Democrat Lamb seen with slight edge going into Pennsylvania vote

Democratic candidate Conor Lamb arrives to vote at the First Church of Christ Social Hall in Mt. Lebanon, Penn. on Tueesday. Lamb and Republican Rick Saccone are vying to fill the open seat in Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District in a special election that has national overtones. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI Rick Saccone (R), Republican Candidate, face-times his son as he exits the Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church in Mckeesport, Penn. with his wife after casting his ballot for the 18th Congressional District Special election on Tuesday. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI Democratic candidate Conor Lamb arrives to vote at the First Church of Christ Social Hall in Mt. Lebanon, Penn. on Tuesday. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI President Donald Trump applauds Rick Saccone, Republican candidate for the 18th congressional Ddstrict, following his speech at Atlantic Aviation in Moon Township near Pittsburgh on Saturday. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI

March 13 (UPI) -- Democrats eyeing control of Congress this fall have another opportunity Tuesday to gain a seat, when Pennsylvania voters choose a replacement for former Rep. Tim Murphy.

Tuesday's special election between Republican Rick Saccone and Democrat Conor Lamb is also expected to serve as a preview of other national races for November's midterm elections.

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The two candidates in Pennsylvania's 18th district are vying to fill the House seat vacated by Murphy who resigned in October following a scandal involving a staffer.

The winner Tuesday will serve out the remaining 10 months of Murphy's term, but will have to win a new district to be re-elected in November -- because of an anti-gerrymandering decision last month by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that realigned congressional districts.

Heading into Tuesday's vote, polling showed Lamb with a slight edge in the district -- considered Republican territory in southwest Pittsburgh, where President Donald Trump beat Democrat Hillary Clinton by nearly 20 points in 2016.

Some Republican groups have spent millions in television advertising to counter Lamb, who is running as a moderate Democrat who said won't support House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi if he's elected.

Last weekend, Trump attended a campaign rally in Pennsylvania for Saccone.

Democrats have performed respectably in special elections in the last year -- but have picked up only one seat in Congress since Trump's election in November 2016 -- Alabama's Doug Jones, who defeated Roy Moore for Jeff Sessions' vacant Senate seat.