Politics & Government

Rep. Briggs Wins 149th Seat, Will Represent District For 3rd Term

The Democratic incumbent defeated Republican candidate Perry Hamilton with 65.75 percent of the vote.

Rep. Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery) has won the race for Pennsylvania's 149th District, defeating Republican challenger Perry Hamilton by a margin of 65.75 percent to 34.25 percent, according to the Montgomery County Elections Results page.

The 149th District includes a large section of Lower Merion, including Ardmore, Penn Wynne, Haverford and parts of Bryn Mawr, Wynnewood and Merion Station. It also includes Bridgeport, West Conshohocken and Upper Merion. 

Briggs has represented the district since 2009, and this will be his third term in office.

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“The residents of the 149th responded to my call for progressive leadership in Pennsylvania and my investment in public education, and I’m very, very happy to have that response to my positive, progressive campaign,” Briggs said in an interview Tuesday night. The representative spent the early part of Tuesday evening at McShea's in Narberth with the Democratic Committee of Lower Merion and Narberth, before moving on to Bridgeport.

Just a few miles away, Republican challenger Perry Hamilton and the Republican Committee of Lower Merion and Narberth spent the night at Gillane's Tavern in Ardmore.

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Before the full results were in, multiple Republican committee members spoke to Hamilton's performance in the race. 

"Perry's done a brilliant job—there's nothing he didn't do," said committee person Jim Clark. "The presidential cycle is tough in Lower Merion ... he fought a good fight, and it was well worth it."

Republican Committee chairman Lance Rogers settled the crowd around 10 p.m. to commend the organization and Hamilton for their work, stating that Hamilton's performance "gives us hope for the future." Hamilton said he spent five to six nights a week knocking on doors in the 149th district to talk to voters.

Speaking with Hamilton around 10:30 p.m., before all the votes were in, it was already apparent to him that the numbers were not in his favor.

"It's been wonderful getting to know the people of Lower Merion and Upper Merion," he said. Hamilton cited the dialogue he'd had with residents of Upper Merion Township and other parts of the district as the highlight of his campaign.

He was "disappointed," however, "with the hard party line taken in Lower Merion," he said.

Noting support by Republicans and independent voters, Briggs said he has “always been a representative for the entire district, not just one party, and I think people appreciate me reaching out to all parties and minds, and being a voice for the district as a whole."

In 2008, Briggs defeated Republican Lynne Lechter by a margin of 62 percent to 38 percent, and in 2010, defeated Peter Kohut by a margin of 62 percent to 37 percent, according to Pennsylvania's election results website.


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