This story was updated at 10:22 p.m.
Republican candidate Rick Saccone has conceded the race for Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District to Democrat Conor Lamb.
“Just got off the phone with my opponent, @RickSaccone4PA, who congratulated me & graciously conceded last Tuesday’s election,” Lamb said in a tweet Wednesday evening. “I congratulate Mr. Saccone for a close, hard-fought race & wish him the best.”
“Ready to be sworn in & get to work for the people of #PA18,” he added.
Just got off the phone with my opponent, @RickSaccone4PA, who congratulated me & graciously conceded last Tuesday’s election. I congratulate Mr. Saccone for a close, hard-fought race & wish him the best.
Ready to be sworn in & get to work for the people of #PA18.
— Conor Lamb (@ConorLambPA) March 21, 2018
Saccone later put out a statement on the concession.
Republican Rick Saccone announces concession to Conor Lamb in Pennsylvania 18th congressional district special election in statement. pic.twitter.com/FremjbVjE6
— NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) March 22, 2018
The concession comes more than a week after the special election took place in the district that includes a large swath of southwest Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh suburbs.
The contest, which took place last Tuesday, was close. A recent latest tally showed Saccone trailing Lamb by about 700 votes, as some provisional and military ballots were still being counted.
Though Lamb declared victory on the night on the contest, the Republicans had refused to give in. Because this was not a statewide election, the close race didn’t qualify for an automatic recount, but a legal challenge or petition were other options being examined.
Saccone had the backing of President Trump, who earlier this month appeared at a rally near Pittsburgh with Saccone.
Trump, who won the district by 20 points in 2016, addressed the race on Tuesday at a Republican fundraiser in Washington, saying Saccone “didn’t quite make it,” even though Saccone had not yet conceded the race.
“It was really close,” Trump told the attendees. “We went in there. They were down. Good man, Rick Saccone. Good man. And didn’t quite make it.”
Lamb opposed the GOP’s massive tax reform effort last year and groups like the the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC devoted to preserving and strengthening the Republican majority in the House, released ads accusing Lamb of being “too liberal.”
However, Lamb ran as a moderate Democrat and has challenged Democratic leadership by saying he would not back House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., if he were elected to Congress.
On Tuesday, Lamb filed for re-election in a separate district in Pennsylvania because the congressional districts maps have been adjusted.
As a result, Lamb will run in Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District in November. Republican Rep. Keith Rothfus currently represents the district.
