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.

Vets torch Dem Senate hopeful who called Army ‘fat, lazy trash,’ mocked soldier shot four times

Omar confronted on camera over GOP proposal targeting foreign-born lawmakers: ‘Good luck to her’

GOP senators spurn anti-weaponization fund payout for phone data seizure: ‘I don’t need any compensation’

Operation Benjamin: Restoring fallen soldiers’ lost Stars of David

Baby pulled from vehicle trapped in raging floodwaters in dramatic rescue caught on video

Teen sailor killed aboard USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor identified after 82 years through DNA analysis

Stampede erupts at South Carolina biker festival, 19 injured in late-night chaos

This Could Sink Mangione’s Defense: Judge Allows Notebook, Gun as Evidence

Appeals Court Puts Stake Through Heart of New York’s Anti-2nd Amendment ‘Vampire Rule’

Mosque Shooter Identified as Apparent Neo-Nazi with Hispanic Name

GOP Swing State Justices Sweep in Rare Midterm Setback for Democrats

Marine veteran and Boston firefighter dies after rescue efforts at massive house blaze

‘After your boy’: Hasan Piker lashes out over fed probe into Cuba trip

Officials say possible crack in unstable chemical tank may relieve pressure at aerospace plant

Retiring senator warns if Trump continues to do ‘stupid things’ it will kill GOP in November

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.”