11/9/2016

Cartwright wins 3rd term... (courtesy of the Republican Herald)

Democrat Matt Cartwright of Lackawanna County soundly defeated Republican challenger Matt Connolly, Bethlehem Township, Northampton County, earning a third term representing the 17th District in Congress.

He lingered in his room at the Hilton Scranton and Conference Center until 10:25 p.m., waiting for enough votes to be tallied to call the race and offer clarity to the direction nationally.

“Things look awfully good,” he said confidently about his chances and keeping the post, which includes a $175,000 salary. “But people want to go to sleep.”

Things did not look as good for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Cartwright said that race was too early to call. Clinton’s election as president would yield more gridlock, Cartwright said, from what will be an at least a partially GOP-controlled Congress. He pledged to resist gridlock by reaching out to Republicans.

As for the other possible outcome of the evening, a Trump presidency, Cartwright said, he has not “wrapped his head around that possibility.”

As he took the dais, Cartwright thanked his opponent, calling their campaign gentile.