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Daylin Leach Ends Bid for Pennsylvania House Seat

Comes after being accused of inappropriate sexual behavior

State Sen. Daylin Leach ended his congressional bid after being accused of sexual misconduct. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
State Sen. Daylin Leach ended his congressional bid after being accused of sexual misconduct. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Democratic state Sen. Daylin Leach ended his bid for Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional District months after being accused of sexual misconduct.

Leach explained his decision to drop out of the race in a Facebook post over the weekend.

“I typically do not back down from a challenge, but the more these individuals direct attacks at my family — including my children — the more we, as a family asked, ‘Is this worth it?’” Leach wrote.

Leach’s candidacy was derailed after a report by the Philadelphia Inquirer in December in which multiple women accused him of inappropriately touching them and making sexually charged comments.

Leach denied any sexual misconduct, saying at times he does touch people while talking. “But never anything inappropriate or sexual.”

Watch: The #MeToo Impact on 2018

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Leach was initially running against Republican Rep. Patrick Meehan, who himself is accused of inappropriate conduct with a female staffer, in Pennsylvania’s 7th District. Meehan has announced he would not seek re-election. 

“I find myself looping back to how unappealing Congress has become, and I think about the life experience I want our 17- and 15 year-old children to have as they go through the stress of adolescence and applying for college,” Leach wrote in his Facebook post.

Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court also redrew congressional districts so Leach would be running for Pennsylvania’s 4th District.

When the news was originally broken in December, Leach said he was “taking a step back.”

Leach has served in the Pennsylvania state Senate since 2003 and is considered a staunch liberal. He was previously considered the front-runner in the Pennsylvania 7th race.

Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates Pennsylvania’s 4th District Solid Democratic after redistricting.

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