Tom Killion, last (GOP) man standing?

I'm going to start referring to them as the last men standing.

At least when it comes to the Delco GOP - and its once-vaunted grip on the Delco delegation to the Legislature in Harrisburg.

Both Sen. Tom Killion, R-9 of Middletown, and Rep. Chris Quinn, R-168 of Middletown, will be on the ballot in November.

With the decision by longtime state Rep. Steve Barrar, R-160 of Upper Chichester to retire and not seek another term, Killion and Quinn are the last two Republicans members of the Delco delegation.

And Killion clearly has a target on his back.

He recently announced his re-election bid - and he also picked up a new nemesis.

Killion is now in the crosshairs of a liberal political action committee looking to flip the 9th District seat, which covers areas in both Delaware and Chester counties.

The American Bridge, a liberal Super PAC, has targeted races in four states, including two in Pennsylvania. In addition to Killion, the PAC also is targeting Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie.

Democrats need to flip four seats to gain a majority in the state Senate. Both the Senate and House have been in GOP hands now for years, despite a Democrat, Tom Wolf, winning the governor's mansion.

Killion won a tight race the last time out. The numbers are clear. The region's demographics are changing. Democrats now have a 33,000 voter edge in Delaware County. If Democrats get their people to the polls, Republicans will face an uphill battle.

But Killion has some strong weapons in his re-election bids, including several issues that could appeal to Democrats.

The former longtime state rep - who held the seat now held by Quinn - has positioned himself as a moderage, centrist Republican.

He has challenged the leaders in his own party in getting several pieces of gun control legislation passed, working to protect victims of domestic abuse. He's now leading the charge for so-called "red-flag" laws that would allow the courts to temporarily take away firearms from a person deemed a danger to themselves or others.

He also now is pushing "Deana's Law," named for Deana Eckman of Brookhaven, who was killed by a serial repeat DUI driver.

Killion's bill would make much-needed changes in the law to make it more difficult for repeat offenders to climb behind the wheel.

Several challengers have popped up on the Democratic side, including a familiar name. John Kane, a longtime Delco resident and labor lead, who lost a bid for the 26th state Senate seat to Tom McGarrigle a while back, is seeking the nod.

Killion will face an uphill race in his bid to stay in Harrisburg.

Circle this one on the calendar.

It will definitely be one of the races to watch come November.

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