Matt Cartwright Wins 17th District Seat

Matt Cartwright, a Scranton area attorney and political newcomer, is Northampton County's newest congressman.

Cartwright, a Democrat, will represent Pennsylvania's newly created 17th district, which includes the Easton and Nazareth areas. 

With 50 percent of precincts reporting, Cartwright had picked up 63 percent of the vote to Republican challenger Laureen Cummings' 36 percent, according to the Associated Press. 

In Northampton County, with 33 percent of precincts reporting, Cartwright was leading Cummings 56 percent to 43 percent, according to unofficial results.

Cummings, a nurse and the owner of a home health care service, is the founder of the Scranton Tea Party and had advocated a national sales tax, or "fair tax," during their race. 

Cartwright, 51, said he would open an office in downtown Easton, the Morning Call's Adam Clark tweeted Tuesday night.

"Your new congressman will not forget you in Northampton County," Cartwright said.

The 17th district was created last year by redistricting and includes six counties: Northampton, Monroe, Carbon, Luzerne, Lackawanna and Schuylkill.

In Northampton, it includes the Easton area and a portion of the Slate Belt, as well as parts of Bethlehem and Bethlehem Township, Nazareth, Stockertown, Tatamy and Freemansburg.

In May, Cartwright defeated Congressman Tim Holden in the Democratic primary.