Incumbent Friel Otten Projected Winner In PA's 155th District

This story was updated at 1 p.m. Sunday. Watch for more updates.

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — The Pennsylvania House Democratic Committee announced Wednesday night Danielle Friel Otten (D-155th) as the projected winner of PA's 155th House District seat.

By Friday night's updated vote count, Friel Otten was ahead by 11 percentage points and had 5,287 more votes than Republican candidate Michael Taylor.

Chester County announced Friday night it had finished counting all ballots in its possession and would on Monday morning resume reviewing and tabulating "additional pre-canvass, canvass, computation, and provisional ballots."

Friday's count and update by Chester County's elections office gave Friel Otten had 55 percent of the counted votes, with a total of 24,792.

Republican challenger Michael Taylor had 44 percent of counted votes, with 19, 505 tallied for him, in Friday night's county report.

"I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve for 2 more years in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as your representative," Friel Otten said on social media after the announcement on Wednesday.

"My gratitude is unending. So many volunteers, my incredible campaign team, my legislative staff who work tirelessly day in and day out to help our neighbors, are the heartbeat of each and every success. I owe it all to the people who continue to show up to do the work to build our community power," she said.

Friel Otten grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from West Chester University. She worked in executive management in hospitality and says she came to understand the concerns of local businesses through this work. She's a mother and an advocate for environmental concerns in Chester County. Friel Otten became concerned about the Mariner East 2 pipeline construction that was under construction very close to where her own children played.

The 155th Pennsylvania House District includes Marsh Creek State Park, where in August more than 8,000 gallons of drilling fluid was released into wetlands by Sunoco.

Taylor's campaign focused on moving "beyond partisanship to build a stronger tomorrow." His campaign page expressed a concern and call for unity in Chester County and nationwide.

Friel Otten posted on social media early Wednesday, "Thank you to everyone who voted either in person yesterday or by mail ballot, and to those who generously gave of themselves and their time to work or volunteer at the polls."

"Whether you voted in person, by mail, or at a county election office or drop box, provisionally or on a regular ballot, be assured that your state officials and Democratic legislators are working to ensure that every vote delivered timely and legally will be counted," she added.