MILFORD -- Late Tuesday night, it looked as though the Pike County District Attorney's race was over with a win by a Republican primary challenger.
But the incumbent D.A. Ray Tonkin may still have a chance at winning reelection.
Republicans want Kelly Gaughan to take over as the prosecutor in Pike County, according to the unofficial results of the primary election. That includes the case against Eric Frein.
Wednesday we learned incumbent Ray Tonkin appears to have enough write-in votes on the Democratic side to run in the fall.
There are still quite a few signs that there was a heated Republican primary for Pike County District Attorney.
Tonkin, the incumbent, came up short against challenger Gaughan.
The race pitted the two-term prosecutor at the helm of the Frein case against an attorney backed by state troopers and a majority of the lawyers who practice in Pike County.
"It was kind of shocking to me. It was very surprising to see the outcome with everything going on with the case," said Kathleen Bianco of Hemlock Farms.
Surrounded by supporters at the American Legion near Milford, Gaughan declared victory in the primary. She spent more than $100,000 on the campaign to get her message to voters.
Tonkin monitored the election night returns from a gathering in the Tafton area. County election officials said while Tonkin lost on the Republican ticket by about 200 votes he appears to have won a write-in campaign on the Democratic ticket by about 100 votes.
Tonkin said he'll wait to decide if he'll keep his reelection campaign alive.
Gaughan said she's ready for whatever comes next.
"My message has gotten out there. It's resonated with the voters and I'm confident I would come back in November the winner of this election," she said.
Numerous campaign fliers were sent out to potential voters in the county, many of them going negative. Voters hope they don't have to see that kind of campaign again for a second round in the fall.
"I don't mind the signs. I don't like the negative bashing. That turns me off," said Stephanie Stashluk of Dingmans Ferry.
Not only have voters noticed the attack ads, but said in a heavily Republican county, the primary either settled the race or it's only just started.
"I think if his own party isn't backing him up I don't see how it's possible," added Bianco referring to Tonkin's chances at reelection.
"Not as many people vote party lines. It has to do with issues," said Stashluk.
Ray Tonkin could decide whether he's still running for reelection as early as Friday.
There's no telling when his most high-profile case, the one against Eric Frein, may go trial.