Republicans knocked off Democrats in two perennially contested U.S. House seats in eastern Pennsylvania while U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, one of the hardest right members of the chamber, survived a challenge in a southern Pennsylvania district with more moderate politics.

The former hedge-fund manager’s victory over Democratic incumbent Bob Casey brings the GOP total to 53 seats.

Democrats had hoped to make a long-shot effort to flip the upper chamber, with Gov. Josh Shapiro endorsing just enough candidates to bring the Senate to an even split. But Republicans successfully fended off their challenges.

Incumbent Republican Congressman Scott Perry made a statement after defeating democrat challenger Janelle Stelson to be re-elected for his seventh term in the U.S. House of Representatives. First and foremost,