Republican Pat Meehan, a former U.S. attorney and Delaware County district attorney, took the lead in the hotly-contested 7^th Congressional District race late Tuesday night, according to the unofficial election results.

“Thank you. Thank you so much,” said Meehan while looking out into a crowd at the Springfield Country Club. “What a wonderful evening, what a wonderful victory.”

“This win belongs to you,” said Meehan to his supporters.

Meehan, a Drexel Hill resident, said he received a “gracious” call from his Democratic opponent, state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore. Meehan said he respected Lentz, a former U.S. Army Airborne Ranger and Iraq War veteran, for his service to this country.

“I’m very grateful for (Lentz’s) very dignified call this evening,” Meehan said, adding that they shared the same hopes for improving this country.

Meehan, Lentz  and third-party conservative candidate Jim Schneller fought for the seat left open by U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, who ran for U.S. Senate against former U.S. Congressman Pat Toomey, a Republican from Zionsville. The 7^th Congressional District race consists mainly of Delaware County and parts of Chester and Montgomery counties.

Early ballot results for Delaware County showed that Meehan had 92,635 votes; Lentz had 76, 625 votes; Schneller had 1,711 votes.

Early ballot results for Chester County showed that Meehan had 11,832 votes; Lentz had 6,638 votes; Schneller had 200 votes.

Early ballot results for Montgomery County showed that Meehan had 14,381 votes; Lentz had 12,356 votes; and Schneller had 395 votes.

All election results are unofficial until certified by the Boards of Election in each county.