Updated at 9:20 a.m., Nov. 4
President Donald Trump repeatedly encouraged voters to pretend he was on the ballot this Election Day. He wasn’t, of course. But the results of Tuesday’s midterms in Pennsylvania—and across the country—above all, appear to be a referendum on his performance over the last two years.
As expected, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro easily held off a challenge from Republican Stacy Garrity. Propelled by big wins in Pennsylvania’s 1st, 7th, 8th, and 10th Congressional Districts, Democrats will regain control of the US House of Representatives.
And in Harrisburg, Democrats will control both legislative chambers and the governorship in state government for the first time since 1993, after flipping the state Senate and increasing their razor-thin majority in the state House.
Here’s a quick look at some of the big Pennsylvania races:
Josh Shapiro defeats Stacy Garrity
Shapiro easily defeated Garrity in his reelection bid, with CNN calling the race for Shapiro shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Shapiro was heavily favored to win the governor’s race from the onset. He has maintained a high approval rating among voters throughout his first term in office.
During the campaign, Shapiro positioned himself as running against the chaos and dysfunction of Trump’s second term in office. Throughout the campaign, he touted increased investments in public education, universal breakfast for all public school students, and his record of protecting labor unions and investing in apprenticeship and vocational training programs.
“Tonight, Pennsylvania, you declared that you could not be more ready for the end of this era of ruthless chaos and cruelty, this rampant corruption that raises our costs and rattles our conscience,” Shapiro said shortly after being reelected.
“You declared loud and clear that you will no longer wait for a new chapter that restores the voice of the people. That returns accountability. And, that revitalizes the American spirit that has defined us since our founding.”
And propelled by big wins in Pennsylvania’s 7th, 8th, and 10th Congressional Districts, Democrats appear on pace to win control the US House of Representatives. Here’s a look at those races.
Paige Cognetti defeats Rob Bresnahan
Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti (D) has defeated US Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Luzerne) in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District.
Cognetti has promised to continue her fight against corruption in Congress by taking up a ban on congressional stock trading and pushing for guardrails to prevent legislators and staffers from profiting from insider trading through prediction markets such as Kalshi.
In a statement, Cognetti said, “Northeastern Pennsylvania sent an unmistakable message. We’re tired of big corporations and wealthy donors calling the shots and rigging the system against the rest of us. And we’re tired of being told that this is just how Washington works. We are ready to take on Washington corruption and build a government that works as hard as the people it’s supposed to serve.”
Cognetti thanked her volunteers and voters, adding, “to the people who didn’t vote for me, I’m going to work just as hard for you,” saying that “you deserve a representative who listens to you, respects you, and fights for you. That’s the kind of congresswoman I intend to be. This is a victory for everyone who believes our government should belong to the people.”
Originally from Oregon, Cognetti, a Democrat, earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Oregon, followed by a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.
Bob Brooks defeats Ryan Mackenzie
Democrat Bob Brooks, a retired 20-year firefighter and union leader, has defeated US Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh) in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District.
Brooks worked as a firefighter with the Bethlehem Fire Department before becoming President of the Pennsylvania Fire Fighters Association in 2021. The union represents over 7,000 firefighters and first responders across the commonwealth.
Throughout his campaign, Brooks had the support of prominent politicians such as Shapiro, US Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. He also built a coalition of dozens of labor unions and political organizations representing different factions of the Democratic Party.
Brooks campaigned on reversing Trump’s Medicaid cuts, supporting Medicare for All, and strengthening rights for workers and union members across the country.
Janelle Stelson defeats Scott Perry
Former WGAL anchor and Democratic candidate Janelle Stelson has defeated US Rep. Scott Perry (R-York) in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District, according to the Associated Press, which called the race for Stelson at 10:41 p.m. Tuesday. Stelson currently holds an 11 point lead over Perry with 97% of the vote counted as of 10:55 p.m. Tuesday.
Stelson narrowly lost her first campaign against Perry in 2024.
Stelson campaigned on stronger borders and a stronger immigration system, lowering costs for families, and protecting abortion access.
Perry had played a role in President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, his involvement leading to the FBI seizing his phone during its investigation. He’s one of 10 election deniers on the ballot in Pennsylvania this year.
Perry also promoted conspiracy theories about the election, sharing a video that suggested that Italian satellites had been employed to hack voting machines and change results. Perry voted against certifying the results of the 2020 election on Jan. 6, 2021, the day Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to derail certification of the election results.
At her victory party in Hummelstown, Stelson told the crowd that for too long, the people living in the 10th District felt their voices weren’t heard. “Tonight, though, I think they heard our voices.”
Stelson pledged to represent all of the people of her district. “I want to say something now to the people who did not vote for me, and that is the job title is US Representative,” she said. “Not everybody is going to think what I think—you probably have a lot better ideas—and it’s really important that I listen and carry those voices to the halls of Washington.”
She pledged to work to end the war in Iran and the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration without congressional approval. She also pledged to address the high cost of living.
“I heard from so many of you about the cost of everything just being out of control,” she said. “I mean, we’re in a situation now. I call it an economic crisis. I know a lot of people say affordability. Affordability is something you complain about, but an economic crisis is when you’re forced to make choices, can I afford groceries.”
Bob Harvie defeats Brian Fitzpatrick
Democratic Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie has defeated longtime US Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks).
Harvie was backed by Shapiro, while Fitzpatrick had the support of over 40 labor labor unions and affiliated organizations, as well as environmental and gun safety organizations.
Harvie campaigned on rolling back Trump’s tariffs, reversing Medicaid cuts from Trump’s first budget, and voting on releasing the Epstein files.
“It had been about building a future and building back the American dream that so many of us had been raised to believe in . . . We have taken a major step to doing that tonight here in this district,” Harvie said during an election night event hosted by the Bucks County Democratic Committee.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania’s US House races, incumbent Democrats Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Mary Scanlon (PA-05), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-6), Summer Lee (PA-12), and Chris Deluzio (PA-17) won reelection to the US House. And Democrat Chris Rabb (PA-03) was elected to fill the seat of the retiring Dwight Evans.
On the Republican side, incumbents Dan Meuser (PA-9), Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), John Joyce (PA-13), Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), Glenn Thompson (PA-15), and Mike Kelly (PA-16) won reelection.
For more election results and updates, follow our coverage here.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Keystone senior newsletter editor Patrick Berkery contributed to this report.
