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4w ago

Democrats Secure Pennsylvania House and Flip GOP-Held Senate Seat in Key Special Elections

Dan Goughnour's win restores Democratic control of the state House, while James Malone's historic Senate victory narrows the Republican majority.

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.

Overview

  • Democrat Dan Goughnour won the House District 35 special election, re-establishing the Democrats' 102-101 majority in the Pennsylvania state House.
  • James Malone achieved a historic upset in Senate District 36, flipping a Republican-held seat for the first time in 46 years and narrowing the GOP Senate majority to 27-23.
  • Goughnour's victory ensures Democrats retain leadership in the state House, with Joanna McClinton remaining as Speaker.
  • Malone's win in a district Trump carried by 15 points highlights shifting voter dynamics in traditionally conservative areas.
  • Both victories reflect broader national trends of Democratic overperformance in 2025 special elections, signaling potential challenges for Republicans in key battlegrounds.