Democrat James Malone pulls off stunning upset in Pa. Senate special election

James Malone defeated his Republican challenger by 482 votes in a special election for a state Senate seat in Lancaster County. Last week, Elon Musk was sounding the alarm about losing the seat, which Trump carried by 15 points in November.  

East Petersburg Mayor James Malone sent shockwaves through Pennsylvania’s political universe on Tuesday after he pulled off a stunning upset in a Pennsylvania Senate special election. 

Malone defeated Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons by 482 votes in the 36th Senate district, which President Donald Trump carried by more than 15 points in the 2024 election. Malone’s victory narrows Pennsylvania Republicans’ hold on the chamber to a 27 to 23 majority.

“Over the last few weeks, I talked to a lot of my neighbors and I met a lot of new folks in this community. And no matter their party registration or voting history, we all pretty much agreed on one thing: it’s time for common sense, kindness, and transparency,” Malone said in a statement. 

“A lot of people from around the state and country said this district wasn’t competitive, and they’d never elect someone from the other party, but I think that underestimates Lancaster. We are watching our values be denigrated in Washington as our leaders in Harrisburg watch silently. I talked to this district, and I listened, and we agreed it’s time to act. I am ready to get to work for our district, county, and state.”

The seat was left vacant by former State Sen. Ryan Aument, who resigned from the Pa. Senate to take a job as US Sen. Dave McCormick’s (R-Pa.) state director. Lancaster County Republican committee members selected Parsons as his replacement.

Parsons  is known for denying the 2020 election results and picking fights with Lancaster Newspaper and progressive organizations such as Lancaster Stands Up.  

Democrats rallied around Malone in the rural Lancaster district and spent more than $170,000 as Musk and Republicans in Washington DC started worrying about the race. 

Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-Allegheny) spoke to Malone supporters and helped with a canvas launch on his way back to Congress on Monday, while Gov. Josh Shapiro and Lt. Gov Austin Davis recorded robocalls, sent text messages, and canvassed the area.

“ This is a competitive special election, and it’s one where we’re already seeing Republicans and Independents come in this direction,” Deluzio said in an interview. 

“This is a race that should not be on the map in a normal environment, and yet Democrats are fired up and Independents and Republicans  I think are walking away from some of the corruption from the attacks on the VA and Social Security and issues that are happening in Washington, but affect us here in home of Pennsylvania.”

DeLuzio continued: “ I think the mayor’s done a great job of firing people up, and he’s put this in play. To see the richest man on the planet, Elon Musk, and others in Washington – for the Republicans to be nervous about this seat,  it tells you that this is now a race that’s competitive, that’s up for grabs.”