PA 151st House District Race Separated By 26 Votes At Last Count

HORSHAM, PA — In one of the more closely watched races from Election Day, Pennsylvania's 151st Legislative District contest appears to be neck and neck at this point, although there are still many outstanding mail-in and provisional ballots left to count.

At last check around 2 a.m. Wednesday morning, incumbent Republican State Rep. Todd Stephens had about a 26-vote advantage, but that number will change as the ballot counting process moves forward.

When the counting stopped early Wednesday morning, Stephens had 16,611 votes and his Democratic challenger Melissa Cerrato had 16,585 votes.

The race was closely watched, as Stephens is one of only three Republicans left representing Montgomery County in the state House.

Montgomery County was a once red suburban Philadelphia collar county that is now blue after a surge in Democratic Party registrations due to changing demographics and migration from folks coming from solidly blue Philadelphia.

Stephens bills himself as a truly independent member of the legislature who is considered to be more moderate than many of his Republican counterparts.

He has supported things like gun control measures and a woman's right to abortion.

Cerrato, who previously worked for the office of State Rep. Liz Hanbidge, was a political newcomer who saw her Democratic values as more closely aligned with the shifting demographics in the 151st, which includes the townships of Horsham, Montgomery, Upper Dublin and the Borough of Ambler.

"This is truly a race where we will have to wait until every last ballot is counted to know," Cerrato told Patch in brief remarks around 6:30 Wednesday morning.

Cerrato cautioned drawing any conclusions about the outcome of the race given the outstanding ballots that needed to be counted.

The race for the 151st was considered extremely competitive and Patch will continue to bring you additional information on the outcome as results pour in from state election authorities.

More information about the race can be found here with Patch's previous coverage.