This is a breaking election update from The Keystone team.

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, 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 7th, 8th, and 10th Congressional Districts, Democrats will regain control of the US House of Representatives.

And depending on how Pennsylvania’s state House and Senate races shake out, Democrats could control of all three branches of state government for the first time since 1993.

Here’s a quick look at how the midterms played out in Pennsylvania.

Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) easily defeated Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity (R) in his reelection bid, with CNN calling the race for Shapiro shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

According to the Associated Press, Shapiro holds a nearly 24-point lead over Garrity, with 75% of the vote counted as of 10:30 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. 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.”

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 holds a 13-point lead over Mackenzie with 80% of the vote counted as of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

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.

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.

Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti (D) has defeated US Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Luzerne) in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District.

Cognetti holds a 12-point lead over Bresnahan with 90% of the vote counted as of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

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. 

With 72% of the vote in as of 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, Democratic Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie has an 8-point lead over US Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) in Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District, according to the Associated Press.

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 throughout the night, follow our live coverage here.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Patrick Berkery and Sean Kitchen. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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