They were two first-time candidates running for congressional seats in Pennsylvania. Both in their early 30s. Both former prosecutors. Both military veterans who served in the Pacific.
There was one big difference: Conor Lamb’s appeal as a fresh face and political outsider helped propel him to an upset victory in a March special election in a Pittsburgh-area district. Across the state in Bucks County, Rachel Reddick on Tuesday lost a Democratic primary by more than 20 points to millionaire Scott Wallace, who tapped his fortune to outspend her by nearly 8-to-1.
Reddick understood the challenge she was up against when it came to financial resources, but another obstacle caught her off guard.