Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Contact 90.5 WESA with a story idea or news tip: news@wesa.fm

Casey Wins Third Term In Senate

Alex Brandon
/
AP

Democrat Bob Casey has won a third U.S. Senate term from Pennsylvania, beating Republican Rep. Lou Barletta.

Casey thanked Barletta, for what he said was a "very gracious" phone call to congratulate him.

Barletta was an early supporter of Donald Trump, who returned the favor by stumping for the former Hazleton mayor. The president narrowly won Pennsylvania in 2016, but Casey easily won re-election Tuesday in a place that has now given the son of the late former governor six statewide election victories.

He praised Barletta for phoning him at a time of stark political division. He says, "To have a phone call like that between two people running against each other is something, I guess, we don't see enough of in American politics."

Casey is a staunch critic of Trump's tax-cutting law, calling it a giveaway to the wealthy and corporations while middle-class wages stagnate. Casey also voted against Trump's nominees for Supreme Court.

Barletta is one of Trump's biggest allies on Capitol Hill. He campaigned on Trump's policies, but he never gained traction and was heavily outspent by Casey.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.