President Trump says he's willing to work with Democrats after the Republican party's defeat in the midterm elections. Democrats flipped at least seven seats in the Senate and more than two dozen in the House.
In Pennsylvania, Democrats will control the governor’s mansion and both houses of Congress for the first time in over 30 years.
U.S. Congress:
Locally, Democratic Congressmembers Chris Deluzio and Summer Lee both won re-election, along with Republicans Mike Kelly and Guy Reschenthaler.
Governor:
Josh Shapiro has won a second term as Pennsylvania’s governor with the Associated Press calling the race one minute after the polls closed. Governor Shapiro told supporters last night the people have spoken.
“They want us to raise the minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour, they want us to build more housing and strengthen our infrastructure,” Shapiro told supporters.
Shapiro prevailed over Republican challenger Stacy Garrity 60 to 38 percent.
State legislature:
In Harrisburg, in addition to the governor, Democrats will have control of the General Assembly.
in the House, Democrats entered the election with a 103-seat majority.
Now it is at least 111. This is the first time Pennsylvania Democrats have had a governmental trifecta in 33 years.
By a very narrow margin, Scott Timko has won the seat held by Democrat Brandon Dukes.
Dukes had just won a special election in August for that seat to replace Republican Stephenie Scialabba who stepped down earlier this year.
Timko winning with 16-573 votes to Dukes' 15-998.
When Dukes took the seat, it was a shock because the district is heavily Republican.
In District 28, Jeremy Shaffer winning by about five percent over Democrat Jeremy Ferderber.
In her State Senate district, Camera Bartolotta appears to be the winner by about 10,000 votes over independent Jodi Borello
Democrats appear to have successfully flipped the 44th house district with Hadley Haas defeating Republican incumbent Valerie Gaydos.
Republican Natalie Mihalek retains her 40th District seat, defeating Democrat Jon Lloyd.
Democrats will hold a 26-24 seat majority in the State Senate.
High-profile referendums
The ballot question that would allow Allegheny County Council to lift restrictions on hiring personal staff, obtaining healthcare and other fringe benefits went down overwhelmingly in defeat.
Those who supported making the measure argued that council needed more staff to function properly.
But the proposal faced a lot of pushback from critics, including callers to the Colin Dunlap show, said they were confused by the wording of the ballot question.
And in Butler County, voters in Mars and Adams Township have elected to merge. Come Jan. 1, 2028, the two communities will become one municipality called “Mars Township.”
voters also defeated a change to the Allegheny Home Rule Charter
voters also defeated a change to the Allegheny Home Rule Charter
