By Braeden Kantz, managing editor

Today’s midterm elections will be crucial in determining which political party will control the House of Representatives for the next election cycle.  Residents of Crawford County, which is a part of Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional district that stretches from Erie County to Butler, are heading to the polls to vote on several local and state elections that may prove to be critical in the Democratic party’s projected retake of the House majority for the first time since 2010.

Saegertown seniors Ben McWright and Mikayla Balog will be voting for the first time in the 2018 midterm elections. “I’m excited to participate in politics for the first time,” said Balog “I want to have a say in the way the country is progressing.”

Crawford County, which has consistently voted Republican in recent elections, will select either Democrat Ron DiNicola or incumbent Republican Mike Kelly for Representative of the 16th Congressional District. They will also choose either Bob Casey Jr. (D-incumbent) or Lou Barletta to represent Pennsylvania in the senate. In addition, there are several state-level races for  governor, state senator, and state representative.

According to today’s Meadville Tribune, there are currently 52,547 registered voters in Crawford County, including 27,626 Republicans, 18,498 Democrats, 269 Libertarians, 55 Green Party, and 6,099 independent or otherwise affiliated voters. The 16th Congressional District, which was altered by the state Supreme Court ruling that the previous Pennsylvania Congressional Map was unconstitutional due to gerrymandering, may experience different results than previous elections. For live election results check out this link.