'We're energized': Recovering Democrats find hope in special election wins in Pennsylvania
Democrats across the country are celebrating the results of a special election in Pennsylvania Tuesday, in which the party secured a narrow state House majority and manage to flip a traditionally red state Senate seat.
Dan Goughnour, a Democrat, won his race in a district southwest of Pittsburgh by about 28 points. The seat was previously held by state Rep. Matthew Gergely, another Democrat, who died in January. Goughnour's win restores his party's 102-101 majority in the state House.
Also on the ballot Tuesday − and giving national Democrats cause for celebration − was a special state Senate election to replace Republican state Sen. Ryan Aument, who resigned to work for U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick.
The district in northwest Lancaster went for President Donald Trump by 15 points in 2024. Democrat James Malone claimed victory by less than 500 votes.
While Malone's win does not affect control of the state Senate − Republicans will still have a four-seat majority − it is being hailed by Democrats outside of the Keystone State as a good sign for them.
"We feel great, and the Republicans are scared," Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin told Paste BN.
A spokesperson for the Republican State Leadership Committee said in a statement they are not sweating the outcome.
"Democrats know their failed policy agenda is toxic and their only chance to boost enthusiasm with their voters is to throw everything they can at minor, low-information special elections that don't reflect the realities they will face in the midterms," Mason Di Palma, RSLC Communications Director said.
"Republicans still maintain a comfortable cushion in the Pennsylvania Senate to be a check on Governor Shapiro's dangerous liberal agenda," he added, "but last night's result shows beating them and beating Democrats back in 2025 and 2026 will take significant resources."
Democrats have been celebrating a handful of special election wins already in 2025, including flipping an Iowa state Senate seat in January. In Lancaster Pennsylvania, a Democrat has not represented that district in decades.
"This was a mammoth upset that no one saw coming," Martin said. "And Democrats, we're energized."
Contributing: Peter Hall, Pennsylvania Capital-Star