Special elections: Democrats claim Pa. House majority, lead in 36th Senate District
- Democratic leaders framed the special elections as a referendum on the Trump administration and Republican control in the state.
Democrats claimed a majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and held a narrow lead in a Lancaster County state Senate district where Republicans have a strong advantage, according to unofficial results in special elections late Tuesday.
Democrat Dan Goughnour won the 35th House District seat, previously held by Rep. Matthew Gergely, D-Allegheny County, with 63.4% of the vote, according to unofficial results. His victory restores the 102-101 seat majority Democrats held in the House before Gergley died in January after suffering a medical emergency.
A Democratic victory in the Lancaster County race would not change Republican control of the Senate, but would be a significant upset in the district, where President Donald Trump won by 15 percentage points in November.
Unofficial results in the 36th Senate District election showed East Petersburg Mayor James Malone, a Democrat, ahead of Republican County Commissioner Chairman Joshua Parsons by fewer than 500 votes, or 0.89% of the 54,000 votes cast.
The Associated Press said the race was too early to call, with an unknown number of provisional ballots still to be counted. The winner will take the place of former Republican Sen. Ryan Aument, who resigned to work for U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick.
What Democrats said about Tuesday's special elections
Party leaders said the Democratic victories were a statement on the Trump administration’s cuts to federal agencies and chaotic first two months in power.
“Malone’s victory is a loud and clear rebuke to Republicans’ threats to the programs Pennsylvania families rely on ― from Social Security and Medicaid to our public schools,” Democratic National Committee Chairperson Ken Martin said in a statement.
Sen. Vincent Hughes, chairman of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, said the election was a referendum on chaos in Washington and inaction by Republicans in Harrisburg.
“Voters are fed up, and they showed up tonight in Lancaster,” Hughes said.
36th Senate District special election
Malone, who works for a business information technology firm, says he is devoted to transparent, compassionate, inclusive and innovative government. His campaign website said his priorities are affordable housing, including support for first-time homeowners and property tax relief; public education; supporting first responders, and expanding social services and mental health support.
Parsons is the Lancaster County commissioners chairperson, a veteran U.S. Army officer and former assistant district attorney. He gained prominence in conservative political circles for his defiance of state COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, claiming credit for Lancaster County’s economic recovery during the emergency, and touted his leadership as an abortion opponent.
Parsons’ campaign was supported by GOP activist Scott Presler, who helped turn out Amish voters in the 2024 general election. Presler, who has drawn criticism for his anti-Muslim language, rang early alarm bells about a possible Democratic victory, drawing the attention of billionaire megadonor Elon Musk, Lancaster Online reported this week.
The 36th District covers a swath of northern Lancaster County including suburbs of the city of Lancaster, Elizabethtown and rural areas.
35th House District special election
Goughnour is a member of the McKeesport Area School Board and captain of detectives in the McKeesport Police Department. He ran against Republican Charles Davis, who is president of the White Oak borough council.
The 35th District, in the Monongahela River Valley south of Pittsburgh, includes the industrial cities of Clairton, Duquesne and McKeesport.
Peter Hall has been a journalist in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 20 years, most recently covering criminal justice and legal affairs for The Morning Call in Allentown. Pennsylvania Capital-Star is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.