POTTSVILLE — Schuylkill County native Rachel Wallace conceded the race for Pennsylvania’s 9th Congressional District to Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser on Tuesday night, thanking supporters and pledging to continue advocating for the region.
Wallace, the Democratic nominee who grew up in Pottsville and now lives in southern Schuylkill County, said she called Meuser to congratulate him following the , election.
“While this isn't the outcome we had hoped for, I respect that outcome,” Wallace said. “I've called Congressman Meuser to congratulate him and wish him well as he continues representing our district.”
The reported district-wide results showed Meuser receiving 163,850 votes, or 62.12%, compared with Wallace’s 99,924 votes, or 37.88%. Election returns remain unofficial until certified.
Wallace Thanks Supporters and Reflects on Campaign
Despite the defeat, Wallace said she remained proud of the campaign and the people who supported it.
“We may have lost this election, but I am still damn proud of what we’ve done,” she said. “Because this has been so much bigger than a campaign.”
Wallace described her campaign as an opportunity to draw attention to the challenges facing communities throughout the district, including household costs, health care and frustration with Washington.
She said those concerns would remain beyond Election Day.
“I've listened to families worried about the cost of health care and heating their homes,” Wallace said. “I've talked with farmers, small-business owners, and people who simply want their government to work better. Their concerns don't disappear tonight.”
Wallace also called for residents to move beyond partisan divisions.
“And it’s been a moment for us to confront the division and cynicism of our politics,” she said. “To say that actually, we aren’t just red and blue. We’re red, white, and blue.”
In her statement, Wallace thanked her family, her husband, Sal, her campaign staff and volunteers across the district’s 12 counties. She credited supporters who collected petition signatures, hosted gatherings, participated in town halls and greeted voters at the polls.
Schuylkill County Roots and Continued Advocacy
Wallace said her family’s roots in the region span 10 generations and that the campaign allowed her to meet residents who care deeply about their communities’ futures.
The daughter of a pastor and a nurse, Wallace has worked in the U.S. Senate, the State Department and the White House Office of Management and Budget.
Although she will not be heading to Congress, Wallace said she intends to remain engaged and encouraged supporters to continue demanding accountability from elected officials.
“Pennsylvanians deserve better – and we have to keep demanding that our leaders DO better,” she said. “So while I may not be heading to Congress, I'm not done holding them accountable – and I hope you aren't either.”
“I am from here and for here, always.”