Dan Goughnour wins Pennsylvania special election, secures Democrats' grip on state House majority
Dan Goughnour (Photo: facebook.com dan.goughnour.9)
Democrat Dan Goughnour triumphed in a key Pennsylvania special election, ensuring his party retains a narrow edge in the state House of Representatives, reports CBS News.
In Tuesday’s special election, Dan Goughnour, a police detective and school board member from McKeesport, defeated Republican Chuck Davis in a closely watched race southeast of Pittsburgh. The seat had been vacant since January following the death of Democratic Rep. Matthew Gergely, leaving the Pennsylvania House tied 101-101.
Goughnour’s victory restores the Democrats’ slim majority, allowing House Speaker Joanna McClinton to continue leading the chamber. "We knocked on thousands and thousands of doors," Goughnour said. "We worked hard and didn’t take anything for granted."
Democrats defend gains, Republicans stumble in Senate race
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin welcomed the result, saying it empowers Democrats to "stand up to Trump’s mayhem in Washington" and "continue to expand job opportunities, strengthen schools and create safe communities in Pennsylvania." Democrats took control of the state House in 2023 after flipping a dozen seats and have since held on through repeated special election wins.
Meanwhile, in another special election for a state Senate seat in Lancaster County, Democrat James Andrew Malone led by just under 500 votes against Republican Josh Parsons, though the race remained too close to call as of late Tuesday. Even if Democrats pull off a surprise win, Republicans will still control the state Senate.
