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 pivots on strikes while dangling Iran deal, testing whether Tehran blinks

Family of Would-Be Beheading Victim Caves – First Statement Is Music to Leftist, Pro-Open Borders Politicians and Media

Trump nominates Jay Clayton, former SEC chairman, current US Attorney, as intelligence director

Breaking: Pentagon Locked Down as Hazmat Teams Swarm to Building

‘Severe’ Pentagon lockdown sparks emergency response as hazmat teams sweep area

WATCH: Trump DHS escalates pressure over migrant child warnings it says Biden ignored: ‘Move heaven and hell’

Gordie Howe bridge opening pushed back over unnamed ‘issues’ after Trump-Canada feud

Austin Metcalf’s dad expresses empathy for Karmelo Anthony as killer’s parents say ‘they did a number on us’

DOJ accuses Jamaican woman of committing marriage fraud and lying to boost disability benefits

WATCH: Philadelphia police release new video of two suspects in Penn State student’s fatal robbery

Breaking: Trump Says US Will Seize Iranian Territory and ‘Assume Total Control of Their Oil and Gas Markets’

Outrageous: Black Advocates Move to Have Austin Metcalf’s Brother Arrested, Charged as Accessory to Murder

Chip Roy fields proposal to block pay and power for longtime lawmakers

Second Amendment fights grow across several states over 3D-printed gun laws

DEADLY PHOTO: We Now Know What Karmelo Anthony’s Knife Looked Like, and It Was No Quaint Leatherman Multitool

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.”