Boyle Vs Torres: 2nd Congressional District Race

This story was updated at 10:35 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA — United States Rep. Brendan Boyle has earned another term in Washington, according to reports.

The Associated Press and New York Times have called the 2nd Congressional District race for Boyle, defeating Republican David Torres for a second time.

As of 10:35 p.m., Boyle has received 59,256 votes and Torres 24,161.

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The two squared off in 2018, and Torres did not fare well.

When all was said and done in the 2018 general election, Boyle had 79.02 percent of the vote. Torres got just 20.98 percent. Torres, should he be elected, would be the first Latino Philadelphia in congress.

The fight against Boyle may prove again to be a tough one.

Boyle, 43, is a staple in Pennsylvania politics, having served in the state legislature from 2009 to 2013. Additionally, his brother Kevin J. Boyle serves as a representative of Pennsylvania's 172nd House district.

He was elected to the 13th Congressional District in 2014. However, that district changed to the 2nd Congressional District by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

As a congressman, Boyle supported the impeachment of President Donald Trump and introduced the Standardizing Testing and Accountability Before Large Elections Giving Electors Necessary Information for Unobstructed Selection Act, also known as the Stable Genius Act, in 2018. The act would imply "nominees of each political party to file a report with the Federal Election Commission certifying that he or she underwent a medical exam by the Secretary of the Navy" containing the exam's results.

He's also voted to raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2024, co-sponsored legislation named after Gorge Floyd that includes restricting the amount of military equipment given to local police forces and limiting the application of qualified immunity, as well as supported for Medicare For All and the Green New Deal.

Boyle has defended Philadelphia from attacks by President Donald Trump, saying he's a proud native Philadelphian.

"It is pathetic President Donald Trump continues to bash any part of our country, especially a great American city," he said in late October. "I am proud to be born, raised, and live in Philadelphia."

According to GovTrack.us, Boyle missed 143 of 3,454 (4.1 percent) roll call votes from January 2015 to October 2020. The 4.1 missed voted is worse than the median of 2.3 percent among the lifetime records of representatives currently serving, according to the website.

Torres is campaigning on reducing crime and combatting the opioid epidemic. Torres's son Eddie died from opioid abuse in 2017, the Northeast Times reports.

Torres also supports a $15 minimum wage.

He, like many members of the GOP, accuses Democrats and Boyle of being socialists and radical leftists while making a pitch for a sort of "return to normalcy."

"Your current Congressman wants no parts of fixing problems and stands with the radical left on everything," Torres said recently. "I promise you I will put my district above politics and fight for you the people because that is what I was elected to do."

Torres doesn't have much political experience when compared to Boyle, but he has some in addition to his failed 2018 campaign. He served as the Republican Party's ward leader for Philadelphia's 19th Ward, according to Temple News.

In the House of Representatives, Pennsylvania is represented by nine Republicans and nine Democrats.

For full coverage of the election in Pennsylvania, go here.