[US Midterm Elections] Democrats Win Pennsylvania Governor Race in Toss-up District... Senate Race Remains Tight

Josh Shapiro Secures Victory by Double-Digit Margin
Back-and-Forth Senate Vote... "Outcome Difficult to Predict"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] In Pennsylvania, considered the biggest battleground in the U.S. midterm elections, the Democratic Party has secured victory in the gubernatorial race. However, the Senate race, which will determine the majority party in the Senate, remains too close to call.

According to CBS News on the 8th (local time), with over 83% of the votes counted in the Pennsylvania governor's race, Democratic candidate Josh Shapiro secured 54.6% of the vote, defeating Republican candidate Doug Mastriano, who received 43.5%, confirming his election.

Shapiro had previously shown a moderate stance on issues such as abortion rights and voting rights protection. CBS analyzed that solidifying his image as a moderate alternative leader, replacing Mastriano who mainly advocated far-right Christian nationalism, was the cornerstone of his victory. Mastriano had claimed in his campaign that "abortion is murder," and this hardline statement is believed to have significantly influenced female and moderate voters.

While the governor's race winner was confirmed early, the Senate race is, as expected, still fiercely contested. In the early stages, when votes from Pittsburgh, where Democratic supporters are concentrated, were counted all at once, Democratic candidate John Fetterman showed over 80% of the vote, but as counting progressed in outlying counties, the outcome became difficult to predict.

With about 64% of the votes counted, Democratic candidate John Fetterman holds 49.8%, and Republican candidate Mehmet Oz has 47.7%, resulting in a neck-and-neck race within a 2% margin. NBC News has also stated that it is too early to predict the winner.

Especially in the Pennsylvania Senate race, even after vote counting is complete, it is likely to take time to confirm the election results due to ongoing lawsuits over mail-in ballots. Both parties have filed lawsuits regarding the validity of mail-in ballots with date errors or omissions on the envelope exterior. Previously, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled, at the request of the Republicans, that mail-in ballots with date errors or omissions should not be counted.

As the election remains extremely close, the mail-in ballot issue is expected to have a significant impact on the election outcome. Pennsylvania has reported that out of 1.43 million requested mail-in ballots, 1.19 million were actually cast. Of these, 69% of voters are registered Democrats, while Republicans account for 21%. If the two parties continue their legal battles and sharp confrontations, it is expected that confirming the winner will be difficult until the lawsuits are resolved even after all votes are counted.