County Democrats said in a Wednesday morning social media update.

The blue wave extended to Chester County, where Democrats were projected to win two seats on the Board of Commissioners, flipping it blue for the first time in history. Education leader Marian Moskowitz and Downingtown Mayor Josh Maxwell won in decisive fashion, ousting incumbent Republican Terence Farrell, according to unofficial results. It was one of several huge victories for Democrats around Chester County Tuesday, as they swept every county-level race.

"Our efforts yesterday helped to show the strength of the people and their demand for open, transparent and responsible government," Chris Pielli, the projected winner of the Recorder of Deeds office in Chester County, said in a statement. "We never looked back or doubted our purpose and did what was not too long ago considered impossible. To date, this is our finest hour."

Deb Ryan, meanwhile, became the first woman and the first Democrat to ever win the district attorney's office in Chester County.

"I am deeply honored," Ryan, a former prosecutor in the DA's office, said in a statement Tuesday night. "Thank you for embracing the message of Victims First and Justice for All. I look forward to stepping into this role in January 2020. Until then, my humble gratitude."

No Democrat victory in Chester County had a greater margin than Ryan's. She defeated Michael Noone by just under 14,000 votes.

"I am so tired this morning, and for once in my life, I’m pretty speechless," said State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten (D-155), who won an upset of her own in Chester County in 2018. "There is quite literally a new sheriff in town."

Indeed, for the first time in nearly two decades, there will be a new sheriff in Chester County. Longtime Republican Sheriff Carolyn "Bunny" Welsh announced her retirement a year ago, giving a newcomer their first realistic shot to win the seat since she took office in 2000.

That new sheriff will be Democrat Fredda Maddox, a former Pennsylvania state trooper. Maddox defeated retired FBI agent Jim Fitzgerald by a tally of 73,072 to 65,837, unofficial results show

In Montgomery County, incumbent Democratic Commissioners Valerie Arkoosh and Ken Lawrence Jr. won huge victories, as expected. Republican Joe Gale held on to his minority seat, defeating Fred Conner by a small yet clear margin, unofficial results show.

The bigger surprise in Montgomery County was in the Montgomery Township Board of Supervisors race, where Democrats flipped two solidly Republican seats up for grabs, taking a 3-2 advantage on the board. Democrats also gained control of all five seats on the Upper Gwynedd Board of Commissioners, and took all six available seats on the North Penn School Board.

See more election coverage here:

• Dems Win Bucks Co. Board Of Commissioners Race
• Deb Ryan Becomes 1st Female, 1st Democrat DA In Chesco History
• Dems Take Control Of Chester County Board of Commissioners For The First Time In History
• Democrat Fredda Maddox Is Chester County's New Sheriff
• Dems Sweep North Penn School, Montgomery Twp Supervisor Races

With reporting from Patch staff writer Justin Heinze