2018 Election

A new poll from Muhlenberg College is giving Democrats reason to feel hopeful about their midterm chances in November.

Val DiGiorgio, the chair of the state Republican Party, said Republicans–including those running in the newly drawn 14th Congressional District–should refrain from attacking each other. But his party hasn't given up the fight against a new Congressional district map, even as voters prepare to cast ballots in those races next month.

A report released Monday suggests Democrats might have to temper their enthusiasm about climbing back to power during this year's midterm elections.

To win a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrats would need a tremendous electoral wave not seen in more than 40 years to overcome Republican advantages from gerrymandered districts in key states, according to an analysis from the Brennan Center for Justice.

Pennsylvania's Democratic governor wants legislation to let people register to vote on the day of elections and loosen the state's strict rules for absentee ballots.

Gov. Tom Wolf said Monday everyone who gets a license from the state Department of Transportation or signs up for a public service should be automatically registered to vote, unless they specifically opt out.

Wolf's wish list from the Republican-controlled Legislature also includes limits on how much donors can contribute to political candidates and improvements to how donations are reported.

Republican Rick Saccone conceded defeat to Democrat Conor Lamb on Wednesday night in a closely watched special election in Pennsylvania, more than a week after the end of a remarkable race that has shaken GOP confidence ahead of the November midterm elections.

Short answer = highly unlikely.

Democrat Conor Lamb declared victory early Wednesday morning in the special election to represent Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District, but Republican Rick Saccone hasn't conceded and the race is technically still too close to call.

So can Saccone make up Lamb's current 627-vote advantage?

Here’s the breakdown.

As Tuesday's special election ran into the early hours of Wednesday morning, Democrat Conor Lamb declared victory — though the race remained too close to officially call and Republican Rick Saccone had not conceded.

Follow 90.5 WESA's live blog throughout the day for continuing coverage of the District 18 special election. 

The final day of campaigning Monday before votes are cast in Western Pennsylvania's closely watched congressional election drew a visit by Donald Trump Jr. and lots of door-knocking all over the southwestern district where polls show a close race.

The Republican congressional candidate running in Pennsylvania's special election next week wants to be President Donald Trump's "wingman."

Republican state Rep. Rick Saccone embraced Trump as he faced reporters on Wednesday. He noted that the Republican president has been getting "beat up" recently.

Saccone said: "He needs help. He needs wingmen down there. I'm an old Air Force guy. I want to be one of his wingmen to help him implement that agenda."

The fight for the hearts and minds of America's labor unions is raging in western Pennsylvania, where Joe Biden has suddenly stopped smiling.

In the midst of a speech to boost Democrat Conor Lamb ahead of next week's special election, the former vice president shifts to his decades-long relationship with organized labor, which is now under attack.

Erika Strassburger made history Tuesday night as the first woman elected to represent Pittsburghers living in Oakland, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill and Point Breeze on Pittsburgh’s City Council with 64 percent of the vote.

Republican Shannon Edwards, 33, announced Wednesday that she’s seeking her party's nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle in a district that includes the city of Pittsburgh and surrounding neighborhoods.

"Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek is set to moderate a debate in this year's Pennsylvania governor's race.

Trebek will keynote Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry's annual dinner in October, which is scheduled to include the 45-minute debate.

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf will face off in November against the winner of May's Republican primary.

The 34th chamber dinner will be held Oct. 1 in Hershey. Trebek will talk about his more than three decades as a quizmaster.

Pennsylvania's high court issued a new congressional district map for the state's 2018 elections on its self-imposed deadline on Monday, potentially giving Democrats a boost in their quest to capture control of the U.S. House unless Republicans are able to stop it in federal court.

President Donald Trump's campaign says he'll hold a rally in Ambridge next week.

Tuesday marked the third time a senior Trump administration official dropped into Pittsburgh for 2018's first congressional election.

Ivanka Trump and Small Business Administration Administrator Linda McMahon met Tuesday in Mt. Lebanon with business owners and Republican state lawmakers where she touted tax-cutting legislation her father signed.

Sitting beside her was state Rep. Rick Saccone, the Republican running in March 13's special election to fill the seat left vacant by Republican Tim Murphy's resignation.

At its annual winter meeting Saturday, the Pennsylvania Republican Party endorsed York County state Senator Scott Wagner for governor.

The hat-tip gives Wagner a powerful new talking-point as he attempts to unseat Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.

Wagner had a strong lead in straw votes leading up to the endorsement—pulling 175 out of 317 nods from around the state.

 There are a few signs of progress, a week into the three-week period established by the state Supreme Court for lawmakers to produce a replacement congressional district map.

A leading environmental advocate in Pennsylvania's Legislature said he'll run for Congress to succeed the retiring U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Democratic state Rep. Greg Vitali of Delaware County announced Monday that he'll seek the party's nomination in a 7th District criticized as one of the nation's most gerrymandered districts.

House Republican Leader Dave Reed, who has represented part of Indiana County for 15 years, is considering running for Congress.