Deluzio defeats Mercuri in 17th District race

Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio defeated challenger Rob Mercuri, a Republican state representative, in a key congressional district that could be crucial to determining which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Associated Press called the race in Deluzio’s favor shortly before 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Deluzio received more than 53% of votes, compared to just over 46% of ballots cast for Mercuri, according to unofficial election results.

Allegheny and Beaver counties have tallied nearly all of their ballots.

Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District includes all of Beaver County and several suburban Allegheny County communities.

Though Deluzio maintained Democratic control of a congressional seat the GOP had been hoping to swing, control of the U.S. House of Representatives remained uncertain Wednesday.

At 12:36 a.m., Deluzio posted on the social media platform X his appreciation for those who voted for him.

“THANK YOU to the good people of Western PA for once again trusting me to represent all of us in Congress. It is the honor of my lifetime,” Deluzio tweeted. “I was willing to risk my life for this country because America was worth fighting for. It still is.”

About an hour earlier, before the race was called, Deluzio addressed dozens of supporters gathered at the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council site, a union hall in Collier. He said he was confident he would win, but his Election Day soiree ended before he could declare victory.

“I’m feeling good, but we still don’t have a race to call,” Deluzio told his supporters as he held a commanding lead. “I think we’re going to win.”

The Mercuri campaign did not respond to requests for comment, but Deluzio tweeted that his rival had “offered a gracious and patriotic concession, and I commend him for a spirited campaign.”

In a social media post Wednesday morning, Mercuri thanked his supporters.

“I am proud of our efforts!” He wrote. “It’s time to move forward towards a new chapter. Let us unite and stand together as Americans for Western PA and our Country.”

Deluzio said he brings to Congress the values he learned growing up in the 17th District: hard work, patriotism and sacrifice.

“I’m going to put this country first, this region first,” DeLuzio said. “I’m going to stay focused on the job.”

In a second term, Deluzio said, he plans to fight to support unions and abortion access.

Deluzio, 40, of Fox Chapel, a voting rights attorney and Iraq War veteran, won the congressional seat in 2022, defeating Jeremy Shaffer, a former Ross commissioner. Deluzio replaced Conor Lamb, who did not seek reelection that year.

The Republican Party is hoping to swing seats like Deluzio’s in the U.S. House, which currently is split with 220 Republicans and 212 Democrats.

Deluzio in his first term has been a vocal advocate for railway safety in the wake of a fiery train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, near communities he represents.

Mercuri, 42, of Pine has spearheaded measures in the Legislature to enable autonomous vehicle testing and allow people to get mortgages remotely in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic.

If elected, Mercuri said he would prioritize bringing more jobs and energy independence to the Keystone State.

Deluzio’s “Make Stuff Here” economic agenda includes targeted tariffs on products imported from countries such as China, Russia and Iran, and tax credits for domestic companies that produce steel and certain magnets made of rare earth metals that are used in cellphones, electric vehicles and MRI machines.

Deluzio, who sits on the bipartisan For Country Caucus, said his top priorities include fighting for reproductive freedom, keeping costs down and growing jobs in Western Pennsylvania. He has advocated for federal legislation protecting abortion access.

In 2021, Mercuri co-sponsored a heartbeat bill that would have restricted abortion in the commonwealth once a fetal heartbeat is detected. He told TribLive last month that he believes abortion is a state issue, and he is supportive of exceptions to allow abortions in cases of rape, incest or risks to the mother’s life.