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.
FBI Director Kash Patel says bureau ramping up AI to counter domestic, global threats
ICE lodges detainer for illegal immigrant charged in brutal killing of New York taxi driver
DHS fires back at Senate Dems over ICE detainee death claims: ‘Trying to twist data’
Trump endorses Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman for New York governor after Stefanik exit
Gun jams as shoplifting suspect tries to shoot Ohio police officer at point-blank range in wild bodycam video
LA deputies caught on camera racing into foggy ocean to rescue disoriented paragliders
Vivek Ramaswamy turns to conservative youth to shape the movement’s next phase, analyzes 2026 races
Woman who filed a complaint against Epstein to Clinton FBI vindicated after DOJ release of files
Cruise ship chaos mounts as deaths, crimes on board shatter illusions of safety at sea, experts warn
Second tanker seized near Venezuela as US enforces oil blockade
Meet Minnesota’s fraud ‘mastermind’ accused of playing ‘God,’ wielding ‘fake’ racism claims in Somali scandal
Colorado state senator’s BAC was twice legal limit at time of fatal car crash: Coroner’s report
Elizabeth Smart blasts Ghislaine Maxwell’s ‘country club’ prison treatment: ‘Makes me sick’
The council of Trump: Catholicism’s uncomfortable prominence in US politics
Conservatives need to embrace ‘fusion’ of populism, top leader says, calling AmFest scenes are ‘encouraging’
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.”
FBI Director Kash Patel says bureau ramping up AI to counter domestic, global threats
ICE lodges detainer for illegal immigrant charged in brutal killing of New York taxi driver
DHS fires back at Senate Dems over ICE detainee death claims: ‘Trying to twist data’
Trump endorses Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman for New York governor after Stefanik exit
Gun jams as shoplifting suspect tries to shoot Ohio police officer at point-blank range in wild bodycam video
LA deputies caught on camera racing into foggy ocean to rescue disoriented paragliders
Vivek Ramaswamy turns to conservative youth to shape the movement’s next phase, analyzes 2026 races
Woman who filed a complaint against Epstein to Clinton FBI vindicated after DOJ release of files
Cruise ship chaos mounts as deaths, crimes on board shatter illusions of safety at sea, experts warn
Second tanker seized near Venezuela as US enforces oil blockade
Meet Minnesota’s fraud ‘mastermind’ accused of playing ‘God,’ wielding ‘fake’ racism claims in Somali scandal
Colorado state senator’s BAC was twice legal limit at time of fatal car crash: Coroner’s report
Elizabeth Smart blasts Ghislaine Maxwell’s ‘country club’ prison treatment: ‘Makes me sick’
The council of Trump: Catholicism’s uncomfortable prominence in US politics
Conservatives need to embrace ‘fusion’ of populism, top leader says, calling AmFest scenes are ‘encouraging’
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.
