Paul Friel Defeats Shawn Blickley In PA's 26th Legislative District

Democrat Paul Friel has held on to his seat in the Pennsylvania legislature, defeating Republican challenger Shawn Blickley.

With all precincts reporting and just a small number of mail-in ballots to be counted, Friel led 19,614 votes to 15,348.

Friel represents the Phoenixville area.

Earlier updates

9:03 p.m.

Polls will be open until 10 p.m. at two locations in Chester County after a bomb threat at the Government Services building Tuesday night. That building houses polling locations, and is also where the county tabulates in-person ballots.

"Chester County election officials are redirecting voters who vote at the two polling places located at the Government Services Center to neighboring polling places where they will be able to cast their votes provisionally," Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell said in a statement.

No election results are yet available in any part of Chester County, and they could be delayed entirely until after the 10 p.m. closure.

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — Results are coming in shortly for one of the most fascinating elections in the Pennsylvania state legislature in 2024, featuring two successful businessmen: incumbent Democrat Paul Friel and challenging Republican Shawn Blickley.

Polls closed across Chester County at 8 p.m.

Check back with Patch throughout the evening for live results as they become available.

The 26th district is one of the most unusual and compelling in the legislature. It was long held by a Republican who won a series of close elections, but the incumbent Democrat, Friel, turned it blue by a convincing margin in 2022.

Unlike many other districts around the county and state, the seat has not always swayed with the prevailing current of that election. For example, Republican held the seat during widespread Democratic victories nationally and locally in 2012, 2014, and 2020, but lost it in 2022, when Republicans had a much better comparative showing.

The district

The 26th district covers Phoenixville, Spring City, East Vincent, East Pikeland, East Coventry, South Coventry, East Nantmeal, North Coventry, West Nantmeal, Elverson, and Warwick. While featuring some of Chester County's most populous municipalities, it also covers expansive rural areas and farmland, making for a unique district with competing interests that has never been solidly run by one party or guiding policy.

The 26th has 64,098 residents, according to Ballotpedia.

For full coverage of the election in Pennsylvania, go here.

Past results

Friel defeated longtime incumbent Republican Tim Hennessey as part of the "blue wave" in the 2022 midterms. He won 17,853 to 13,463, a sharp turnaround from 2020, when Hennessey, despite Republican losses nationally and locally, held on against Friel. That 2020 race was closer, with Hennessey carrying it in his first race against Friel, 19,769 to 17,180.

Hennessey won similarly close, roughly 2,000 vote elections over a different Democrat in 2018 and 2012. He ran unopposed in 2014 and 2016, making the Democratic victory in 2022 all the more unlikely.

The incumbent

Friel, 55, has been in office since the beginning of 2023. A native of Gilbertsville and graduate of Temple University, he is the former president of the Owen J. Roberts School Board, as well as the CEO and president of multiple businesses, including Swiss Farms, Saxby’s Coffee, and Agle Nutrition.

His challenger

Blickley, 52, is a native of Spring City and graduate of Jacksonville University, where he received an MBA. He served in the U.S. Navy for 23 years before becoming a farmer. This election marks his first foray into politics.

2024 Candidate Profile: Shawn Blickley For PA State Rep, 26th District