The Pennsylvania governor’s race has been called in favor of Democrat Tom Wolf.
CNN called the race for Wolf, a proponent of LGBT equality, within five minutes of the polls closing Tuesday. Wolf’s victory means that incumbent Republican Gov. Tom Corbett is the first governor not to have won re-election since Pennsylvania began allowing second gubernatorial terms more than 45 years ago.
The Pennsylvania gubernatorial race drew national attention, with Wolf being supported by Democratic leaders like the Clintons and President Obama, who stumped for Wolf in Philadelphia last weekend.
Wolf, a businessman and first-time candidate, supports marriage equality and told PGN he would work to ensure LGBT inclusion in Pennsylvania’s nondiscrimination and hate-crimes laws, among other pro-LGBT initiatives. Corbett is an opponent of marriage equality and came under sharp criticism from the LGBT community when he compared same-sex unions to incest. But, earlier this year, he was applauded for deciding not to appeal a federal ruling granting the right to marry to same-sex couples in Pennsylvania.