It was a horse race right up to the end.
When it was over, Democrat Bryan Barbin won the area’s closest contest, beating Republican Jim Rigby by 250 votes for the state House.
With all 67 precincts reporting, Barbin edged Rigby 12,193 to 11,943 to represent the Greater Johnstown region in Harrisburg.
That total will change as absentee ballots are counted. But Barbin said he is confident the numbers would stand.
Barbin said he ran an issues-based campaign.
“No matter what anyone else tells you – whether it’s the Democratic Party or the Republican Party – you can run a clean campaign on the issues and win,” he said. “I would like to thank Jim for running a clean campaign.”
His supporters gathered at Ace’s Lounge in Johnstown’s Cambria City neighborhood.
“I could not do it without the volunteers who have been here for over 11 months,” Barbin said. “They believed in me.”
Barbin and Rigby campaigned to bring jobs to the 71st Legislative District.
Barbin has said his focus is on creating “family-sustaining jobs” by reviving the region’s steel and coal industries.
The two battled to replace retiring state Rep. Ed Wojnaroski, D-Johnstown, in a 14-municipality district that includes the financially distressed city of Johnstown.
Barbin, of Westmont, has a quarter-century of legal experience and is the fourth generation of his family to practice law here.
He switched from Republican to Democrat in 2006.
Rigby has no state experience but is heavily involved in local government. In Ferndale Borough, he has been a councilman for 16 years, a police officer for 24 years and a member of the volunteer fire company for three decades.
Rigby was unavailable for comment.
Rigby said in March he no longer was seeking the nomination but did not remove his name from the primary ballot and defeated Steve Ettien of Richland Township.
Politics
Related Photos
-
Todd Berkey
Discussion
Barbin squeaks by Rigby in 71st
- Politics
-
-
Corbett to lose top aide, sources say
Gov. Tom Corbett’s top aide apparently is leaving the job as the first-term Republican battles criticism over his cost-cutting agenda and his ability to wage political battles.
-
Romney: Obama focused on 'character assassination'
The Nebraska billionaire who considered a plan to resurrect incendiary comments by President Barack Obama's former pastor shelved the idea Thursday after Obama and Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney denounced the tactic.
-
Corbett taps retired general to steer Pa. capital
Gov. Tom Corbett on Friday nominated a retired Air Force general who helped run the American reconstruction effort in Iraq to take the financial reins of Pennsylvania's debt-choked capital of Harrisburg after his first appointee called for an investigation into the city's debt and abruptly resigned.
-
Mitt Romney's 'hijinks' seen as bullying today
When Mitt Romney was a good-looking teen in the buttoned-up '60s, corporal punishment was the norm and bullying had a different, more acceptable name: hijinks.
-
Judge refuses to dismiss John Edwards charges
A federal judge refused to throw out campaign corruption charges against John Edwards on Friday, meaning the former presidential hopeful will have to present his case to a jury.
-
GOP gets set to start up Pa. presidential campaign
With the primary battle essentially over, the Republican Party is preparing to fire up a presidential campaign in Pennsylvania about a year behind President Barack Obama in a vote-rich state that both sides say they can win.
-
Romney denies targeting classmates for being gay
Mitt Romney apologized Thursday for "stupid" high school pranks that may have gone too far and moved quickly to stamp out any notion that he bullied schoolmates because they were gay. His swift response reflected the Republican presidential candidate's recognition that his record on gay rights is under heightened scrutiny following President Barack Obama's embrace of gay marriage.
-
Video: Obama endorses same-sex marriage
A day after an amendment banning gay marriage passed in North Carolina, President Barack Obama tells ABC News that he believes same-sex couples should be able to get married.
-
Corbett to describe 'vision' for economic growth
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett is slated to discuss his state budget plan and his vision for economic growth in a speech to a business group.
-
Sen. Orie to resign, according to court motion
Republican state Sen. Jane Orie intends to resign by the time she’s scheduled to be sentenced on campaign corruption and forgery charges later this month, according to a motion her attorney filed asking the court to delay the sentencing hearing for two months.
- More Politics Headlines
-
Corbett to lose top aide, sources say
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Raw Video: Earthquake Shakes Evacuees in Italy
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
