(WHTM) – Democrats’ hope of a blue wave in Pennsylvania has mainly focused on four congressional seats. But now there’s talk from the highest levels of the party that a fifth seat is in play.
Rachel Wallace is a former federal worker running to unseat longtime Congressman Dan Meuser in a district that represents all or parts of 12 counties in central and northeast Pennsylvania.
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Meuser won his last reelection with 70.51% of the vote, but Governor Josh Shapiro has called this race winnable for Democrats.
On Monday, Wallace held a virtual fundraiser with longtime Democratic Party strategist James Carville, who endorsed her and praised her career in public service.
“I can’t think of anything that would be better for the country if we sent a really talented person to the Congress in the Pennsylvania 9th congressional district,” Carville said of Wallace.
During the fundraiser, Wallace called Meuser “a hilariously underrated villain who deserves to be fired” and who has never held a town hall.
“And he has tried calling me all sorts of names,” Wallace added. “He knows that this race is real.”
Meuser responded on Monday night, saying he plans to win by the same margin this time.
“I’m asking us to hit the 70-30 (percent) just to prove that this Socialist Democrat Party has no place in Pennsylvania’s 9th Congressional District,” Meuser told abc27.
Both candidates will debate at Penn State Schuylkill on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.
The debate will stream on the abc27 News+ and 2822 Now apps for smart TV devices, abc27.com, and 2822news.com. You can also find the debate on the 2822 News YouTube and Facebook pages.
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Election Day is Nov. 3, 2026. Pennsylvania voters have until Oct. 19 to register to vote and Oct. 27 to request a mail-in or absentee ballot. Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., barring a judicial order.
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