PENNSYLVANIA, USA — This looks like a photo finish for a state house seat in Luzerne County.
With all precincts reporting in the 117th Pennsylvania House District, challenger Jamie Walsh leads incumbent state Representative Mike Cabell by fewer than 10 votes.
With no Democrats on the ballot, whoever wins the Republican primary is likely to take the seat come November.
Cabell is looking to hold on to his spot for a second term after winning a contested primary back in 2022.
Walsh lives in Sweet Valley with his wife and kids. He was born and raised in the area he's now looking to represent.
Speaking shortly after 11 p.m., Walsh told Newswatch 16 he was "cautiously optimistic."
Cabell said it's not over until every vote is counted.
Walsh didn't always have plans to get into politics, but the COVID-19 shutdown changed his trajectory.
Walsh founded a parental rights organization called Citizens Advisory of Pennsylvania, working to get masks off of kids.
The 117th district covers part of Luzerne County, including Dallas, Harveys Lake, Freeland, and White Haven. Much of it is rural land, which presents its own set of challenges.
The two GOP candidates share many similar conservative values and say they're listening to the people's concerns.
