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.

Chicago alderwoman apologizes for ‘wrong place at the wrong time’ comment on slain student

Driver hops curb, strikes 9 students during after school pickup in Iowa

Two arrested after US Park Police officer shot in apparent DC ambush: report

Judge grants $1 murder bond for Georgia woman accused of using pills to induce second-trimester abortion

Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate calls for sweeping federal limits on Muslim immigration

NJ Gov. Sherrill attends mosque led by Imam once accused of Hamas ties in deportation case

Ballot box upset: Democrats flip Florida legislative seat in Trump’s stomping ground

Pritzker’s glowing review of lakefront resurfaces after college student killed by illegal alien nearby

Dems vow to force weekly Iran war votes after GOP blocks latest move to curb Trump

FBI’s ‘Operation Box Cutter’ indicts Chinese pharma firms, terror-linked cartel assets in fentanyl takedown

President Trump Invokes Jesus While Pushing Senate to Pass the SAVE America Act

Oklahoma Governor Names Energy Executive to Fill DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s Senate Seat

Angel mom, GOP blame Spanberger after illegal immigrant with 30 arrests charged in killing

Alert: Lawmaker Cites TSA Report Confirming Cash Leaving Minneapolis Airport Approached $1 Billion by 2025

Senate confirms DOJ fraud chief as Minnesota daycare scandal draws national scrutiny

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.”