NATIONAL ELECTION RETURNS : EDITION-TIME COMPILATIONS : State-by-State Election Reports of Key Races and Issues : Pennsylvania
Democrat Robert P. Casey won the governor’s race from Republican Lt. Gov. William Scranton III, son of the popular former governor and presidential candidate, to succeed Republican Gov. Dick Thornburgh.
Moderate Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, 56, who had often been at odds with the White House, won a second term with a $5-million campaign against former Democratic congressman Bob Edgar, 43.
Casey, a former two-term auditor general, edged the son of the former Republican governor by 2% of the vote. He became the first Democrat to win the office since Milton J. Shapp, who retired after two terms in 1979.
Casey, 54, accused his opponent of missing meetings and of riding on his father’s coattails. Scranton, 39, counterattacked by noting that Casey made more than $100,000 in private law practice while serving as auditor general.
With two weeks to go in the campaign, Scranton said he was tired of the “back alley brawl” and pulled all negative advertising.
With 98% of the vote counted, Specter had a 57% to 43% advantage.
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