Tom Wolf Defeats Corbett in Race for Pa. Governor

Democrat Tom Wolf has defeated incumbent Tom Corbett, making him the first governor to be ousted in Pennsylvania since second terms were allowed four decades ago.

NBC News called the race just minutes after the polls closed. The Associated Press projected the Republican’s defeat about a half hour after the polls closed at 8 p.m.

Wolf, a businessman from York County, campaigned on restoring education cuts and implementing shale drilling fees.

In a statement released on his website, Wolf said Corbett ran a campaign focused on issues. “While we may disagree on ideology, we all agree that Pennsylvania’s best days are ahead of us,” Wolf said.

Corbett, elected as Pennsylvania’s 46th Governor in 2010, is from Allegheny County. The Associated Press reported the incumbent governor “struggled to connect with voters” and had difficulty overcoming ties to the Jerry Sandusky investigation. Corbett was the state’s attorney general when Sandusky’s crimes came to light.

An investigation by attorney general Kathleen Kane found no evidence that Corbett delayed the Sandusky investigation for political gain. Kanecommissioned the report amid allegations that Corbett delayed the investigation to improve his changes at a gubernatorial run.

Wolf, who served as Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue under the Rendell Administration, attended Dartmouth College and went on to earn a PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.