Pennsylvania: Daylin Leach

PLYMOUTH MEETING-What Republicans were hoping would be a competitive race for an open state Senate seat in Montgomery County ended in a romp Tuesday night, as state Rep. Daylin Leach (D-Upper Merion) was projected to move to Harrisburg's upper chamber.

With all precincts reporting, Leach was beating Republican Lower Merion Commissioner Lance Rogers by more than 30 points. He had more than 54,000 votes, compared to just over 29,000 for Rogers.

It's been a tough couple years for the Montgomery County Republican Committee. Registration gains that were already moving in the Democrats' favor accelerated greatly with the excitement over the presidential race. Factions of the party are split, with the two Republican County Commissioners locked in a political feud that has given Democrats more control of local policy, and seats long-held by the GOP seem increasingly in danger.

In a full slate of competitive down-ballot races in Montgomery County, Republican Lynne Lechter's bid for the 149th Legislative District seat has stayed largely under the radar. The attorney and longtime campaign worker only got on the ballot as a write-in after Republican Mike Fiore stepped aside before the April primary. In an increasingly Democratic district, even some local Republicans had ranked her race low on the list of seats they were hoping to capture.

GOP state Senate candidates Lance Rogers and Dominic Pileggi were endorsed by The Inquirer today, joining a growing number of Republicans to win the backing of the traditionally left-leaning editorial page.

Pileggi is the Chester City Republican incumbent running against Democratic challenger John Linder in the 9th Senatorial District. Rogers is challenging state Rep. Daylin Leach (D-Upper Merion) for the 17th District seat being vacated by retiring state Sen. Connie Williams (D-Montgomery).