While the nation waited until the wee hours to determine who won the special election Tuesday in one Pennsylvania congressional district, a key lesson taught by the tightness of the race is that every vote counts.
As of Wednesday morning, the race is still undecided between a young, moderate Democrat Conor Lamb and a mediocre Republican candidate Rick Saccone – and 579 votes is the determiner. That is until all absentee votes are counted.
Drew Miller, the Libertarian, drew 1,372 voters that didn't like either of the two other options.
Special elections are tough to get people out to vote, but the Pennsylvania special election is important because it gave Democrats bragging rights. The district went for Trump by 20 points in 2016.
It's also tough to get voters out for party primaries to determine the nominees for the General Election – and that's what Illinois will be seeing happen next Tuesday, March 20th. At that time, parties will determine their candidates for the gubernatorial team, attorney general, comptroller, treasurer, U.S. House, Illinois House and in several districts, Illinois Senate. In addition, parties will determine local party leadership and judgeships.
Thinking a vote doesn't matter is a mistake. It mattered in Pennsylvania last night.
