Moffa Concedes 142nd Legislative District Election To Hogan

Updated: 11:35 a.m. Friday

LEVITTOWN, PA —The 142nd Legislative District race is over, at least unofficially.

Democrat Mark Moffa has announced that he is conceding the election to Republican Joseph Hogan in a back-and-forth battle that also had the race gain statewide attention for being one of two that could have decided control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

"I am conceding the race for State Representative in the 142nd legislative district," Moffa announced late Thursday night. "While we stand to further narrow Joe Hogan's current 53-vote lead, the ballots remaining in contention do not appear to be enough for me to pull ahead. I want to congratulate Mr. Hogan and wish him well in Harrisburg. I called him this evening to concede, and he kindly returned my call to accept the concession."

Hogan responded to Moffa's announcement with a statement he sent to Patch Friday morning:

"Earlier (Thursday) evening, Mark called me personally to concede the race. I want to thank Mark and his team for running a spirited and highly effective campaign. Democracy is better when voters have a choice between determined and highly qualified candidates. The results of this election have made it clear that the voters of the 142nd were faced with such a choice."

"This last week was a highly stressful rollercoaster of ups and downs," Hogan said. "An experience that both of us, and our families understand. I wish Mark and his loved ones the best."

Hogan, in his statement, said that he was looking forward to working with Moffa and others in "in improving the lives of each resident in the 142nd. There is much work ahead and many areas where we can find common ground and shared goals. I will strive to be a bridge builder."

Hogan thanked his supporters.

"You have bestowed upon me an opportunity of a lifetime and a responsibility that I do not take lightly. For those that supported Mark, I hope I can earn your support in the future and please know that I will have an open door for you," Hogan said.

Moffa stressed that votes are still unaccounted for. The Bucks County Board of Elections had scheduled a hearing Tuesday to decide challenges on 47 ballots.

"There are still votes to be counted next week, and I hope they will count," Moffa said. "I also vehemently object to the exclusion of "naked" mail-in and provisional ballots, as well as ballots with missing or incorrect dates, as these missteps by voters and judges of elections are immaterial. We are disenfranchising voters with these irrelevant rules, and this needs to change."

The Bucks elections board met Tuesday and rejected more than 1,000 votes.

Moffa said there is pending federal litigation involving the ACLU and others in Western Pennsylvania on some of these issues. "I hope the rulings fall on the side of valid voters having fewer obstacles in their way."

The 142nd Legislative District race was one of two that could have decided control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, with a Democrat victory giving the party majority control of the House at 102 members after more than a decade of being the minor party.

That came about late Thursday when Democrat Melissa Cerrato claimed victory in the race for Pennsylvania's 151st Legislative District in Montgomery County.

"I want to congratulate my fellow Democratic candidates statewide, who defied all odds and expectations, and even without the 142nd District, took back the majority in the state House of Representatives," Moffa said. "The Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee and the Bucks County Democratic Committee did a phenomenal job. The fact that the promised Red Wave hit a Blue Wall in our state is largely due to the efforts of the HDCC and the BCDC. Thank you."

As of Thursday afternoon, Hogan had 15,448 votes —or 49.99 percent —while Moffa had garnered 15,394 votes —or 49.81 percent —in unofficial results, the Bucks County Board of Elections reported.

Final election results must be certified by Nov. 28.

"I am so proud of the campaign we ran," Moffa said. "We focused on the issues and not fabricated personal attacks, and voters responded positively. We talked to Republicans, Independents and Democrats about protecting women's rights and voting rights, public education and the environment, and making life more affordable for our families and seniors. Our message resonated with the voters, a humbling number of whom "split their ticket" to vote for me to make this race a virtual tie, after voting overwhelmingly for Republicans in the previous two races on the ballot."

The 142nd Legislative District consists of Penndel, Middletown Township, Langhorne, Langhorne Manor, Lower Southampton Township and parts of Northampton Township.