In a surprising turn of events, a Democrat emerged victorious in a special election for the Pennsylvania State Senate on Tuesday, clinching a win in a district that Donald Trump had carried by 15 points in the previous fall.
This election, taking place in the small towns and suburbs of Lancaster County—where Democrats have not won since the district’s boundaries were redrawn decades ago—reflects two significant trends shaping the current political landscape. It highlights the intensified motivation of Democratic voters, who have been attending rallies and town hall gatherings in large numbers following the onset of Mr. Trump’s second term. Additionally, it illustrates the evolving demographics of the two political parties, with Democrats increasingly attracting highly educated constituents who typically participate in special elections.
While this victory does not alter the Republican majority in the state senate, where they enjoy a four-seat advantage, another special election held near Pittsburgh on the same day granted Democrats a slender one-seat majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Although the outcome in the House was anticipated, the margin of the Democratic victory there surpassed Kamala Harris’ performance in the district during the 2024 elections.
The newly elected state senator, James Andrew Malone, 51, is a bearded, soft-spoken I.T. consultant who has served as mayor of East Petersburg Borough, a small community northwest of Lancaster, for the past seven years.
He triumphed over Josh Parsons, the Lancaster County commission chair and a prominent pro-Trump conservative. Parsons was the favored candidate in a district with a significant Republican registration edge.
The seat became vacant when the Republican incumbent who had held it for a decade resigned to work for Dave McCormick, a Republican who won a U.S. Senate seat last year.
No Democrat had won in this district since it was transferred from Philadelphia to Lancaster in 1979. However, recent days saw mounting concern among conservatives, particularly after initial mail-in ballot counts revealed a substantial Democratic lead. Scott Presler, a right-wing activist who campaigned vigorously for Trump in Pennsylvania last year, voiced concerns about the Senate race, a sentiment echoed on social media by Elon Musk.
As the results became clearer on Tuesday evening, Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro remarked on X that voters in the district had “rejected a candidate who embraced the extremism and division coming out of D.C. In an area comfortably won by Donald Trump just months ago, they embraced a better path forward.”
In the wake of elections held between presidential and midterm contests, both political parties are keenly observing a few select races for indications of voter engagement and enthusiasm. One of the early surprises of the year occurred in January, when a Democrat won a State Senate seat in Iowa, traditionally a solid conservative region.
Significant challenges lie ahead with several important elections slated for next Tuesday. In Wisconsin, a pivotal swing state, vast sums of money have been invested in a State Supreme Court race that will decide if liberals maintain a majority on the court. On the same day in Florida, two special congressional elections are on the calendar. Both are situated in solid Republican districts, yet the Democratic contenders have significantly out-fundraised their Republican counterparts.
The Lancaster County election clearly demonstrates how the Democratic Party is cultivating a well-educated, politically engaged base that is particularly motivated to turn out for special elections.
While the city of Lancaster has become increasingly Democratic over the years, much of the surrounding county has remained a Republican bastion. Farmers and religious conservatives in Lancaster County were supporting Republican candidates long before Mr. Trump began winning over disenchanted Democrats in postindustrial areas elsewhere in Pennsylvania. However, a booming city has attracted affluent retirees to upscale suburbs and nearby boroughs, along with younger professionals seeking a lower cost of living, gradually shifting many areas towards Democratic support.
This trend is partly why Stella Sexton, one of Mr. Malone’s campaign managers, believed that with an assertive ground strategy, Democrats had a viable chance.
“It was challenging to gain momentum back in January,” she noted. Democratic donors and potential campaign volunteers were disheartened and demoralized after the 2024 election. But she emphasized, “we didn’t have time for that.”
Emily Cochrane and Mitch Smith contributed reporting
