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Jeremy Shaffer concedes to Lindsey Williams in razor-thin race

PITTSBURGH — Thirty-five Senate seats, 435 House seats, 36 gubernatorial races and more than 6,000 state and local races were decided Tuesday in a high-stakes election that will reshape Congress and heavily influence President Donald Trump's next two years in office.

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LIVE UPDATES FROM ELECTIONS:

UPDATE 5:15 a.m. Wednesday

Democrat Lindsey Williams came away with a narrow victory in the race for Pennsylvania's 38th Senate District, a race that was decided by 549 votes. Republican Jeremy Shaffer conceded to Williams early Wednesday.

UPDATE 4:30 a.m. Wednesday

Allegheny County voters elected not to raise property taxes to fund children's programming. The outcome was decided by less than three percentage points.

The referendum called for a property tax increase amounting to roughly $25 for each $100,000 of a property’s assessed value. The money would have funded preschool and after-school programs, and meal programs.

UPDATE 11:45 p.m.

Democrat Lindsey Williams has declared victory in the race for Pennsylvania’s 38th Senate District, but says due to the razor-thin margin of victory she is expecting a recount.

UPDATE 11:30 p.m.

Republican Jeremy Shaffer has said that the race for Pennsylvania’s 38th Senate District remains too close to call, with military and absentee ballots uncounted.

UPDATE 10:40 p.m.

The race for Pennsylvania’s 38th Senate District is too close to call.

  • Republican Jeremy Shaffer - 49% of vote
  • Democrat Lindsey Williams - 50% of vote

UPDATE 10:21 p.m.

Democrats gain control of the U.S. House of Representatives, NBC News projects.

UPDATE 10:20 p.m. 

Republicans to retain control of the U.S. Senate, NBC News projects

UPDATE 10:16 p.m.

Scott Wagner concedes the election.

UPDATE 10:15 p.m.

Conor Lamb singles out support of labor unions and young people in victory speech. He added that Democrats are the "big tent" party.

UPDATE 10 p.m.

Guy Reschenthaler projected to wins U.S. House 14th District.

UPDATE 9:55 p.m.

(AP) Freshman Democratic Rep. Conor Lamb has ousted three-term Republican Rep. Keith Rothfus in the nation's only U.S. House race pitting two incumbents against each other.

Lamb beat Rothfus on Tuesday in the 17th District, in suburban Pittsburgh. The district was dramatically redrawn by the Supreme Court after it ruled Pennsylvania's congressional boundaries were unconstitutionally gerrymandered by Republicans in 2011.

The court eliminated a Republican advantage that Rothfus, a three-term congressman, once enjoyed in a district that had stretched some 100 miles from the Ohio border past Johnstown. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette once likened its shape to "a malnourished hammerhead shark winding through six counties."

Lamb won a special election in March to succeed resigned Republican Rep. Tim Murphy.

UPDATE 9:50 p.m.

Scott Wagner just called Gov. Tom Wolf to concede election.

UPDATE 9:45 p.m.

Rep. Conor Lamb defeats Keith Rothfus in redrawn 17th District, NBC projects.

UPDATE 9:36 p.m.

Scott Wagner campaign officials said they are not giving up and are waiting to see more numbers come in.

UPDATE 9:30 p.m.

Channel 11's Marlisa Goldsmith Lt. Governor-elect John Fetterman moments after projections that Governor Tom Wolf had won his race.

UPDATE 9:13 p.m.

Lt. Governor-elect John Fetterman takes the stage before introducing Gov. Tom Wolf.

UPDATE 9:10 p.m.

(AP) Democrat Tom Wolf has won a second term as Pennsylvania governor, beating brash Republican challenger Scott Wagner.

Wolf's victory in Tuesday's election sends him back to Harrisburg to share power with a Republican-controlled Legislature that fought him in two extended budget battles.

Wolf has said he'll continue advancing his first-term priorities, among them trying to fix funding inequities in public schools. Joining him as lieutenant governor will be John Fetterman, who drew national attention for his efforts to improve the impoverished town of Braddock over 13 years as mayor.

Wagner, a former state senator and waste-hauling millionaire, mostly self-financed his campaign.

He didn't help himself with a penchant for eyebrow-raising off-the-cuff comments. He told Wolf to put on a catcher's mask because, he said, he was "going to stomp all over" the incumbent's face with golf spikes.

UPDATE 8:40 p.m.

Results for Allegheny County are starting to come in.

UPDATE 8:30 p.m.

Local election results are starting to come in.

UPDATE 8:07 p.m.

Sen. Bob Casey and Gov. Tom Wolf are projected to win, NBC reports.

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UPDATE 8 p.m. Tuesday

Polls are now closed in Pennsylvania.

Allegheny County officials say anyone in ine at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

UPDATE 7 p.m. Tuesday

Results are starting to come in for some states.

UPDATE 6:05 p.m. Tuesday

There were some problems with voters not getting absentee ballots on time on Tuesday.

In addition to absentee ballots, election protection volunteers have heard from voters who said they voted in the recent election but were not on the roll this time around.

UPDATE 6:03 p.m. 

Channel 11's Damany Lewis was also live in York at the Scott Wagner headquarters.

UPDATE 6:02 Tuesday

Channel 11's Marlisa Goldsmith was live in York, Pennsylvania where the watch party will be held for incumbent Governor Tom Wolf and Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor John Fetterman.

UPDATE 5:30 p.m. Tuesday

Channel 11's Courtney Brennan was live at a polling place in Ross Township where voters are deciding a heated state Senate race. The Jeremy Schaffer and Lindsay Williams race is one of only four in the state where an incumbent is not on the ballot.

