Historic Win For State Democratic Candidates In Bucks County

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — County Democratic leaders are calling the results of Tuesday’s General Election in Bucks County an historic victory and a repudiation of Republican extremism.

“There was talk of a red wave, but that red wave wound up crashing into a blue wall,” said re-elected State Senator Steve Santarsiero, the chairman of the Bucks County Democratic Committee, during a post election press conference on Wednesday in Newtown.

“And that wall of blue was made up of Democrats, Independents and moderate Republicans who said in a loud voice no to extremism,” said Santarsiero. “No to the extremism of (Republican gubernatorial candidate) Doug Mastriano. No to the extremism of the Republican Party that doubted and denied the outcome of the election two years ago. No to the extremism of the Republican Party that sought to take away a woman’s right to an abortion. And no to the extremism of the Republican Party that’s not working toward solving the problems of every day working people.”

Santarsiero said he believes that when every state race is decided Democrats will have won an unprecedented six out of 10 state house seats in Bucks County.

“We have never been close to that,” he said. “Our high water mark before was four seats.”

Santarsiero was joined at the press conference by re-elected State Reps. Perry Warren (D-31), Tina Davis (D-141) and John Galloway (D-140), newly-elected representatives Tim Brennan (D-29) and Brian Munroe (D-144) and Mark Moffa whose race remains to close to call in the 142nd.

“The 142nd race is incredibly tight right now, but we’re going to make sure every vote is counted and I’m confident that when every vote is counted Mark Moffa is going to be state representative,” said Santarsiero.

“This is a historic moment for us and it puts us now in a great position going into 2023 to hold the courthouse,” said Santarsiero. “And we are going to be playing for every municipal seat and every school board seat next year,” he said.

The 142nd district results could also tip the balance of power in the state house for the first time in 12 years to Democratic Party control.

According to Santarsiero, a Moffa win would give the Democrats majority control of the House at 102 members. “There’s another seat in Montgomery County, which I believe we’re also going to win, which will make it 103,” said Santarsiero.

The state senator said while there’s no doubt having a strong gubernatorial candidate like Josh Shapiro at the top of the ticket helped the down ballot races, the message the Democrats delivered during the campaign also contributed to Tuesday’s results.

“This is the party that created Social Security. This is the party that created Medicare. This is the party that created the Affordable Care Act. And this is the party in Pennsylvania that has stood up to make historical investments in education, our roads and bridges, and putting people to work. We have a story to tell and our candidates and all of us have told that story.

“The fact that the voters rejected the Republican extremism is a big part of it, but it’s also because we are offering something that can make a difference in people’s lives and I think they see that,” said Santarsiero

Moffa said he personally knocked on more than 10,000 doors in the district during his campaign and “worked hard” to win. “It was a strong grassroots effort. I talked to Democrats, Independents and Republicans. I heard a lot of the rejection of the extremism (on the right) and an interest in what we (the Democrats) are doing.”

Doylestown Borough Councilman Tim Brennan, who turned the newly realigned 29th district blue on Tuesday with his win, said the people he talked to “want a functional government. They want government to get things done for them.

“When they see Harrisburg doing Constitutional amendments in the middle of budget season to dabble in conspiracy theories and taking away a woman’s right to chose, they are rejecting that,” he said. “We had something coming from the other side that just isn’t what people want. It’s not Main Street values. It’s not Bucks County values. It doesn’t represent what the voters want.”

Brian Munroe, a moderate Democrat who appears to have defeated incumbent Republican Brian Polinchock in the 144th district, added that people in his district “just wanted a lack of division.”