Fitzpatrick wins his brother's U.S. House seat in Bucks

Republican Brian Fitzpatrick won his bid to succeed his retiring brother as the member of Congress representing Bucks County and a portion of Montgomery County in one of the nation's most contested and closely watched congressional races.

"I am both honored and humbled to have earned the support of the people of Bucks and Montgomery Counties who have given me the opportunity to serve as their voice in Congress," Fitzpatrick said in a statement after his victory over Democrat Steve Santarsiero became clear late Tuesday.

The hard-fought contest pitted Santarsiero, 51, of Lower Makefield, a former lawyer and teacher who was elected to the state legislature in 2008, against Fitzpatrick, 42, a former FBI agent who grew up in Levittown.

With over 90 percent of precincts reporting, Fitzpatrick had a nine-percentage-point lead.

Registrations in the district are nearly evenly split between the major parties. Turnout figures were unavailable but voter traffic was reported brisk throughout the region.

Democrats poured more money into this race than any other House race in the state, and a total of about $4 million was spent on the campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Fitzpatrick's campaign was marked by controversy over his move from California to Bucks County to run for his brother's seat, while Republicans cast Santarsiero as a do-nothing legislator.

Elsewhere in the region, incumbents evidently were reigning - with none of the House seats appearing in danger of flipping parties.

In the only other open seat in the region, in the Lancaster County-based 16th District, Republican Lloyd Smucker appeared set to defeat Democrat Christina Hartman. The contest became heated in the campaign's final weeks, but a Smucker victory would keep the seat in Republican hands: His party has held it since the end of World War II.

In Chester County, incumbent Republican Ryan Costello defeated Democratic challenger Mike Parrish in the Sixth District.

In Delaware County, the Associated Press declared that Rep. Patrick Meehan, another Republican incumbent, defeated Democrat Mary Ellen Balchunis, a retired La Salle professor, for a second time to keep his Seventh District seat.

In Philadelphia, Rep. Robert Brady, a Democrat, won a 10th term in the U.S. House, defeating Republican Debbie Williams.

Democrat Dwight Evans, a state representative, won the seat vacated by former Rep. Chaka Fattah in the Second District, defeating Republican businessman James Jones.

In the 13th District in Northeast Philadelphia and lower Montgomery County, Rep. Brendan Boyle, a Democrat, won a second term unopposed.

jmcdaniel@philly.com

610-313-8205 @McDanielJustine