First-time candidate and working mother Rachel Cuevas has unseated Republican state Rep. Gary Day, who has served in Harrisburg for 16 years.

The Associated Press called the race for Cuevas on Wednesday morning. Unofficial results showed the Democrat ahead by just over 600 votes, with 96% of precincts reporting.

Cuevas indicated victory in a short social media post thanking voters.

As of Wednesday morning, the AP also showed Democrats with a 108 to 86 advantage in the Pennsylvania House, with nine races remaining uncalled.

The 187th District comprises Heidelberg, Lower Macungie, Lynn, Washington and Weisenberg townships and Alburtis and Macungie along with part of Upper Macungie Township (districts 3, 7 and 8).

The Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee called the race for Cuevas around 11 p.m. Tuesday night.

“As a mom seeing all the hardships people in Lehigh County were facing because of poor leadership, I knew I had to step up and stand up for my neighbors – and for our kids. The future belongs to them, and I am going to work hard to leave them something we can be proud of,” Cuevas said in a news release. “I can’t wait to get to work in Harrisburg passing legislation to lower the cost of living, make healthcare affordable and accessible, and make sure every kid has the opportunity to succeed here in Pennsylvania.”

Cuevas was among the 2026 Democratic candidates emphasizing their working-class roots and making affordability a focus of their campaign.

A graduate of Northampton Area High School, the 45-year-old Cuevas lives in Lower Macungie Township with her husband and their two children. Her previous jobs include work for insurance companies and in human resources at Amazon and Boston Beer.

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