George Kenney

The race to replace retiring state Rep. George Kenney (R-Philadelphia) has tightened in recent weeks, with underdog Republican Matt Taubenberger closing a gap in the polls against Democrat Brendan Boyle, according to a Capitolwire report (subscription only).

Kenney has represented northeast Philadelphia's 170th Legislative District for years, leaving it as one of the increasingly Democratic city's few Republican strongholds. But with him on the way out, Democrats are hoping that Boyle, considered a rising star and being well-funded by the party, can take the seat back. Most internal polling had shown Taubenberger, Kenney's constituent services director and the son of last year's failed mayoral candidate Al Taubenberger, trailing by double-digits.

But the Capitolwire report, citing an unnamed Democrat, said Boyle's lead is now "paper-thin." High-profile state Republicans have apparently been pouring money into the race of late in the hopes of keeping control of what is still one of the city's most conservative districts.

Like other traditionally conservative, Democratic trending districts, much could depend on turnout for the presidential race, and how each candidate at the top of the ticket fares.

It's hard for Republicans to win elected office at any level in Philadelphia, where Democrats outnumber GOP voters by more than five to one. So when Republicans have seats, especially in traditionally more conservative wards in the northeast sections of the city, the party tends to hold on to them dearly.

But one of those few GOP strongholds could very well fall this year, with a longtime Republican incumbent retiring and two young upstart politicians vying to replace him.

State Rep. George Kenney (R-Philadelphia) has held the 170th District state House seat since 1985, making him one of the longest-serving Republican officeholders in the city. But after narrowly beating Democrat Brendan Boyle in 2006, Kenney decided to retire after this year.

Now, Boyle is running again, this time against Republican Matt Taubenberger, who heads up Kenney's constituent services office. He is also the son of Al Taubenberger, last year's failed Republican mayoral candidate.

Despite Taubenberger's role in Kenney's office, Boyle has reason to see momentum on his side, with the entire state leaning gradually more Democratic. And in a district where he lost by just over 1,000 votes two years ago, he is certain to face an easier race without an incumbent in the picture.

"It's much easier running in an open seat than running against an incumbent," Boyle told PolitickerPA.com last week.