DNC Chair Tom Perez released the following statement after Democrat Conor Lamb flipped Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District from red to blue – a district that Donald Trump won by 19 points in 2016:

“Congratulations to Congressman-elect Conor Lamb on his upset victory tonight. Tonight is a victory for the hardworking families of Western Pennsylvania and a victory for Democrats across the country who are organized and ready to win in 2018. In the first congressional election of 2018, Democrats picked up right where we left off in 2017 by taking on a fight in one of the reddest districts in the country and winning because of Conor’s enduring optimism, patriotism, and vision of opportunity-for-all in his home state. Even after they poured more than $10 million into a longstanding Republican stronghold, Donald Trump and the GOP still couldn’t put anti-worker candidate Rick Saccone in office. As a Marine and former federal prosecutor, Conor has already dedicated his career to serving the American people. Now as he heads to Congress, he’ll be a tireless champion for better jobs and wages, more affordable health care, an end to the opioid epidemic, and retirement security for all the families he represents.

“The DNC is proud to have helped put Conor in Congress and to have supported the Pennsylvania Democratic Party in their successful efforts to build out the organizing capacity it took to flip this district and set the stage for wins up and down the ballot in 2018. We invested in the Keystone State ahead of today’s race, and we look forward to continuing to partner with the Pennsylvania Democratic Party to elect more great Democrats like Conor in 2018, 2020, and beyond.

“As we head into the 2018 midterms, the momentum is undeniable for Democratic candidates running up and down the ballot. As long as we keep organizing, investing in our state parties, and fighting for American workers like those in Pennsylvania, Democrats will be unstoppable. Pennsylvania is just the beginning.”