Democrats declare victory in seat held by Republicans since 1999
Democrats have declared victory in a razor-sharp special election in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, flipping a state House seat that has been held by the Republicans for almost 30 years.
Democrat Brandon Dukes is leading Republican Scott Timko by less than 100 votes in the state House’s 12th District special election. Dukes has 8,434 votes (50.26 percent), while Timko received 8,346 (49.74 percent), according to unofficial election night returns.
Under Pennsylvania law, a recount is automatically triggered for a statewide race if the margin of victory is within 0.5 percent. Chantell McCurdy, the election bureau’s director, said it was not immediately clear whether that applies to the special election and that officials were consulting with their legal team, The Butler Eagle reported.
The apparent win adds to a series of Democratic overperformances in special elections across the country, buoying the party’s hopes of winning control of Congress in November’s midterm elections. It comes as Trump’s approval rating has fallen to a record low, even among several key blocs that helped propel him back to the White House in 2024.
Josh Shapiro Celebrates the Win
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro—a Democrat seen as a potential contender for the White House in 2028—celebrated the victory on Facebook, noting that President Donald Trump had won the district by 18 points in the 2024 election.
Dukes “just flipped a state House District in Butler County—a seat Trump carried by 18 points and the GOP state rep won by 30 points in 2024,” Shapiro wrote.
“Pennsylvanians are rising up and using their power to combat the chaos, cruelty, and corruption—and we’re not slowing down. I was proud to back Brandon. Congratulations State Representative-Elect Dukes—I look forward to getting stuff done together.”
The seat became vacant after former Republican state representative Stephanie Scialabba resigned earlier this year. Before her, Republican Daryl Metcalfe had held the seat since 1999.
‘Unprecedented Victory’
Eugene DePasquale, the chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, said Dukes had won an “unprecedented and hard-fought victory” and thanked those who “worked tirelessly to help Democrats flip this historically deep-red seat.”
The result “not only shows what can be accomplished when Democrats are willing to fight everywhere, but it sets the stage for this November’s midterm elections,” DePasquale said in a statement.
“Pennsylvanians across the political spectrum are sick and tired of Republicans’ chaotic, corrupt, and cost-raising agenda — and they’re ready to reject them at the polls and elect Democrats up and down the ballot in historic fashion.”
He added: “With this momentum at our backs, Democrats will continue working to win up and down the ballot in every corner of the Commonwealth to expand our state House majority, flip control of the state Senate, and reelect Governor Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis to secure the first Democratic trifecta in Harrisburg in more than 30 years.”
Contact Newsweek editor on this story: Edward Pearcey.
This is a developing story. More to follow.
