PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Editor's note: The above video is from October 6.
Republican Timothy DeFoor is Pennsylvania’s next auditor general after defeating Dr. Nina Ahmad in a historic election race.
DeFoor, an African-American, is the first person of color in Pennsylvania history to win a statewide election race.
He defeated Ahmad, a chemist and entrepreneur from the Philadelphia area, according to the Associated Press projection.
Libertarian Jennifer Moore and Green Party candidate Olivia Faison were also on the ballot for the commonwealth’s top financial watchdog.
DeFoor will replace Eugene DePasquale, who served two terms as the commonwealth's fiscal watchdog.
DeFoor is a former special investigator in the Attorney General and Inspector General's offices. Since 2015, he has served as Dauphin County's top auditor, as its county controller.
The significance of his victory is not lost on him.
"Considering what’s going on in our country right now, considering the state of the African-American community and African-Americans in general, and also the history of our struggles, the history of my parents struggles, and my struggles I think it’s of great significance," DeFoor told FOX43 during the campaign.
DeFoor said during the campaign that he would address the finances of the COVID-19 pandemic first if elected: where is the money in federal and state aid supposed to go and how is it being used.
DeFoor has an Associate’s Degree from Harrisburg Area Community College, Bachelor’s Degrees from Penn State University and the University of Pittsburgh (in psychology and sociology/history, respectively), and a Master’s Degree in Project Management from Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.