Pennsylvania Capitol, Monday, December 22, 2025 (Photo by Peter Hall/Capital-Star)
They say Republicans won two special elections for the state House of Representatives on Tuesday night unofficial results from the Pennsylvania Department of State. This leaves partisan control of the chamber unchanged. Democrats will maintain a slim majority of 102 of 203 seats.
In the 193rd District, which includes Adams and Cumberland counties, Republican Catherine Wallen defeated Democrat Todd Crawley with about 60% of the total vote. The seat opened after former GOP Rep. Torren Ecker was elected judge of the Adams County Court of Common Pleas last November.
In Blair County’s 79th District, Republican Andrea Verobish defeated Democrat Caleb McCoy with 58% of the vote. Lou Schmitt, the previous representative, was elected to the Blair County Court of Common Pleas last November.
House Minority Leader Jesse Topper (R-Bedford) said in a statement that the victories demonstrate “the success of our message and the strength of our candidates.”
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“Mark my words: House Republicans will continue to spread our message of cutting taxes, fighting for families and unlocking economic potential in every corner of the Commonwealth,” he added. “In this year’s election, we will execute a winning strategy characterized by a vision of a hopeful future that will lead to a new Republican majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.”
Both candidates will have to run again in the November general election to keep their newly won seats, and there will be no opposition in the Republican primary in May.
But in both cases, it means a possible rematch with their special election opponents, who are also the only Democrats who have filed petitions to be placed on their primary ballots in the 79th and 193rd districts.
The deadline for candidates to withdraw from the primary round of voting is March 25.
