Donald Trump will become the 47th President of the United States, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris with 312 electoral votes to Harris’s 226. The decisive victory involved a sweep of all seven swing states for the President-elect, including a tight win in Pennsylvania by approximately 130,000 votes.
The Republican Party has also won control of the U.S. Senate, with pickups in West Virginia, Ohio, and Montana. The PA Senate race between incumbent Bob Casey and GOP challenger Dave McCormick is headed toward a recount, announced by Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt. McCormick currently leads Casey by less than 30,000 votes, which is less than a half of a percentage point.
The U.S. House also saw pickups by Republicans. State Representative and Republican Ryan Mackenzie defeated Democratic incumbent Susan Wild. Similarly, GOP challenger Robert Bresnahan bested incumbent Democrat Matt Cartwright. Republican Incumbent Scott Perry beat challenger Janelle Stelson by approximately 5,500 votes. The incumbents have prevailed in all other races.
The PA State Senate will remain in control at 28-22. Each party flipped one seat—State Representative Patty Kim will replace retiring Republican Senator John DiSanto and incumbent Democrat Jimmy Dillon conceded to GOP challenger Joe Picozzi. The Senate held leadership elections, with the GOP keeping the same leadership team including Senator Kim Ward as President Pro Tempore. The Democrats kept only Minority Leader Jay Costa, Appropriations Chairman Vince Hughes, and Whip Tina Tartaglione. The Caucus elected Nick Miller as Policy Chairman, Maria Colett as Caucus Chairwoman, Steve Santarsiero as Caucus Secretary, and Judy Schwank as Caucus Administrator.
Democrats retained control of the PA State House with a one-seat majority (102-101). The race came down to House District 72 in Cambria County as incumbent Democrat Frank Burns defeated his GOP challenger by roughly 900 votes. The House also held leadership elections, and, like the Senate, the Majority largely retained their leadership team. The only changes are Mike Schlossberg becoming Majority Whip and Rob Matzie becoming Caucus Chairman. The GOP minority completely replaced their leadership. They elected Jesse Topper as Leader, Tim O’Neal as Whip, Jim Struzzi as Appropriations Chair, David Rowe as Policy Chair, Martina White as Caucus Chair, Clint Owlett as Caucus Secretary, and Sheryl Delozier as Caucus Administrator.
Row offices were swept by Republicans. The Attorney General race was won by Dave Sunday as Democrat Eugene DePasquale conceded. Incumbent Stacy Garrity defeated her Democratic challenger as did incumbent Treasurer Tim DeFoor.
Regardless of changes to the political environment, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children will continue to advocate for children and families in the Commonwealth. Now, as ever, we will be a voice for kids.