Democrats continue their overperformance streak in special elections in Pennsylvania, where Democratic power in the Pennsylvania House is a top DLCC priority
WASHINGTON— DLCC Spotlight Candidate Dan Goughnour won a crucial special election for the Pennsylvania House tonight, securing Democrats’ one-seat majority in this battleground chamber. The DLCC’s target map for the cycle includes the Pennsylvania House as a top priority – building on our successes from last cycle, when we defended our one-seat majority through eight special elections and November’s watershed election. Defending control of the Pennsylvania House will strengthen Democrats’ firewall in state legislatures and counterbalance the MAGA extremism of Trump and Washington Republicans.
This is the fifth majority-deciding special election this year in which Democrats emerged with a win. The majorities we are building and defending in our state legislatures are more important than ever, as Democrats in state legislatures are holding the line against the dangerous policies of the Trump Administration.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“Dan Goughnour’s win builds on the DLCC’s victories and overperformance in special elections in 2025 and secures the Democratic majority needed to protect Pennsylvanians from the chaos and extremism of Trump and his state Republican minions. Our win tonight builds on the growing enthusiasm we’re seeing across the country in local and state races. While we celebrate this victory, control of the Pennsylvania House still hinges on a single seat. The DLCC will continue to seize every opportunity to protect our hard-won power in this competitive chamber and bolster Democrats in all of our competitive and consequential special elections this year.”
The DLCC is the official arm of the Democratic Party with the sole mission of building Democratic power in the states and setting the national agenda at the state level. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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