Democrat flips red Pennsylvania state Senate seat as party rides special election wave – Washington Examiner
In a meaningful political shift,Democrat James Malone has narrowly won a special election in Pennsylvania’s state Senate District 36,a district that previously favored Republicans adn was won by Donald Trump in the last presidential election. Malone defeated republican Josh Parsons by less than 1 percentage point, reducing the Republican majority in the Pennsylvania senate to 27-23. This victory is part of an ongoing trend of Democratic successes in special elections,with party leaders expressing optimism about their performance in future races and citing concerns for Republicans. The win is viewed as indicative of broader challenges facing the GOP, especially in light of fundraising difficulties and recent electoral losses. Democratic leaders are leveraging these special elections as a critical stepping stone towards the upcoming 2024 general election.
Democrat flips red Pennsylvania state Senate seat as party rides special election wave
Democrats won a significant upset victory in a Republican-leaning state Senate race in Pennsylvania, adding to recent GOP special election woes.
Democrat James Malone narrowly defeated Republican Josh Parsons by less than 1 percentage point in the race for state Senate District 36 on Tuesday, narrowing the GOP’s majority in the chamber to a 27-23 advantage. The district had been held by a Republican and was won by President Donald Trump last November in the presidential election with 57% of the vote.
The win continues a good streak of special election victories for Democrats in 2025, with Heather Williams, the president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, heralding the victory as having defied the odds in the heavily Republican district.
“Democrats are on a roll in state legislative races in 2025, from flipping red seats to defending one-seat majorities, which should put Republicans on edge,” Williams said Tuesday, also noting a victory in a Democratic-held state House seat to maintain control in that chamber. “Both wins affirm Democratic leadership in a moment when GOP power is synonymous with chaos.”
Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin called the upset victory a “shock wave to the system and the way Republicans have run our government.”
“Republicans everywhere should be afraid,” added Martin, who was elected DNC chairman last month.
The special election loss in a GOP-held state legislature seat is the latest since the November election after Democrats flipped a heavily Republican state Senate seat in Iowa in January.
The poor record in special elections since November and continued struggles with fundraising have heightened Republican concerns in a pair of House races slated for next week.
The races for seats previously held by Rep. Matt Gaetz and national security adviser Mike Waltz in Florida will be held next week in two heavily Republican districts. Despite the built-in advantage of the political makeup of the districts, both GOP candidates have lagged behind Democrats in fundraising.
DEMOCRATS FIGHT TO GAIN FOOTHOLDS IN FLORIDA AS GOP CONCERNS RISE OVER FUNDRAISING
The concerns have prompted a late surge in funds being sent to both candidates to help get both of them across the finish line and avoid an upset like the one in Pennsylvania on Tuesday.
While Democrats are hoping to make gains with these off-cycle races, special elections tend to see lower turnout and can be hard to use for gauging performance in regular elections. Democrats mounted several wins and strong performances in the special elections in the lead-up to the 2024 general election but saw bruising losses across the board last November.
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