Pa. Republicans keep two state House seats in special elections

Republicans secured victories in two state House special elections Tuesday night, according to unofficial results from the Pennsylvania Department of State. That leaves partisan control of the chamber unchanged. Democrats will maintain their slim majority with 102 of 203 seats.

In the 193rd District, which is made up of Adams and Cumberland counties, Republican Catherine Wallen beat Democrat Todd Crawley with roughly 60% of the total vote. The seat opened after former GOP Rep. Torren Ecker was elected as a judge in the Adams County Court of Common Pleas last November.

In the 79th District in Blair County, Republican Andrea Verobish topped 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 the victories demonstrate “the success of our message and the strength of our candidates.”

“Mark my words: House Republicans will continue to carry our message of lowering taxes, fighting for families, and unleashing the economic potential of every corner of this Commonwealth,” he added. “We will execute a winning strategy marked by a vision of a hopeful future in this year’s elections that will lead to a new Republican Majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.”

Both candidates will have to run again in November’s general election to hold onto their newly won seats, and both will be unopposed on their respective Republican primary ballots in May.

But in both cases, that sets up possible rematches with their special election opponents, who are also the only Democrats who submitted petitions to appear on their respective primary ballots in the 79th and 193rd Districts.

The deadline for candidates to withdraw from the primary ballot is March 25.