Control Of PA House Determined, Came Down To Single Race
HARRISBURG, PA — Democrats will maintain a razor-thin majority in the state House after the winner in the final race for the Legislature was determined Friday.
Democratic incumbent state Rep. Frank Burns held off Republican challenger Amy Bradley in the 72nd Legislative District in Cambria County. According to results on the Pennsylvania Department of State website, Burns had 16,623 votes to Bradley's 15,687.
Determining the winner of the race was delayed because of a voting system malfunction in Cambria County on Election Day. Numerous problems regarding the scanning of ballots occurred immediately after polls opened.
Burns' victory means the Democrats will hold a 102-101 edge in the House and will maintain control of that legislative body for the next two years. Republicans on Tuesday retained their 30-year grip on the state Senate.
The victory is a possible salve to a wounded Pennsylvania Democratic Party that saw Republican former President Donald Trump win the state's 19 Electoral College votes Tuesday by besting Vice President Kamala Harris here.
The Associated Press also has declared Republican Dave McCormick the winner in a tight U.S. Senate race against three-term Democratic incumbent Bob Casey. That race appears headed for a recount.
According to the Department of State website, as of Friday afternoon McCormick had 3,353,410 votes to Casey's 3,317,040. McCormick delivered a victory speech Friday in Pittsburgh; Casey has yet to concede.
