Pennsylvania state Rep. Fred Keller was projected to easily defeat Democrat Marc Friedenberg in Tuesday’s special election to represent the Keystone State’s 12th District in the House of Representatives.
With 81 percent of precincts reporting, Keller had received 70 percent of the vote, compared to 30 percent for Friedenberg.
Keller would complete the two-year term begun by Republican Tom Marino, who resigned in January, just three weeks into his fifth House term. With Keller’s victory, the House comprises 235 Democrats and 198 Republicans. Two seats in North Carolina are vacant pending the outcome of special elections later this year.
Tuesday’s result is no surprise, as the 12th District is solidly Republican and voters there backed Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election by a margin of better than 2 to 1 over Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Florida GOP Rep Vern Buchanan to retire, adding to wave of House exits
Minnesota fraud whistleblower says ‘lack of guardrails was pretty shocking’
Iran Suddenly Wants to Strike a Deal After ‘Big Armada’ Arrives: Trump
Anti-ICE Agitators Arrested After Targeting Gregory Bovino’s Hotel
Trump whistleblower Alex Vindman launches campaign to flip Florida senate seat
Late Breaking: Court Clears ICE to Bring the Pain to Minneapolis Agitators Who Step Out of Line
Outrageous: MSNBC Caught ‘Aggressively’ Photoshopping Pretti Picture to Turn Americans Against ICE
Republicans appeal judge’s decision rejecting New York City GOP district lines
Texas teen dies after Jeep-pulled sled strikes curb and tree during severe winter storm
Chinese spies ‘sham marriage’ scandal exposes ‘targeted’ national security threat at major US base: expert
Conservative immigration experts split on whether Trump is ‘backing down’ in MN ICE fight
Post-Maduro, pressure builds on Mexico over Cuba’s new oil lifeline
Mainstream Democrats direct funds to anti-ICE protests carried out by ‘communist’ groups in Minneapolis
Trump’s immigration crackdown in the spotlight ahead of midterms as fatal MN shootings ignite backlash
Anti-ICE agitators arrested outside Minnesota hotel as police declare unlawful assembly: ‘No longer peaceful’
Trump himself urged his supporters to back Keller at a Monday night rally in Montoursville, telling the fifth-term state legislator, “We’ve got to win tomorrow, Fred.” He endorsed Keller on Twitter earlier Tuesday, calling the Republican “Strong on Crime, Second Amendment, Military, Vets, and Healthcare,” and saying Keller had “my Complete and Total Endorsement!”
Pennsylvania – Don’t forget to get out and VOTE TODAY for Republican Fred Keller for Congress. Fred is Strong on Crime, Second Amendment, Military, Vets, and Healthcare. He has my Complete and Total Endorsement!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 21, 2019
Keller reciprocated Trump’s support Monday night, offering a rousing endorsement of the president and vowing to support his policies in Congress, saying the people of the district “have been behind you since Day One, and, Mr. President, our support for you is as strong today as it ever was.”
He also said, “In 2016, Pennsylvania put Donald Trump over the top, and in 2020, we’re going to do it again.”
Florida GOP Rep Vern Buchanan to retire, adding to wave of House exits
Minnesota fraud whistleblower says ‘lack of guardrails was pretty shocking’
Iran Suddenly Wants to Strike a Deal After ‘Big Armada’ Arrives: Trump
Anti-ICE Agitators Arrested After Targeting Gregory Bovino’s Hotel
Trump whistleblower Alex Vindman launches campaign to flip Florida senate seat
Late Breaking: Court Clears ICE to Bring the Pain to Minneapolis Agitators Who Step Out of Line
Outrageous: MSNBC Caught ‘Aggressively’ Photoshopping Pretti Picture to Turn Americans Against ICE
Republicans appeal judge’s decision rejecting New York City GOP district lines
Texas teen dies after Jeep-pulled sled strikes curb and tree during severe winter storm
Chinese spies ‘sham marriage’ scandal exposes ‘targeted’ national security threat at major US base: expert
Conservative immigration experts split on whether Trump is ‘backing down’ in MN ICE fight
Post-Maduro, pressure builds on Mexico over Cuba’s new oil lifeline
Mainstream Democrats direct funds to anti-ICE protests carried out by ‘communist’ groups in Minneapolis
Trump’s immigration crackdown in the spotlight ahead of midterms as fatal MN shootings ignite backlash
Anti-ICE agitators arrested outside Minnesota hotel as police declare unlawful assembly: ‘No longer peaceful’
Friedenberg, a lawyer and information technology instructor at Penn State University, ran against Marino in last year’s midterm elections and lost by 32 points.
Story cited here.
