Updates, 8:39 p.m.
The first results are in for the 61st districts, and it's entirely mail-in ballots. Mail-ins are usually Democratic-heavy, so Hanbidge's early lead is not a surprise, though it's a huge gap for Illingworth to make up as residents await in-person precincts to report.
Original story:
Democrats hope to secure the 61st district for a fifth straight election in 2026 on Tuesday night, as State Rep. Liz Hanbidge faces Republican challenger Angela Illingworth.
Polls closed at 8 p.m.
Live results will be posted here as they come in to the Montgomery County Board of Elections.
Check back to Patch throughout the evening for the latest updated totals.
Like many other nearby state legislative seats in suburban Montgomery and Chester counties, the 61st has progressed from a longtime safely Republican district to an increasingly blue Democratic stronghold.
And like so many of those other districts, Rep. Hanbidge came into power on the "blue wave" of 2018.
The lawyer and local children's advocate is challenged by Republican small business owner Angela Illingworth.
Below is a glance at the increasing margin in favor of Democrats in this district since 2018, despite big Republican wins statewide in 2024 and other years.
From 2,400 to 7,100, 8,300, and almost 9,000 last year.
And just like other districts, the electoral behavior of the 61st has not changed in a bubble. Changing demographics, new development, and increasing population have brought a more left-leaning suburban population to the region.
Before the 2018 shift, Rep. Harper had held the seat for the GOP for 18 years.
The 61st includes Lower Gwynedd, North Wales, Towamencin, Upper Gwynedd, and parts of Whitpain.
The population of the 61st is 63,924, according to the latest census data.
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