Special elections taking place on Tuesday will fill two vacancies in Pennsylvania’s General Assembly. In one race, Democrats are defending a state House seat in District 35, located southeast of Pittsburgh, where control of the chamber is at stake as the parties are currently tied at 101 seats each. The Democratic nominee, Dan Goughnour, is a McKeesport school board member and police officer, while the Republican nominee, Chuck Davis, is the president of the White Oak Borough Council and a volunteer firefighter. Libertarian candidate Adam Kitta is also on the ballot.
Meanwhile, in the state Senate race, three candidates are vying to replace former Republican state Sen. Ryan Aument in District 36, situated in between Harrisburg and Philadelphia. The nominees include Republican Josh Parsons, a Lancaster County commissioner; Democrat James Andrew Malone, the mayor of East Petersburg; and libertarian Zachary Moore.
Historically, Democratic candidates have performed well in the Allegheny County-based state House district, which Vice President Kamala Harris carried with about 58% of the vote in the 2024 presidential election. On the other hand, State Senate District 36 in Lancaster County had a different voting record in 2024, with former President Donald Trump and Republican Dave McCormick both garnering significant support.
The Associated Press follows strict guidelines for calling election results and will only do so when it is clear that trailing candidates cannot close the gap. Pennsylvania law requires automatic recounts for close statewide races but not for state legislative contests.
In races that are not statewide, voters have the option to request a recount by petitioning the county board of elections or the courts. The Associated Press (AP) may declare a winner in a race eligible for a recount if it determines that the margin is too significant for a recount or legal challenge to alter the outcome.
Here is an overview of what to anticipate on Tuesday:
Special Election Day:
Pennsylvania’s special elections for the state Senate and House will take place on Tuesday with polls closing at 8 p.m. ET.
What’s on the Ballot:
The AP will announce the results and winners of the special elections for the state Senate District 36 and state House District 35.
Eligible Voters:
Any registered voters within the state Senate District 36 or state House District 35 are permitted to participate in the special election within their district.
Turnout and Early Voting:
As of Monday, Senate District 36 had approximately 185,000 registered voters, predominantly Republicans and Democrats, with a small percentage affiliating with minor parties or having no party affiliation. House District 35 had around 43,000 registered voters, with a higher percentage of Democrats compared to Republicans.
Historical Turnout:
In previous elections, the voter turnout in both House District 35 and Senate District 36 ranged from 51% to 53% of registered voters. A quarter of the votes were typically cast before Election Day. Notably, a special election in 2023 saw a participation rate of around 21% of registered voters.
Absentee Ballots:
Before the special election day, a significant number of absentee ballots had been requested and cast in Allegheny and Lancaster Counties, with a higher proportion coming from Democrats.
Vote-Counting Process:
During the 2024 general election, the AP reported results shortly after the polls closed in both Allegheny and Lancaster Counties, with the final tabulation reaching about 98% of total votes by midnight.
