Democrats Secure Victory in Pennsylvania Special Election, Expanding Majority in State House
Democrats in Pennsylvania celebrated a victory on Tuesday as they secured another seat in the state House, expanding their slim majority. The special election took place in lower Bucks County, a competitive suburban county outside of Philadelphia. Democrat Jim Prokopiak, a local school board member, emerged victorious in the 140th House district, a historically Democratic stronghold since its creation in 1969. This district was also won by President Biden with a 7-point margin in the 2020 election.
With Prokopiak’s win, the official makeup of the state House now stands at 102 Democrats and 100 Republicans. This shift occurred after a Republican lawmaker resigned last Friday, creating a vacancy that is expected to remain Republican. Although Pennsylvania Democrats still trail with a 28-seat to 22-seat majority in the state Senate, this recent victory reflects a trend of success for the Democratic party in off-year or special elections.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee showed strong support for Prokopiak by investing $50,000 in his campaign. This financial backing highlights the party’s commitment to expanding its influence in the commonwealth. In fact, Democrats have experienced other recent wins in Pennsylvania, including Daniel McCaffrey’s appointment to the Supreme Court and the party’s control of the school board in Central Bucks County.
While Bucks County has historically shown tight margins in presidential races, with Biden winning by less than five points in 2020, Prokopiak remains optimistic about future elections. He acknowledges that Bucks County is always contested and close, stating, “That’s just how Bucks County is.” Julie Chavez Rodriguez, campaign manager for President Biden’s potential 2024 run, attributed the GOP loss to former President Trump’s unpopular extreme MAGA agenda, which continues to be rejected by voters.
Looking ahead to November, Democratic voters who participated in the special election expressed confidence in President Biden’s chances of winning Pennsylvania in a potential rematch with Trump. Concerns about Biden’s age, brought into the spotlight by special counsel Robert Hur’s classified records report, were dismissed by most Democratic voters. The report concluded that charges should not be brought against Biden but mentioned his age and memory issues. However, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, along with their allies, have dismissed this characterization as politically motivated.
Democratic voters emphasized that age is not the primary concern when evaluating presidential candidates. They highlighted Biden’s accomplishments and expressed that his age has not affected policy decisions. Comparing Biden to Trump, who will also be in his late 70s by the November general election, voters emphasized that age should not be the determining factor. Instead, they argued that it is more important to evaluate how candidates treat people and address critical issues such as the economy and democracy.
However, some Democrats did express a preference for a younger candidate, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom. They believed that voters would prioritize issues like abortion over the candidates’ ages come November. Biden’s campaign has criticized the press for focusing heavily on his age while giving comparatively little coverage to Trump’s recent comments on encouraging Russian aggression against NATO allies.
A CBS News poll from December 2021 revealed that 39% of Democrats surveyed did not believe Biden should have run for re-election, with age being the top reason cited by 93% of respondents. Trump’s super PAC, Make America Great Again, Inc!, echoed this sentiment, stating that if someone is too senior to stand trial, they are too senile to be president. Nikki Haley, Trump’s only remaining GOP challenger, has also suggested that both Biden and Trump are mentally unfit for the job.
Independent voters in Bucks County had mixed opinions regarding the relevance of age in their presidential vote. Some emphasized policy differences between Biden and Trump on issues like government spending and immigration rather than their age. Others believed that younger candidates from both parties should step up with fresh attitudes, expressing uncertainty about Biden’s ability to serve another term and predicting a similar situation for Trump if he wins.
Overall, Democrats in Pennsylvania are celebrating their recent victory in the special election, which expands their majority in the state House. This success reflects a broader trend of Democratic wins in off-year elections and highlights the party’s momentum in the commonwealth. As the 2024 election approaches, voters’ opinions on age and its impact on presidential candidates remain divided, with some prioritizing policy differences and others emphasizing the need for younger leaders.
