Democrat Dan Goughnour of McKeesport won a special election Tuesday for the seat representing the 35th House District in Allegheny County, giving his party — once again — the slimmest of majorities in the state House at 102-101.
Unofficial results Wednesday morning in the heavily Democratic district in the Mon Valley showed Mr. Goughnour with 6,797 votes, or more than 63% of those cast, while Republican Charles D. Davis had 3,751 votes and Libertarian Adam Kitta had 166. The Associated Press said Mr. Goughnour had won the contest.
The seat representing the 35th became open with the sudden illness and subsequent death on Jan. 19 of of former Rep. Matt Gergely. Aware that his absence left the House in Pennsylvania — a critical swing state nationally — in a 101-101 tie, Democrats focused a lot of attention on the contest.
During his first days on the road in his new position, new Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin paid a visit to Mr. Goughnour, and video released on social media showed the two walking together in the district. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee called the contest a “spotlight race.”
Mr. Goughnour, a 39-year-old McKeesport police officer, is a member of the McKeesport Area School Board. He has said his priorities are strengthening public safety, boosting job training, supporting public schools and reducing the cost of buying groceries and everyday essentials.
A statement on his website said, “I’m running for state representative to bring some common sense: building opportunity for local families and promoting a safe and thriving community.”
Typically, it takes elections officials a week or two to certify the winner of a special election. After that, Mr. Goughnour will be sworn in in Harrisburg.
Meanwhile, another special election was taking place Tuesday in Lancaster County in Eastern Pennsylvania, to fill a Senate seat left vacant by the resignation late last year of Republican Ryan Aument.
Democrat James Malone appeared to defeat Republican Josh Parsons in that race, in what’s been a traditionally GOP-leaning district and one that Donald Trump carried in November. However, that race will not change Republican control of the chamber.
In the state House, Republicans had control of the chamber for 12 years, but that run ended with the Nov. 8, 2022 election when Democrats won 102 seats. Controversy and political conflict began almost immediately, however, because one Democratic winner — Rep. Anthony DeLuca of Allegheny County — died before the election and two others had to resign quickly because they had gained other jobs.
A power struggle ensued, but it ended with the swearing in in late February, 2023, of House Speaker Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia. She has held the top spot in the House since then, and Democrats — despite multiple stretches where the seat count was tied — have controlled the chamber since then, mostly with a count of 102-101.
Mr. Davis, a 67-year-old telecommunications technician, is a White Oak Borough Council member who has been elected to that post five times. He said one of the biggest problems in the 35th is blight and the lack of economic vitality.
He also criticized the recent 36% increase in Allegheny County taxes as evidence that something different needs to happen in Harrisburg, to help the region.
Mr. Kitta, 26, is assistant director for emergency disaster services in a 28-county region for The Salvation Army. He, too, was focused on economic development, and said in an interview that should he win, he hoped to bring a technical and trade school to the Mon Valley.
Mr. Goughnour will arrive in Harrisburg as the 2025 state budget positions are starting to be staked out by both parties. Beyond that, the arrival of the administration of President Donald Trump in Washington has added to partisan positioning in Harrisburg.
Evidence of that was front and center on Tuesday, when state House Democrats — despite the 101-101 tie in the chamber — put to a vote four different bills that would enshrine in state law portions of the federal Affordable Care Act. Many Democrats believe Trump wants to dismantle the ACA.
All four bills passed with all Democrats voting in favor and at least 20 Republicans joining them on each bill. Ms. McClinton called the move to protect ACA features “the House and Senate Democrats’ solution to the chaos in Washington” while Rep. Jesse Topper of Bedford County, the Republican minority leader, said “cutting and pasting federal law” into state statutes is rarely good public policy.
The 35th District has more than 26,000 registered Democrats and fewer than 11,000 Republicans. In November, Mr. Gergely was unopposed and received more than 23,000 votes.
The district in the Mon Valley includes White Oak, McKeesport, Homestead, West Homestead, Clairton, Lincoln and parts of West Mifflin.
The run-up to the 8 p.m. poll closing time on Tuesday appeared to be smooth. A county spokesperson said one precinct, Homestead 2-2, was delayed in opening for a short time.
The spokesperson said all received mail ballots had been opened and pre-canvassed before 8 p.m. As of Monday, 2944 of the 4,054 requested mail ballots had been returned.
As a rank-and-file lawmaker, Mr. Goughnour will make slightly more than $110,000 a year and have access to a generous package of benefits.
First Published: March 26, 2025, 1:50 a.m.
Updated: March 26, 2025, 4:39 p.m.
