Poor turnout provided talking points for the Democratic Party as a Pennsylvania district readily won by President Donald Trump flipped blue in a special election.
As witnessed by appointments to the president’s administration, removing an elected official from their position created a risk. Now, after freshman Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick (R) did the same to appoint a state director, a vacant seat in the state Senate marked a victory for projected winner James Malone and Democrats across the country.
“In a district that went to Trump by 15 in 2024 and has a 23-point Republican voter registration advantage, Malone’s victory is a loud and clear rebuke to Republicans’ threats to the programs Pennsylvania families rely on — from Social Security and Medicaid to our public schools,” expressed Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin in a statement.
He also took to social media to proclaim, “Democrats just SHATTERED a 40-year Republican stronghold in Pennsylvania’s State Senate! In a +15 Trump district, no less! This is a WARNING, Donald Trump–we’re fired up, we’re mobilized, and we’re COMING FOR YOU!”
Democrats just SHATTERED a 40-year Republican stronghold in Pennsylvania’s State Senate! In a +15 Trump district, no less! This is a WARNING, Donald Trump—we’re fired up, we’re mobilized, and we’re COMING FOR YOU! https://t.co/BmbA0L0zTq
— Ken Martin (@kenmartin73) March 26, 2025
Malone, the mayor of East Petersburg, defeated Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons (R) in a special election to fill the open seat vacated by former state Sen. Ryan Aument (R), who resigned to become state director for McCormick.
According to the unofficial returns posted by the commonwealth, Malone’s victory came with a margin of less than 500 votes, with Libertarian candidate Zachary Moore taking 480 votes in the tight race. Meanwhile, voter registration showed a Republican advantage over Democrats of about 53% to 30% that appeared to be overcome by a turnout projected at less than 30%.
Comparatively, Trump won the district in his 2024 presidential election with 57% of the vote, and McCormick defeated incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D) with around 56%.
“To protect working Americans, Democrats like Senator-elect Malone are competing everywhere, and in special elections throughout the country, we continue to overperform as voters join us in fighting back against the Trump-Musk agenda,” continued the spin from Martin. “This is a shockwave to the system and the way Republicans have run our government. Republicans everywhere should be afraid.”
Likewise, the commonwealth’s Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) posted, “Tonight in Lancaster County, Pennsylvanians rejected a candidate who embraced the extremism and division coming out of DC. In a district carried comfortably by Donald Trump just a few months ago, they chose a better way forward — an embrace of competence, commonsense, and a desire to bring people together.”
Tonight in Lancaster County, Pennsylvanians rejected a candidate who embraced the extremism and division coming out of DC.
In a district carried comfortably by Donald Trump just a few months ago, they chose a better way forward – an embrace of competence, commonsense, and a… https://t.co/zoJkcLwYGr
— Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) March 26, 2025
Heading into the 2024 election, it was apparent that considerably more engagement came from Amish Communities, heavily motivated to keep now-former Vice President Kamala Harris from getting a promotion and advancing policies of government overreach.
“It’s the idea of strong individual responsibility, a strong family unit, and then a strong local community or local church,” Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), the first Amish-born member of Congress, told Fox News Digital about voters in his district before the election. “And when you have all of that in place, you don’t need a big government.”
“The Amish love President Trump…they want to be left alone,” he insisted.
As for Parsons, he noted on X Tuesday night, “Obviously we are disappointed in the numbers. We are still reviewing them, but it appears we will come up a little short. We will have a further statement tomorrow. We appreciate all those who worked hard, supported our campaign, and came out to vote today.”
Obviously we are disappointed in the numbers. We are still reviewing them, but it appears we will come up a little short. We will have a further statement tomorrow. We appreciate all those who worked hard, supported our campaign, and came out to vote today.
— Josh Parsons (@Josh__Parsons) March 26, 2025
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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