Democrat Josh Shapiro won the Pennsylvania governor’s race on Tuesday after defeating far-right Republican Doug Mastriano. 

“You met this moment,” Shapiro said at his election night party. “We showed in this campaign that no matter what you look like, where you come from, who you love or who you pray to, you are valued here in Pennsylvania and we hear you. Tonight, you, the good people of Pennsylvania, you won. Opportunity won. A woman’s right to choose won.”

“The right to organize here in Pennsylvania, that won,” he continued. “Your right to vote won. And in the face of all the lies and conspiracies and baseless claims, you also ensured tonight that truth won right here in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And you know what else won tonight? I’ll tell you what else won tonight. Real freedom won tonight.”

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While campaigning, Shapiro pledged to protect abortion rights in the state, which were front-and-centre in the campaign.

Meanwhile, another win in the Senate flipped a key state for Democrats. John Fetterman, the state lieutenant governor, won the Senate race in Pennsylvania after defeating celebrity TV doctor Mehmet Oz.

Fetterman will succeed Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican who opted against seeking re-election.

“It’s official. I will be the next U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania,” Fetterman tweeted. “We bet on the people of Pennsylvania — and you didn’t let us down. And I won’t let you down. Thank you.”

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During his election night event in Pittsburgh, Fetterman said: “This race is for the future of every community all across Pennsylvania. For every small town or person that ever felt left behind.”

Fetterman, a former mayor of the small Pittsburgh-area borough of Braddock and later as lieutenant governor, emerged in recent years as a progressive icon. He advocates for marriage equality, legal marijuana and second chances for criminals, including those serving the state’s mandatory sentence for second-degree murder.