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4w ago

Democrats Regain Control of Pennsylvania House with Special Election Win

Dan Goughnour's victory in District 35 restores the Democrats' 102-101 majority, solidifying their leadership in the closely divided chamber.

This combo of phots shows Republican state Rep. candidate Chuck Davis left, on Friday, March 14, 2025, in Clairton, Pa.; and Democrat state Rep. candidate Dan Goughnour in McKeesport, Pa., on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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People complete their ballots as the sunset is reflected in the glass of a precinct in the Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 5, 2024.
Republican Chuck Davis campaigns in Clairton, Pa., on Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Overview

  • Democrat Dan Goughnour won the Pennsylvania House District 35 special election, securing a narrow 102-101 Democratic majority in the state House.
  • The seat was vacated following the death of Democratic Rep. Matt Gergely in January 2025, which had resulted in a 101-101 deadlock in the chamber.
  • Goughnour, a police officer and school board member, defeated Republican Chuck Davis in the Democratic-leaning Allegheny County district.
  • The victory ensures Joanna McClinton remains Speaker of the Pennsylvania House, maintaining Democratic control over legislative priorities.
  • A concurrent special election in Senate District 36 did not alter the Republican majority in the state Senate, which remains firmly in GOP control.