Pennsylvania Republican Fred Keller projected to win special House election

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.

Smithsonian-linked museum in El-Sayed’s backyard puts America’s post-9/11 response on trial

Blue state’s water failures could threaten food supplies across US, lawmaker warns

Man Who Threatened to Shoot Thomas Massie Receives Over 2 Years in Prison

Anti-abortion activists worry New Jersey abortion clinic law chills protected speech

Lindsay Clancy trial: Postpartum is real, but child killing demands accountability, veteran prosecutor says

Illegal immigrant accused of fentanyl dealing linked to Virginia high school overdoses

Houston Uber driver caught in wild police chase as officers seen on dashcam video hitching a ride in his car

Trump administration proposes six-figure price tag for new H-1B visas

Trump admin eyes historic mass visa revocation targeting up to 200K asylum seekers: report

Utah teen charged with killing mother, 8-year-old brother as mystery of final hours unravels: police

Watch: Scott Bessent Announces Details of ‘Unprecedented Campaign’ Against ‘Iran and Its Enablers’

‘Moderate’ Dem gubernatorial candidate embraced DEI budget tool, Green New Deal-style policies

Trump scores Supreme Court win on mail-in voting restrictions before midterms

Trump administration touts ‘hard reset’ for American schools, vows to put parents ‘back in charge’

San Francisco 49ers Owner Arrested at Trailer Park in East Palestine, Ohio

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.”