Rep. Dan Meuser won a fifth term representing Pennsylvania's 9th Congressional District on Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeating Democratic challenger Rachel Wallace, according to an Associated Press projection first reported by 28/22 News.

Unofficial results showed Meuser capturing about 62% of the vote to Wallace's 38%, according to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Those results are not yet certified.

The district spans all or parts of 12 counties, including Bradford, Columbia, Lebanon, Luzerne, Schuylkill and Susquehanna counties, according to WVIA.

Meuser, 62, of Luzerne County, claimed victory shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. He spoke to supporters at a joint election night watch party with state Sen. Lisa Baker and state Rep. Brenda Pugh at Leggio's Italian Restaurant in Dallas, WVIA reported.

"A little early for speech time, but we'll take it, won't we?" Meuser joked at the start of his speech.

Closer than past wins

The 24-point margin was wide but narrower than Meuser's recent performances. He won with 70% of the vote in 2024, up from 60% in his first win in 2018, the Capital-Star reported. Wallace was considered Meuser's strongest opponent since that first race.

Wallace, 38, raised nearly $1.2 million for her campaign, the highest total among challengers in the 12 other districts considered safe, the Capital-Star reported. Meuser raised about twice as much overall, though Wallace out-fundraised him in some reporting periods.

The district leans heavily Republican. About 58% of voters are registered Republicans, compared to about 27% registered Democrats, according to WVIA.

Election night scenes

Early returns had showed Wallace in the lead, as mail-in ballots tend to favor Democrats. That lead evaporated as in-person votes were counted.

Wallace walked into her campaign party at The Zone in Pottsville after 9:30 p.m., WVIA reported. A staffer got her a Yuengling Lager, her hometown beer.

"It's been an honor and a privilege to run in this race to build this kind of campaign that people wanted to be a part of, and … it's been wonderful," she said.

Looking ahead

Meuser said he plans to focus on health care costs and affordability in his next term.

"We need to deliver on health care solutions, premiums without a doubt. We just need to focus on affordability," he said, according to WVIA.

He also said Republicans need a plan for lowering gas prices, which he attributed partly to the Iran conflict and Biden-era energy policies.

Meuser starts his fifth term Jan. 3, 2027. He serves as chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and sits on the House Small Business Committee, according to WVIA.