This has never happened in the 36th Senator District since this area was configured in 1983.
It was a republican land in the northern Lancaster, because only four representatives of GOP had previously occupied a place in Harrisburg.
The earth of the earthquake this morning under your feet was the sound of democrats of celebrating a monumental retreat as the mayor of the East St. Petersburg district James Malone He pulled up nervousness, defeating the chairman of the Lancaster Fountain Commissioners, Josh Parsons482 votes.
Special elections were held to complete the term Ryan Aumementwho gave up this year to take the role of the state director for US Senator Dave McCormick. Parsons was chosen by the Republicans of Lancaster as their candidate, but because of excessive confidence, Hubris or democratic enthusiasm to listen to their votes, his lack of preservation of space is discussed far and wide.
How did it happen?
Were the Republicans too confident? Probably. Combining the history of the district in combination with a 53-30% predominance of registration of voters, it seems clear that if GOP was not too confident, it certainly had the right.
Remember that the nearest democrat appeared in the 36th place in the 21st century, 23,000 votes.
Did the Republicans choose the best candidate? The answer can be found in the results of the election last night. Parsons received a nod to state Rep. Brett Miller (R-41), which won the re-election campaign in 2024 in a similar area of the county, 56–44%. He was a polarizing figure, not only among democrats in Lancaster, but also among more moderate Republicans. Was clamorous in terms of cultural war, such as Distriction of the immigration regulation of the Lancaster City Council AND His opposition to “Drag Queen Story Hour” Lancaster Library This caused a bomb threat This closed the object and a significant part of Śródmieście for a few hours last year.
Parsons boasted that he and colleague of Commissioner GOP, Ray d’Anostinoignored at the timeTom Wolf’s Governor Closing closure during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also did the calling of LNP Lancaster online, local daily, As a biased source of messageAt the same time, indicating that although the results of the Lancaster Ferris elections were true and truthful, he could not say the same for other poviats in the community.
A former prosecutor, Parsons, decided not to participate in the forum leading to the elections sponsored by the Women’s League voters. According to LNPHe also advertised his record as a commissioner, saying that the unit had no changes in tax rates for 12 years. In January in January, that the current rules of the count’s expenditure will produce a budget hole of $ 30 million next year.
To sum up, Parsons was a true critic of postal voting, saying on his website of the campaign that he had opposed Act 77 since conception and “warned about its threats” before the election in 2020.
There is a bit of irony in the fact that Malone has built an advantage of 5,300 votes with voting cards – a margin that was closed to 482 votes with the addition of votes on the day of election.
Yes, yes. Parsons was a polarizing candidate. Despite this, Republicans had 23 percent more registered voters than Democrats. President Donald Trump He won the district by 15 points. If there were head winds because of the candidate, the tail winds could be stronger because of the region. Normal?
The leaves of tea said one. Watching chaos in Washington said another one.
Does Lancaster Countians make a statement about his feelings about tariffs, executive orders, dog, war plans discussed by the signal and, yes, Elon Musk?
Malone collecting 50% of votes in the district, in which the best democratic performance in a quarter century was 33%, can be a hint.
Governor Josh Shapiro He started to social media to congratulate the mayor of the 4571 residents, located north of Lancaster City.
Today, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania rejected a candidate who adopted extremism and a division coming out of DC.
In a district transported comfortably by Donald Trump, just a few months ago they chose a better way forward – adopting competences, vigorous and … https://t.co/zojkclwygr
– Josh Shapiro (@joshshpiro) March 26, 2025
Democratic Senate leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) Welded Malone in the chamber, writing: “People from Lancaster were loud and clear: decency and comonine beating the hatred program of Trump and Musk, chaos and misery. I am excited to welcome the next outstanding master of democratic value for Pennsylvania, the Senate of Democrats, and I can’t wait with him The fight to do this for every outstanding master.
Maybe Malone himself is the best.
“Over the past few weeks I have talked to many my neighbors and met many fresh people in this community,” he said in a statement. “And regardless of the registration of the party or electoral history, we almost all agreed to one thing: it was time for common sense, kindness and transparency. Many people from all over the state and the country said that this district was not competitive, and they never chose someone on the other hand, but I think that they would not appreciate the lancaster. Time to act.
Great picture
Politicspa asked many political scientists for their thoughts about the result, its importance in the present, as well as for the future.
“Special elections can cause surprises, and a republican loss in a district where they have a 23-point registration advantage. The district is slightly more wealthy and educated than the Lancaster Flacity as a whole. A couple that this is a competition of open places, and you had a race that can be similar than usual. Among the voters with a university, a group that is more likely that will help them in elections with lower turnover. Berwood YostIN Director, Floyd Institute for Public Policy, Center for Opinia Research, Franklin & Marshall College
“Special choices are a shutter in time and regardless of the results of one special, it is best to be careful in reading too much in the results. However, it is clear that democrats, who are more freely voting by post, have an advantage in a low frequency. – – – – Chris NicholasIN Eagle Consulting Group, Inc.
“The democrats did really, very well in the special elections in the Trump era. This is mainly because these choices are a low profile/low level of attendance. Considering the growing strength of democrats among educated student, suburban voters, they have an advantage in low attendance elections. Add to the fact that this is a race outside the year with a republican whose president, whose president, whose president The consent is under water, and you gain another advantage for Democrats.
It should be remembered that the Democrats in Iów also rejected the place in January and it was a similar district. Trump had it with almost 60% of the votes. This suggests that a lot of what happened last night in 36 is structural.
Like Berwood, I would warn you too much to read this one result. But if we continue to see 15-20 points towards Democrats in the election this year-in the Supreme Court Race, American races in Florida, NJ and Va Gubernatorial Races-Powinny are to call alarm bells at the headquarters of the Main Republican Party throughout the country. A lot of time has passed until November 2026 and a lot can happen from time to time, but we can see the beginnings of the blue wave. ” – – Stephen MedvicIN Honorary and Mrs. John C. Kunkel, professor of government; Director of the Polityka and Public Affairs Center; Co -director, Floyd Institute for Public Policy, Franklin & Marshall College
“As Berwood and Stephen noted, it is really good to limit generalizations from special choices. I was just coming from teaching my class of methods and told my class, using something” special “to tell us about the” ordinary “idea. To say, I think that the results of yesterday should send chills in GOP spikes GOP officials who are looking for elections in 2025 and 2026. Democrats in the presidential years and the uncertainty that the audience feels as a result of Trump administration activities, they are quite a solid wind for republicans in the upcoming elections. – – Chris BorickIN Professor of the Director of Political Sciences, Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion
