Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

LetMyPeopleVote

(163,804 posts)
18. Why the latest Democratic special election victories should make Republicans nervous
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 12:26 PM
Mar 26

The more Democrats win special elections in districts carried by Donald Trump, the more the GOP has reason to worry about the political winds’ direction.


The more Dems win special elections in districts Trump carried easily last fall, the more the Republicans have reason to worry about the direction of the political winds.

Take the latest races in Pennsylvania, for example.

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/latest-democratic-special-election-victories-make-republicans-nervous-rcna198142

But it was the results of the other special election in the Keystone State that will raise eyebrows far outside Pennsylvania. The Hill reported:

Democrat James Malone has won an open Pennsylvania state Senate seat in a major upset in a district that comfortably voted for President Trump in November, Decision Desk HQ projects. Malone, the mayor of East Petersburg, is projected to defeat Republican Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons to represent Senate District 36 for the remainder of former state Sen. Ryan Aument’s (R) term.


Anytime a party manages to flip a district, it tends to generate some attention, but the closer one looks at this contest, the more dramatic the results appear: This is a district that Donald Trump carried by 15 points last fall.

What’s more, as an analysis in The Downballot noted, “Since taking its present form in Lancaster County 40 years ago, the district has always been held by the GOP, and the county as a whole has gone for a Democrat at the presidential level just once since 1856 (Lyndon Johnson just barely won it in 1964).”

This is not, in other words, a district where a Democrat is supposed to be competitive. And yet Malone prevailed by running on a notable platform. From The Downballot’s analysis: “Malone focused his message heavily on education and cuts to the federal government that he’s had to deal with as mayor of a small town, specifically calling out Musk for slashing ‘benefits for veterans, retirees, and students.’”

These results come just eight weeks after a Democrat in Minnesota won a state legislative special election, giving the party a majority in the state Senate, which coincided with a state Senate special election in Iowa in which Democrat Mike Zimmer narrowly defeated his Republican rival.

The Iowa race generated some national coverage because of the broader circumstances: This special election was held in a district thought to be a GOP stronghold. Indeed, Trump won this district by 21 points. Then a Democratic candidate managed to flip the state Senate seat from red to blue anyway.

The Iowa and Minnesota contests came on the heels of a couple of closely watched state legislative special elections in Virginia, held a few weeks earlier, which Democrats also won. The contests were, as an NBC News report put it, “an early test of the political environment.”

These results make me smile

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Watch out republicans LetMyPeopleVote Mar 26 #1
whow. Fantastic good news for the USA!! riversedge Mar 26 #2
We still gotta watch out for them MissMillie Mar 26 #4
More detail from PoliticsPA Deminpenn Mar 26 #3
Lancaster County (home to much of the Amish here in PA) has been slowly shifting BumRushDaShow Mar 26 #5
Yeah, agree with your assessment Deminpenn Mar 26 #8
My last foray into Lancaster County was last June BumRushDaShow Mar 26 #10
I live right off 170, True Blue American Mar 26 #23
One of my first trips to OH BumRushDaShow Mar 26 #26
Chickens orangecrush Mar 26 #6
Outstanding, Pennsylvania! Now get rid of Fetterman. (nt) Paladin Mar 26 #7
There are at least 140 elected politicians in PA that should be a far higher Priority Wiz Imp Mar 26 #14
Not if you're living in Texas and are a for-real Democrat, like I am. (nt) Paladin Mar 26 #20
Huh? So we should replace Fetterman who has voted with Republicans about 10% or so of the time Wiz Imp Mar 26 #21
Kick!!!!!!! bronxiteforever Mar 26 #9
was by-election turnout a big factor here? stopdiggin Mar 26 #11
No doubt. maxsolomon Mar 26 #12
yes. I know we're all looking for good news .. stopdiggin Mar 26 #13
Posted the vote by precinct over Deminpenn Mar 26 #16
overall 30% (and thanks for the research) stopdiggin Mar 26 #17
There were a few precincts over 40% Deminpenn Mar 26 #22
YES!! Start the wheel turning. We need the Wisconsin win on April 1st! Bengus81 Mar 26 #15
Why the latest Democratic special election victories should make Republicans nervous LetMyPeopleVote Mar 26 #18
Congratulations Lancaster Democrats! Great work ... FakeNoose Mar 26 #19
Let's not see too much in a state lesislative special election. AmericaUnderSiege Mar 26 #24
I'll take it Torchlight Mar 26 #25
ding, this AllaN01Bear Mar 26 #27
This is why Democrats are organizing and competing everywhere. LetMyPeopleVote Mar 27 #28
Malone was interviewed by Chris Hayes Deminpenn Mar 27 #29
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Democrat wins special sta...»Reply #18