Pennsylvania state Rep. Brendan Boyle resoundingly won the Democratic primary to represent the state’s 13th District on Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.
State Sen. Daylin Leach, former Rep. Marjorie Margolies and physician Val Arkoosh also contested the race to succeed Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.), who on Tuesdaylost her bid for the Democratic nomination to challenge Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R).
Boyle had faced criticism of his record on reproductive rights from powerful women’s groups as well as from all three of the opponents in the lead up to the primary. His strong base of support in Philadelphia and from organized labor ultimately put him over the top, however.
The Democratic nominee is expected to smoothly sail to victory in November’s general election, given the district’s deep blue electorate.
Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said Boyle would be “a tireless fighter for the middle class” in a statement Tuesday.
“Congratulations to Brendan Boyle on his well-deserved victory in tonight’s primary,” Israel said. “Brendan Boyle is committed to standing up for Pennsylvania families and will be a tireless fighter for the middle class and seniors in Washington. While Republicans in Congress continue their crusade to sell out the middle class and stack the deck for special interests, Pennsylvania voters in this strong Democratic district are eager to send Brendan Boyle to Washington to be a commonsense problem-solver who will fight for middle class families.”
Article originally posted on The Huffington Post.