In an election that favored Republican incumbents and candidates, Pennsylvania Democrats hope to maintain their majority in the Keystone State’s lower house.
Democrats began deliberations on November 5 with a 102-101 majority in the House and hoped to augment their decision-making advantage.
Well, it didn’t work out that way because Republicans came away with a come-from-behind victory in the presidential race Donald Trump and translated that triumph into a immaculate sweep of the state’s rank-and-file offices – Attorney General, Auditor General and State Treasurer.
Even with these headwinds, Democrats did not lose a single race in which they had a dominant representative. For this purpose, neither Republicans nor Republicans. The vacant seats appear to remain under the control of the incumbent party.
What does this mean?
This means that control of the chamber depends on three contests.
PA-72. Frank Burns (D) leads Amy Bradley (R), 53-47, incl Cambria County Competition which registered votes from only 45% of its precincts due to machine failure. Since 2008, Burns has won re-election in this R+9 county every cycle.
PA-144. Brian Munroe (D), which won the seat in 2022 by just 515 votes, is trying to push back Dan McPhillips (R) in Bucks County. He currently has a lead of 1,001 votes (51-49%), with entries coming from all 34 districts.
PA-172. Sean Dougherty (D), who defeated the incumbent Kevin Boyle in primary school, tries to hold back Aiza Gill (R). He currently has a lead of 454 votes, with reports coming from all 62 wards.
If Burns, Munroe and Dougherty hold on to victory, Democrats will retain their majority in the House of Representatives.
Other open seat races appear to remain in the hands of the same party.
PA-05. Eric Weaknecht (R) defeated Heather Hanna67-33, in the Berks County replacement contest Barry Jozwiak (R).
PA-28. Jeremy Shaffer (R) shot down Bill Petulli57-43, in Allegheny County’s race to replace Rob Mercury (R), who lost his congressional campaign Chris Deluzio.
PA-38. Jan Inglis III (D) defeated Stone Sobieralski55-45 to keep Allegheny’s seat in blue after he leaves Nick Pisciottano.
PA-56. Brian Rasul (R) won unopposed, keeping the Westmoreland district in red hands.
PA-63. Josh Bashline (R) defeated Pat Ritchie80-20 to replace someone retiring Donna Oberlander (R) in Armstrong and Clarion counties.
PA-80. Scott Barger (R) won unopposed after being eliminated Jim Gregory at Blair/Huntingdon GOP Primary School.
PA-90. Chad Reichard (R) kept the Franklin County seat in red hands, winning unopposed and replacing him Paweł Schemel.
PA-92. Mark Anderson (R) shot down Dan Almoney71-29, replace Dawn Keefer in this district of York County.
PA-96. Nikki Rivera (D) defeated Eric Beezer60-40 to keep Mike Sturla The seat of Lancaster County is in Democrat hands.
PA-103. Nate Davidson (D) outperformed the poll Cynthia Ward60-40, to be replaced Patty Kim in Dauphin County.
PA-117. After months of waiting for the court to decide his GOP primary against the incumbent Mike Cabell, JamieWalsh (R) won his general election race unopposed.
PA-187. Gary Day (R) returns to Harrisburg after his defeat Stephanie Rafes55-45, in Lehigh County. Replaces Ryan Mackenzie who won the seat in Washington’s 7th Congressional District.
PA-195. Keith Harris (D) won the Philadelphia contest unopposed.
PA-201. Andre Carroll (D) won the Philadelphia contest unopposed.
