Joe Biden Endorses Chrissy Houlahan For Congress

WEST CHESTER, PA — Chrissy Houlahan, the Democratic challenger for the U.S. House of Representatives District 6 seat in Pennsylvania, has received an important endorsement from former Vice President Joe Biden. The endorsement further signifies the growing national relevance of the battle Chester County voters, as it is one of several key races this November that could help determine that balance of power in Congress.

Biden, a native of Scranton who now works with the University of Pennsylvania, has been engaged in the state's politics since leaving the White House. He recently campaigned for Conor Lamb in the U.S. House's 18th District special election.

"Chrissy Houlahan is precisely the type of public servant we need serving in Congress," Biden said in his endorsement Thursday. "She knows what it takes to create good paying jobs with dignity and ensure employees have access to healthcare benefits and paid family leave."

Houlahan is facing incumbent Republican Rep. Ryan Costello in a race that has grown even more competitive given the recent redrawing of the state's Congressional maps, which were deemed so gerrymandered as to be unconstitutional by the state's Supreme Court. The 6th District now includes all of Chester County in a much more geometrically-friendly shape, and also includes the Democratic stronghold of the city of Reading, something Costello didn't have to contend with in winning his last two elections.

The race was recently described as a "toss up" by The Cook Political Report.

Costello handily defeated challenger Mike Parrish in 2016, winning 57 percent of the vote to Parrish's 42 percent. He beat Manan Trivedi in 2014 in his first run at the office by a similar tally, 56 percent to 44 percent.

In a statement, Houlahan praised Biden and cast herself as a candidate to fix "broken government."

"I am honored to receive the support of former Vice President Joe Biden, a true public servant who has always fought for middle class and working families," she said. "Our government is broken and we need more leaders who are willing to put their constituents ahead of political interests."

Given the investment of the national Democratic platform in the 6th District race, it will be interesting to note how involved national Republican figures become in Costello's campaign. The moderate Costello has had a more fraught relationship with President Trump, as he was hesitant to endorse him during the 2016 campaign and has since advocated for more centrist positions, such as leading a Republican coalition in the fight against climate change. Costello also voted on "no" on multiple Republican healthcare proposals to replace Obamacare, though his policy positions still set him in opposition with left-leaning voters.

According to an analysis by FiveThirtyEight, Costello does vote in line with Trump 93 percent of the time, but is predicted to only publicly agree with him about 66 percent of the time.

Houlahan has also received endorsements from U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and local U.S. Reps. Brendan Boyle and Dwight Evans, among others.

Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images