More heat generated in 164th state House race

Forget Hillary vs. Bernie.

Delaware County has a red-hot Democratic fight of its own.

Keep an eye on the already bitter race in the 164th state House district in Upper Darby.

That is where Democratic challenger Sekela Coles, a member of the Upper Darby Township Council, is challenging incumbent Democratic state Rep. Margo Davidson.

Monday night the township Democratic Committee endorsed Coles for the seat, pouring a little gas on the fire of an already heated campaign.

Coles immediately branded it a clear snub for the incumbent, unloading on Davidson as "not even supported in your own backyard." Davidson's campaign called the tactic "desperate."

You can get all the details here.

It comes just a week after Davidson was successful in her efforts to keep the county Democrats from backing Coles, instead opting for an open primary. Even so, Coles was claiming a victory, saying a 39-34 vote showed support for her over the incumbent.

In the township vote, Coles says she got 24 votes of the committee, to just one for Davidson. And in a press release announcing the move, her camp could not resist pointing out that one vote came from Davidson's legislative assistant.

"It really shows that the Democrats in Upper Darby are ready for new leadership that stands up for public education, protecting women's rights and economic development," Coles said.

Davidson's campaign manager Kristin Stoner, while admitting the move was uncommon, branded it a backroom political deal. She said Davidson was busy in Harrisburg, where Gov. Tom Wolf was delivering his budget address amid an ongoing standoff on a spending plan with GOP leaders in the Legislature.

A challenge from within the party is not new ground for the two-time winner Davidson. She had to fend off a challenge from attorney Billy Smith two years ago.

The primary is April 26. The winner will go on to face Republican Indr Bains.

The district obviously has changed since the days when Republican Mario Civera represented it for more than two decades.

Keep your seat belts on. This one is going to be a bump ride.

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