Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., praised Democrat Conor Lamb’s apparent success in flipping a long-held GOP seat in Pennsylvania Wednesday, hitting Republicans for failed attempts to nationalize the race.
Lamb, a 33-year-old Marine veteran and former assistant U.S. attorney, distanced himself from national Democrats early in his race to flip Pennsylvania’s 18th District. Despite attempts by Republicans to cast him as a liberal devoted to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Lamb kept the focus on his centrist policy positions.
Lamb also vowed to not vote for Pelosi to remain leader of the caucus if he were elected. Pressed on Lamb’s decision to come out against current party leadership, Crowley countered that the race had nothing to do with Pelosi.
“The attempt by Republicans to nationalize it was a failure,” Crowley said.
Crowley called the Republicans’ playbook of using Pelosi to turn voters against Democratic candidates, even those with zero connection to the leader, a “worn” tactic.
“The attempts to use Nancy Pelosi, it’s failing them, and I think, quite frankly, it’s sexist,” Crowley added.
Democrats claimed victory Wednesday, boasting of a coming blue wave, and pointing to the outcome in Pennsylvania as a “rejection” of President Trump.
Trump beat Hillary Clinton in the Pennsylvania district by 20 points in 2016. As of Wednesday morning, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, Lamb led by 641 votes. Democrats have declared victory, but Republican candidate Rick Saccone has yet to concede, waiting for all ballots to be counted before deciding to request a recount.
