Politics in the Keystone State moves fast. One minute you're looking at a map that’s solid red, and the next, a mayor from a tiny borough is flipping a seat that hasn't seen a Democrat since the 1880s. Honestly, trying to keep up with the abc pennsylvania election results feels like watching a high-stakes poker game where the players keep changing the rules.
If you’ve been scrolling through news feeds lately, you’ve probably seen the headlines about the "Lancaster Upset" or the "Blue Wave" of 2025. But there’s a lot of noise out there. Some people are calling it a fluke. Others say it’s the beginning of the end for the GOP in the suburbs. The truth? It’s kinda both, and it’s way more complicated than a simple soundbite.
The Special Election That Nobody Saw Coming
Let's talk about James Malone. Before March 2025, most people outside of East Petersburg hadn't really heard of him. He was the mayor of a small borough, running for the 36th State Senate District—a place that Donald Trump won by 15 points in 2024. On paper, Malone didn't stand a chance against Republican Josh Parsons.
But then the votes started coming in.
Malone didn't just compete; he won. It wasn't a landslide—he eked it out by about 530 votes—but in a district that was supposed to be a "safe" Republican stronghold, that half-percent margin felt like an earthquake. This wasn't just a local story. ABC News and other major outlets jumped on it because it signaled a weird shift in voter behavior. People weren't just voting for a party; they were reacting to the "chaos" they felt was coming out of Washington and Harrisburg.
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Why the 36th District Flipped
- The "Parsons Factor": Some voters felt Josh Parsons was too confrontational. In local races, personality often beats platform.
- Low Turnout Magic: Only about 29% of voters showed up. When turnout is that low, a motivated base can move mountains.
- The Independent Pivot: Registered independents like Michelle McCall—who has voted for both parties—chose Malone because he felt "moderate."
2025: The Year of the Democratic Sweep?
If 2024 was a gut punch for Pennsylvania Democrats, 2025 was their revenge. It wasn’t just that one Senate seat. We saw historic wins all over the map. In Downingtown, Erica Deuso became the state’s first openly transgender mayor. In Lancaster City, Jaime Arroyo became the first Latino mayor.
Even the judicial races, which usually put people to sleep, were intense. Three Democratic Supreme Court justices—Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht—all held onto their seats. Republicans, backed by billionaire Jeff Yass, spent millions trying to unseat them. It didn't work. Yass reportedly poured eight figures into these races only to watch the GOP lose municipal battles from Bucks County to Luzerne.
What Really Happened with the ABC Graphics "Glitch"
We have to address the elephant in the room. You might remember that bizarre moment back in late 2024 when a local ABC affiliate, WNEP-TV, accidentally aired "results" showing Kamala Harris winning Pennsylvania a week before the actual election.
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Social media went nuclear. Conspiracy theories were everywhere. Basically, it was a test graphic that accidentally went live during a Formula 1 broadcast. The station apologized, but the damage was done in terms of public trust. When we look at abc pennsylvania election results today, that incident still colors how people perceive the data. It’s a reminder that in our current climate, a technical error isn't just an error—it’s "evidence" for whoever wants to believe it.
The Reality of the GOP "Wake-Up Call"
The Republican Party in Pennsylvania is currently in a "stare into the mirror" phase. After the 2025 losses, state GOP Chairman Greg Rothman called it a "wake-up call." They realized that relying on a high-turnout presidential year doesn't protect you in the off-years.
Republicans are now pivoting hard. They're trying to embrace early voting—something they've historically been skeptical of—because they realized Democrats are using mail-in ballots to build a lead before the polls even open on Tuesday morning.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Midterm Collision
Everything we’ve seen in the recent results is just a warmup for the 2026 midterms. We have four special elections coming up in February and March for the State House. Why? Because people like Josh Siegel and Dan Miller won local offices and had to resign their seats.
These mini-elections will decide who controls the House. Right now, it’s a razor-thin margin.
Key Races to Watch in early 2026:
- House District 22 (Allentown): Special election set for Feb 24.
- House District 42 (Allegheny County): Also Feb 24.
- House District 193 (Adams County): March 17.
Actionable Insights for Pennsylvania Voters
If you're trying to make sense of the chaos, don't just look at the top-of-the-ticket names. The real power in Pennsylvania is shifting in the "in-between" years.
Verify Your Registration Early: Pennsylvania has strict deadlines. If you moved recently or haven't voted since the presidential, check your status at the Department of State website.
Watch the Special Elections: These are the "canaries in the coal mine." If a seat in a place like Altoona (District 79) swings more than a few points, it tells you exactly how the 2026 midterms are going to go.
Don't Ignore the Judges: As we saw in 2025, judicial retention matters. These people serve 10-year terms and decide everything from election laws to environmental protections.
The abc pennsylvania election results show a state that is deeply divided but also deeply engaged. Whether it’s a mayor in East Petersburg or a Justice in Harrisburg, every seat is currently a battlefield. Stay tuned to local tallies, because the big networks often miss the smaller tremors until the whole house starts shaking.
Next Steps:
- Search for your specific House District on the Pennsylvania Department of State website to see if you have a special election this spring.
- Review the 2025 judicial retention results to understand which judges will be on the bench for the next decade.
- Follow local non-partisan outlets like Spotlight PA for deep-dive analysis on campaign finance shifts.