UPDATE 5:05 p.m. Tuesday

Channel 11's Rick Earle was live at a polling place downtown after he spent all day checking on problems at polling places across the area.

UPDATE 5:03 p.m. Tuesday

Channel 11's Gabriella DeLuca was live in Kilbuck Township with the Keith Rothfus campaign. 

"Keep this economy growing and we gotta take a look at serious issues we have with the drug crisis continues. I’ve been trying for years to tell people about the cartels in Mexico and heroin they’ve dumping into our country. We have to have border security and immigration reform," Rothfus said.

UPDATE 5:02 p.m. Tuesday

Channel 11's Aaron Martin was live in Cranberry with the Conor Lamb campaign.

"We stayed positive and we talked about what we're for on our side. People told me that's what they wanted and that's kind of what we need given the state of discourse in this country," Lamb said.

UPDATE 4:20 p.m. Tuesday

Power has been restored to all polling locations.

UPDATE 3:20 p.m. Tuesday

Allegheny County officials provided an update on issues at certain polling places:

A transformer has failed on Old Clairton Road, causing power to go out in 14 voting districts. There are 1,950 customers without power. All voting machines have battery backups and teams are working with the utility company to restore the power.

The affected districts are:

  • North Versailles 6-1 and 6-2
  • Baldwin Borough 0-5
  • Pleasant Hills 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 0-4 and 0-10
  • Plum 0-1 and 0-19
  • Whitehall 0-5, 0-6, 0-9 and 0-12

Allegheny County Officials also said they were made aware of a Twitter post and video related to a sign which said "Vote Straight Democrat" on the outside of a door at Pittsburgh 19-9 a little after 1 p.m.

The sign was already removed when officials called the polling place.

UPDATE 1:29 p.m. Tuesday

Allegheny County officials provided an update on issues at certain polling places:

Ingram 0-1: Judge of Elections was brought before the Election Court judge in response to claims she was impaired. She indicated that she was fine but was having problems at home. She was removed from duty and another poll worker was appointed into that role.

West Deer, Plum 20, Moon 6, South Fayette 6: Reports of 'vote switching' which is when a voter selects one candidate and another is chosen instead. In each case, a technician tried to replicate the issue and if needed, recalibrate the machine.

UPDATE 12:30 p.m. Tuesday:

Opponents Conor Lamb (D) and Keith Rothfus (R) have both voted. It’s a race unlike any other in the country.

RELATED: Incumbent congressmen Lamb, Rothfus vying for 17th District

UPDATE 10:50 a.m. Tuesday: The polling location at Presbyterian Church of Mt Washington opened late due to an issue that has since been resolved, officials said.

UPDATE 10:32 a.m. Tuesday: 

Penn Hills: Universal Road 

Voting delayed because workers couldn't open the machines.  They were walked through it and the issue was resolved.

UPDATE 9:28 a.m. Tuesday: 

Allegheny County reported issues at the following polling locations:

Bellevue: New Life Community Church, 45 N Fremont Avenue

The election judge overslept and the polling place opened late.

Pittsburgh: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Squirrel Hill

The election Judge had a medical emergency last night and is still hospitalized. Polling place opened and voters voting on emergency ballots with an interim judge. Staff is en route to pick up the suitcase and deliver it to the polling place to open the machines.

Collier: Community Center, Lobaugh Drive

Only one board member showed up.  Allegheny County sent extra people.

Pittsburgh: Church of Ascension, Ellsworth Ave

Voting started late due to issues with opening the machine.

McCandless: McCandless Municipal Building

Polling place opened at 7:15 AM, paper ballots used until that time.

UPDATE 7 a.m.: Polls have opened in Pennsylvania.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

When are the polls open?

In Pennsylvania, the polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.  According to the Pennsylvania election website, the busiest times of day to vote are in the morning and in the evening.

It’s important to note that if you are in line before or at the time the polls close, you will be allowed to cast your vote.

How do I find my polling place?

Registered to vote but aren't sure where your polling place is located? You can find out looking up your polling place location and get directions to your polling place.

If you live in Allegheny County, did your polling place change?

The locations of 37 polling places have changed. Our news partners at TribLIVE.com put together this map for you to check.

First time voting? What do I need to prepare?

Not sure who is running? 

What if my name isn’t listed on the voting roster?

  • If your name is not in the voter roster and you believe you registered to vote in your precinct, you may have the right to vote on a provisional ballot. Your vote will count if election officials determine that you are eligible to vote.

How do I report an election complaint?

The Pennsylvania Department of State oversees complaints. If you are aware of election fraud or irregularities, you can report it to them.

File a complaint by using an online form to report any of the following: 
• If you believe your rights have been violated.
• If you have a complaint about how elections are being conducted.
• If you are aware of any voter fraud.

Where can I learn about the results?

Channel 11 is your home for Decision 2018. We have a team of reporters spread across the state covering local races, plus the power of NBC's nationwide election coverage.

    • Pennsylvania election results will be scrolling across your screen for the entire time.
    • During this time, WPXI will cut in to the national broadcast as local races are called and to hear from the winners and losers.
  • Starting at 11 p.m., Channel 11 will have complete coverage of the local and state election results, as well as a look at the bigger picture impact of the national winners and losers.
  • As always, WPXI.com will have up-to-the-minute results as the results come in.
  • We will also be sending breaking news push alerts to viewers with the WPXI News app.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. 

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