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.

Handcuffed suspect allegedly slips restraints, steals Dallas police cruiser with officer trapped in back seat

Overcrowded migrant vessel with 240 people on board intercepted near Turks and Caicos

Rubio sanctions Cuban groups with ties to US nonprofit network funded by communist donor Neville Roy Singham

New Jersey man accused of killing wife with barbell allegedly confessed in messages to relatives: report

Trump announces ‘rally to end all rallies’ in DC to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary

Feds say US citizen gathered information on American targets for Chinese Communist Party

AOC dodges questions on abuse allegations, Nazi tattoo claims rocking Platner’s campaign

18 House Republicans defy Trump to pass Ukraine aid package headed for veto fight

CA City Puts up Cameras in 18 Locations, Catches Citizens Breaking the Law 151,000 Times in Just 1 Month

Watch: Trump Sets the Record Straight on His Explosive Conversation with Netanyahu

Video: Karmelo Anthony Supporters Scream Racial Slurs at White Demonstrator Outside Courthouse

Four Senate Republicans again unite with Dems to block Trump’s SAVE America Act

‘He hated women’: Explosive abuse, new Nazi tattoo allegations from exes rock Platner’s campaign

‘I Would Rape Them to Show Them I’m Dominant’ – Graham Platner’s Campaign Won’t Dispute Shocking Quote in NYT Report

Israel-Lebanon ceasefire could undermine Hezbollah and Iran with state-to-state cooperation

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.”