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.

Trump reveals Iran made ‘significant proposal’ after ultimatum, but ‘not good enough’

Watch: Savannah Guthrie Returns to ‘Today’ Show, Pays Tribute to Missing Mother with Outfit

American woman missing after husband says she fell overboard, swept to sea during Bahamas boat trip: police

Power Company Faces Legal Fight For Making Too Much Energy

Newsom’s California rail project now expected to cost $126B, official admits, with still no tracks laid

Israel hits South Pars natural gas field as Trump deadline looms

Children of Illegal Aliens Linked to Attempted Bombing at U.S. Air Force Base

Martinez: Why President Trump’s War On Fraud Exposes National Scandal

Ceasefire proposal could reopen key oil route amid US-Iran tensions and more top headlines

Behind ‘No Kings’ St. Paul protest: $250K production machine equal to a Def Leppard concert

Lindsey Graham turns ire toward rivals at home amid Iran and DHS shutdown fallout

Iranian intelligence chief and militia commander among those killed in Israeli strikes

President Trump makes endorsement in California gubernatorial race: ‘He will be a GREAT Governor’

GOP races to pass ICE, Border Patrol funding bill as priorities pile up, divisions emerge

Why the Strait of Hormuz matters as Trump issues fresh ultimatum to Iran

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.”