Harrisburg, PA - Yesterday, Democrats in Pennsylvania achieved victories throughout the Commonwealth, winning a statewide judicial race and several local races including the bellweather race for Commissioner in Montgomery County.

"I commend all of our candidates for running strong campaigns, and I congratulate all of our successful Democratic candidates including David Wecht, Rich Fitzgerald and the Montgomery County Commission team - Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards," said Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman Jim Burn. "Democrats now control the three largest counties in Pennsylvania, and we gained victories in important local races including mayoral races in Easton, Chester and Reading. I am proud of all of the Democratic candidates who ran for office in Pennsylvania. We were honored to have you join the conversation about improving our state, creating jobs and standing up for the middle class.

"We're excited to have Judge Wecht as the next justice on the Superior Court. He is a strong legal mind and he will represent the court with integrity. Judge Wecht should be proud of his campaign and the conversation he had with the people of Pennsylvania. 

"Kathryn Boockvar is well-qualified for the court, and she ran a principled campaign. We are greatly disappointed that the people of Pennsylvania will not have her honesty, integrity and fair-mindedness on the Commonwealth Court. We hope that Kathryn continues to pursue opportunities to serve the people of Pennsylvania.

"We are happy that David and Kathy came forward to discuss their qualifications for court, and we are proud of the campaigns they ran. We need leaders like David and Kathy who are willing to run for public office and serve the people of Pennsylvania.

"Congratulations to Allegheny County Executive-elect Rich Fitzgerald. The Allegheny County Executive race was the most expensive and hotly contested election in the state. The candidates spent over $3.5 million combined - and Fitzgerald's Republican opponent invested millions in the race. The Republican was led by a consulting group that was coming off a victory with Senator Pat Toomey, and his defeat shows the same calculus no longer applies. Republicans were predicting a close race - and it ended up a blow out.

The Republicans put a lot of money behind the Montgomery County race, but still seriously underperformed their own expectations. We agree Montgomery County is a strong predictor for 2012.

Pennsylvania Republican Chairman Rob Gleason said, "Winning Montgomery County is No. 1 to me because it propels us into next year and the presidential race." (Philadelphia Inquirer, November 6, 2011 http://articles.philly.com/2011-11-06/news/30366711_1_montco-commissioner-race-commissioner-candidates-latest-campaign-filings)

Bruce Castor said the race was a state and national bellweather for 2012.

Republican Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr., seeking a second term, is running with Jenny Brown, a Lower Merion commissioner. He took the rhetoric even further. "This will be the most important election in Pennsylvania this year," he said. "How the county goes will indicate very strongly to national politicians how the state will go in the next presidential election." (Philadelphia Inquirer, May 8, 2011 http://articles.philly.com/2011-05-18/news/29556247_1_republican-register-quiet-primary-season-election-judge/2)